“I lost my confidence to swim for a while because I didn’t feel as safe. But in Lake Windemere, November 2019, I had my first swim as myself and it felt great” - Bobbi Fisher

We enjoy a community of freedom, acceptance and understanding in the open water world, but what is it really like for LGBTQ+ swimmers? Transgender swimmer Bobbi Fisher came out in her 30s. She has been swimming all her life, but the only time she didn’t swim was after she transitioned. 

In our lead feature this issue we put the ‘out’ in outdoor swimming and speak to LGBTQ+ swimmers about their acceptance in the outdoor community. And throughout this issue we meet some wonderful humans who are helping make outdoor swimming, and the outdoors in general, a more diverse community: the lido volunteers working towards making their pools more accessible to disabled swimmers; the transgender swimmer swimming every day of the year; and the writer aiming to get more women accessing the outdoors.

Another incredible human achieving amazing things is Courtney Paulk. We speak to the American swimmer who has just become the first person to complete the Double Triple Crown – two-way crossings of each of the Triple Crown swims! 

Elsewhere in the magazine, we look at winter challenges, find out the best places for autumn dips, explore sauna culture in the UK, learn how drills and practice can make you a better swimmer, take a dip on the dark side and find out what the best freestyle stroke-style is for open water. 

From the best swim spots this autumn to the joys of night swimming, swim on the wild side this October with the new issue of Outdoor Swimmer magazine, available to order now.