Outdoor Swimmer magazine’s first annual Trends in Outdoor Swimming Report shows that thousands of people took up outdoor swimming during the coronavirus pandemic and that for many it is a massive support to their physical and mental health during challenging times.
The report reveals the finding of Outdoor Swimmer’s survey of more than 2000 new and regular outdoor swimmers, interviews with leading figures in the world of outdoor swimming and desk research.
‘Key themes emerging from the report include the growth in female participation (up from a 50% share in 2017 to 65% in 2020), a huge demand for winter swimming and the positive association between outdoor swimming and well-being.’
- Outdoor swimming grew by around 1.5 to 3 times in 2020.
- 75% of new outdoor swimmers wanted to continue swimming outdoors in winter.
- Two thirds of outdoor swimmers say the activity is essential or very important to their mental health.
The magazine also finds that becoming an outdoor swimmer raises people’s awareness of environmental issues and encourages them to take action to reduce pollution and environmental damage.
While outdoor swimming boomed in 2020, many of small and independent businesses working in the sector had a torrid time. These include event companies, swimming travel businesses and swimming coaches.
Nearly all events were cancelled, travel was practically non-existent, and venue and pool closures, along with restrictions on physical interactions and group sizes, severely hampered coaches’ ability to operate.
Looking forward, the magazine sees a mixture of optimism and caution. Once people start swimming outdoors, the majority have a positive experience; and only 1% like it less than they thought they would – and are therefore likely to continue.
However, the current lockdown will have long-term consequences for businesses in the sector that some will struggle to recover from.
