Swimmers

Petersfield, Hampshire

I don't belong to a club or swim competitively (yet!) After a twenty year cap I jumped back into the pool and on the 24th of May '08 managed to swim 10 miles for the charity 'Action Duchenne'. Aged 5, my son Joe, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy last year.

Swanland, East Yorkshire

National Ladies Triathlon (Modern Pentathlon) Champion ages ago. British Students Biathlon Champion '3 yrs running' also ages ago.Was Cheshire Ladies swimming captain. Got back into swimming last year, unfit and creaky, still.. biggest achievement post retirement = a Silver in 200 IM British Masters Swimming Championships 2008. Now swimming for Hull Masters Swimming Club and Yorkshire County. (photo Hull daily mail)

Newbury, Berkshire

Bournemouth and Brighton sea swims this year and the swim leg of the London Triathlon

Newbury, Berkshire

Triathlete and open water swimmer. Competed in 3 triathlons this year.

Bolton, Lancashire

Member of VA Bolton, a Health & Fitness Club, not a Swimming Club. Once affiliated to Bolton SC to facilitate doing the 1500 in the Nationals at Ponds Forge circa 2000. Finest athletic hour was running 9th in the 1992 London to Brighton 55 mile road race in 6:44

Winchester

Winchester City Penguins. Achievements include...Member of the round Isle of Wight relay 2007, Channel relay 2005, gained a noteable bronze at the World Cold water swimming championships, completed every Swimathon since 1986. All round champion of marathons and anything cold water!!.

Cantabria, Spain

I swim for Marisma (ACN) in Santander, Spain.I regularly do (well in the summer) sea swims, but these are much shorter than the Mad 2swim4life challenge. A long long time ago, when I was 18, I did a swim in an outdoor pool, which was on a 'keep going as long as you can' basis. I did 6 hours and 13 miles. But that was ancient history.

London

A lifelong 'fun and fitness' swimmer, I discovered the meaning of training when I joined Imperial College Swim and Water Polo Club in 2005. My swimming has progressed from wonky frontcrawl to the BUSA championships and a 4.6 mile open water swim this summer. I will be president of ICSWP in 2008/09.

Leeds

New kid on the block, Lisa is starting to make a name for herself, competing and winning metal in the Yorkshire County Championships 2008.

Basingstoke, Hants

I'm very much a beginner as far as swimming is concerned. I didn't swim with a club or have lessons as a child and couldn't put my face in the water until I was in my late 30s. I had improver lessons and joined Masters when I was 40 because my daughter told me I couldn't comment on her races until I knew what it felt like to stand on those blocks and wait. I did a couple of swimathons before I joined Masters, swimming  bad breaststroke.

Norwich, Norfolk

I started swimming just over a year ago, never having been a member of a club or having swum competitively. Unlike most other sports I have tried, I seem to be sticking at this, so whilst I am still an eager beaver I thought it would be good to set myself a challenge. Whether I will swim ever again after this remains to be seen!

Reading , Berkshire

Westcott, Surrey

I have swum since 7 yrs old initially for Warrington Swimming Club and now (after a long break) with Dorking Masters Swim Club (the current Surrey Champions). Have not done much long distance swimming except for a 3.3 km Lake swim across the wonderful Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan in Oct 2005.

Woking, Surrey

Joined Guildford City Masters in 2000 and was taught how to swim with her head in the water - With one attempt of the English Channel under her belt Emma is planning a relay of the Channel later this year - Visit http://www.emma2france.com for updates on Emma's next channel challenge.

Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Recently joined City of Oxford having started swimming seriously again earlier this year after a 'break' of around 15. In a dim and distant swimming past won multiple regional age group titles. Also was South West biathlon champion, placed second at the Nationals two years in a row and reached AAA age group finals on the track. Even so, those who knew me through my 'mid-20s fat phase' think I'm completely mental trying 24 miles...

Westcott,Surrey

1990,-45yr age group runner up in Human Race Tuffman Triathlon (Half Ironman distances) and completed the full Ironman Tuffman Tri over two days in May 1991. Finished 7th in age group in the Ironbridge Ironman Tri in July 1991, in about 13hrs. Twice ran New York City Marathon and in 1987, a few days after getting home I was arrested at gunpoint trying to run across the Bosphorus Bridge. Swam in the 1996 World Masters Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. What keeps me going? The thought that the oldest competitive Masters swimmer in Surrey is 94 years old! I’ve still got time to get it right!

North Cove, Suffolk

Although I have never joined a Swimming Club, swimming has been quite a major part of my life in the last couple of years. As well as the swimming I also enjoy running, cycling, squash and the gym. I am also training extremely hard in readiness for the Potential Officers Course for the Royal Marines Commandos, and as if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, after a bit of arm twisting I was persuaded to take part in this mammoth swim. Good luck everyone, you can do it! Arm bands are allowed, aren’t they?????

Raunds, Northants

Nicola swims with Northants team Oundle and District and actively competes in Masters events. Over the last five years she has won at National, European and World Masters level and has set British and European Masters records. As an age group swimmer, Nicola trained with the Stockport Metro team and competed at the National level. Nicola now works as an aircraft stress engineer and has done analysis work for a wide range of aircraft from the Spitfire to the Airbus A350, but makes sure she has time to visit the pool regularly to prepare for the next competition (or 24 mile swim).

Uxbridge, Middlesex

Eccles, Manchester

10 years ago swam national level. I used to swim in the North East for Sedgefield 75 for 15 years from the age of 6 till 18, but then went to uni, diced with a bit of training there, but mainly hit the beer train! 

Temple, London

I swam for Hong Kong in the 70s and early 80s and was National 1500m and 400m freestyle champion and record holder. Retired in 1984 and only go back in the water again about 4 years ago. Nowhere near as fast as I used to be!

Headingley, Leeds

Dusan is a new Leeds swimmer with a tremendous sense of fun and determination. His ability to maintain stamina is legendary, as is his grasp of the English language. Big ambitions and one to watch for the future.

Leeds

started back swim training at Leeds in December after a 2 years break. I attend and coach masters session in leeds and recently started competing in galas again myself. one day I want to complete both the channel and an iron man as I am a sucker for a challenge!

Southfields, London

Member of swimming and water polo club imperial college london and IC won water polo intercollegiate (ULU) 2007 and 2008 season;

Methley, Leeds

Triathlete - Completed Canada Ironman 2007. Is a consultant Cariologist during the day.

Leeds

I train at the John Charles centre for sport with Leeds Masters; I have been swimming with them for just over a year. I think the event will be a challenge, hard work, but a lot of fun. I also have a friend that has a brother with the condition, so I have some knowledge of that and know how important it is to raise money and awareness!

Bracknell, Berkshire

Terry Wright - AKA Spidey, Bracknell Berkshire. I have been swimming for as long as I can remember. I used to live next door to an open air swimming pool and when I was younger I spent all my summers there. Did Club swimming and gave up for almost 2 years. I was lured back and found the Masters scene and loved it. I improved so much so to break the minute for the 100m free at age 41. I can proudly say that I have been fairly successful and achieved the Top Male Award at the Guerney Masters meet for both 2006 and 2007. Possibly more known for my outragous swim attire. Hoping to add as much fun to the event as sponsorship pounds.

World Masters Champion

Since 1986, as a world-class Masters swimmer, she has set 75 FINA Masters World Records in the freestyle, I.M., backstroke and sprint butterfly events in the 55-59 through 70-74 age groups. She has won gold medals 30 times at FINA Masters World Championships, 36 at Masters European Championships, 6 at Masters Pan Pacifics, and 95 at British Masters National Championships. She has set 76 Masters European Championship records and 117 British Masters national records. She has gold medals at the National Championships of Britain, Scotland, Wales, France, and Holland. When she turned 70 in 2001, she traveled Britain and Europe to try to swim every long and short course event available. The results – she broke all the British records and a whole lot of World and European records too. Even after total hip replacement in 2002, her times continue to drop (Taken from ‘The International Swimming Hall of Fame’).