Hey Swimmers
Every so often, I come across a swimming documentary or book that reminds me why I’ve devoted so much of my life to this wonderful sport.
Recently, I’ve enjoyed five in particular. They’re very different stories, but each explores something we sometimes overlook when we’re obsessing over stroke technique, training times and personal bests: the extraordinary human connections that swimming creates.
Here are five recommendations I’d encourage every swimming enthusiast to explore.
1. The Pool (2024) — Netflix
Quite possibly my favourite swimming documentary ever.
Released in 2024 but only recently added to Netflix Australia, The Pool, directed by Ian Darling, celebrates Sydney’s iconic Bondi Icebergs — unquestionably my favourite swimming pool anywhere on the planet.
The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking. The crashing waves, beautiful ocean light and wonderfully atmospheric soundtrack make it almost impossible to look away.
But what really captivated me wasn’t the scenery. It was the people.
For nearly a century, this extraordinary 50m ocean pool has brought together swimmers from every conceivable background. Through friendships, daily rituals, adversity and shared experiences, Icebergs has become something much more meaningful than somewhere to exercise.
As someone who has spent over 20 years building swimming communities, I found it incredibly moving. If you’ve ever wondered why people become so attached to their swimming squads, this film explains it beautifully.
2. Lido Land: How Britain Learned to Make a Splash — Tom Fort (2026)
Staying with the theme of community, Lido Land takes us on a fascinating journey around Britain’s wonderful outdoor swimming pools.
Many were built during the interwar years, when public swimming facilities became important places for recreation, wellbeing and social connection.
Tom Fort explores their fascinating histories, the colourful characters associated with them, their subsequent decline and, encouragingly, the resurgence of interest in these wonderful communal spaces.
Top Tip: I particularly enjoyed the audiobook on Spotify Premium. Narrated by Mike Sengelow, it’s a wonderfully relaxing listen, whether you’re travelling, driving or simply putting your feet up.
It also reminds us that a swimming pool’s greatest asset isn’t necessarily its architecture or facilities, but the people who bring it to life.
3. My Double Life — Mark Foster (2026)
This one felt particularly personal.
During my time at the University of Bath, I occasionally shared a training lane with Mark Foster, one of Britain’s greatest sprint swimmers. I say shared a lane rather than trained with, because Mark was operating at an entirely different speed!
His autobiography is a beautifully written, remarkably candid account of life at the pinnacle of international swimming while concealing his sexuality through much of his career.
Beyond the personal challenges, it’s a fascinating journey through British swimming during the 1980s, 1990s and beyond, offering an insider’s perspective on the sport’s evolution.
What struck me most was the contrast between the confidence required to compete against the world’s best and the vulnerability of feeling unable to be completely yourself.
A genuinely inspiring read.
4. The Swimmer of Auschwitz — Renaud Leblond
Something considerably more confronting, but equally powerful.
This extraordinary true story follows Alfred Nakache, a Jewish swimmer born in Algeria who became one of France’s leading swimming champions before being deported to Auschwitz during the Second World War.
Amid unimaginable suffering, Nakache drew upon his identity as a swimmer, his inner determination and the bonds he formed with others to help endure the horrors of imprisonment.
It’s a deeply moving account of courage, friendship and human resilience, and a reminder that the strength we develop through sport can sometimes extend far beyond sporting achievement.
Remarkably, Nakache would return to compete at the 1948 London Olympics.
5. The Swimmers — Julie Otsuka
I’ve mentioned this wonderful little novel in the blog before, but it absolutely deserves another recommendation, especially alongside these other stories.
The Swimmers follows a wonderfully diverse collection of characters who regularly visit an underground swimming pool. They come from different backgrounds, have different personalities, habits and reasons for swimming, yet within the confines of their beloved pool, they form something of an unlikely community.
I particularly enjoyed Otsuka’s observations about the different personalities you encounter at a swimming pool — the dedicated regulars, the creatures of habit, the swimmers who like everything just so, and those for whom their daily swim provides an essential escape from the outside world.
Sound familiar?!
When cracks begin appearing in the pool and its eventual closure looms, the characters are forced to confront what losing this shared space will mean to them.
It’s beautifully observed, sometimes amusing and ultimately quite poignant. The novel also explores memory, ageing and loss, giving it an emotional depth that extends well beyond swimming.
For anyone who’s ever felt that their local pool or swimming squad is something of a second home, this one will really resonate.
More Than Just Swimming
What connects these five stories isn’t simply swimming itself.
It’s belonging, identity, friendship and the remarkable capacity of people to find strength through a shared passion.
Whether you’re swimming at Bondi Icebergs, rediscovering a British lido or turning up to your regular Swim Smooth Squad, there’s something incredibly special about being part of a swimming community.
And sometimes, the most important benefits of swimming have absolutely nothing to do with how fast you go.
Have you watched or read any of these? Or is there another swimming book or documentary you’d recommend? I’d love to hear about it.
Thanks for reading, your coach, Paul.
