The best films about swimming to watch now

For those triathletes who came to swimming as a means to an end, it can sometimes feel like the hardest part of the sport.

But there are some amazing swimmers out there achieving feats you can only dream of, including freezing water, ice holes, escapes from war-torn countries and, erm, men’s synchronised swim teams…

Take a journey though these things and more with our pick of the best swimming films to watch right now.

Best swimming films in 2024

Kim Swims

Documenting the story of Kim Chambers, this film is the true account of an open-water swimmer’s attempt become the first woman to swim 30 miles from the Farallon Islands to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco – and it’s perfect inspiration for any swimmer looking to achieve a swimming goal, however large or small.

Chambers only turned to swimming after an accident, and the ensuing surgeries left her in chronic pain and limited functionality. As part of her rehab, she took up swimming again for the first time since primary school, then as a dare, joined a group of open-water swimmers in the San Francisco Bay.

Falling in love with open-water swimming and finding the cold water helped manage her pain, Kim became only the third woman and sixth person ever to complete the Ocean’s Seven challenge (the seven global swims considered to be the most difficult).

In Kim Swims, she’s followed as she takes on her biggest challenge yet off the San Francisco coast in waters that are cold, rough and shark-infested, and considered the hardest marathon swim in the world. It’s one that only three men have completed before her.

The Swimmers

• Watch now on Netflix

The execution might be a bit on the cheesy side, but there’s no denying the power of the BAFTA-nominated new release The Swimmers. The film charts the true story of Yusra and Sarah Mardini, who escaped war-torn Syria to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio as part of a team for refugee athletes.

Documenting their background, escape in an inflatable boat and eventual Olympic journey, it is sometimes jaw-dropping to remember that behind the big production is a brave story bordering on the unbelievable.

One to watch with any teen swimmers or triathletes in your house!

Hold Your Breath: The Ice Dive

• Watch now on Netflix

Freezing water, ice holes, no wetsuits and not much breathing?! This may not sound like swimming for triathletes – but we were captivated by this short film detailing the quest of freediver Johanna Nordblad and her attempt to break the world record for distance travelled under ice with one breath.

After sustaining a serious leg injury in a bike accident, Nordblad found that the cold helped with the pain and she soon started channelling the energy she used to use on her bike into breaking ice – and world records. A must-watch for anyone captivated by cold-water swimming.

The Ponds

• Watch now on Netflix

Detailing the swimmers who come and go during four seasons in the famous London Ponds on Hampstead Heath, this gentle and whimsical documentary gives an insight into how cold-water swimming can be a sanctuary, a joy and even a way to find friendship and camaraderie during life’s difficulties.

From neoprene to nudity, freezing dips and leisurely sunny swims, find the best of British open-water swimming in this enjoyable watch.

The Merthyr Mermaid

• Watch now on BBC iPlayer

As triathletes we all tend to shiver a bit when temperatures approach the low teens – so take some time out to watch this BBC documentary, which charts the journey of Welsh swimmer Cath Pendleton, the ‘Merthyr Mermaid’, and her quest to be the first person to swim a mile (no wetsuit!) in freezing waters in Antarctica.

While penguins look on we see her swim in water most would be terrified of – after training by sitting in a chest freezer in her garden, naturally!

Swimming With Men

Rob Brydon is one of our great British comedy heroes (in our humble opinion) and if you fancy seeing him losing the Uncle Bryn v-necked pullovers to don a pair of swimming trunks, then this is the film for you.

Charting the journey of a man who is suffering a mid-life crisis, we see that maybe the solution is to join an all-male synchronised swimming team…

Believe it or not, it’s based on a true story, too. That of the real Swedish team, who won the Men’s Synchronised Swimming World Championships in 2007.

Liminal

The subject of this new short film – Jude Palmer – is a trail running and open-water swimming coach and one of 220’s team of product testers. In this short film she beautifully describes the feeling of moving from one world (land) to another (the water) and the transformative effect it can have on our mental wellbeing. Watch it above or head to YouTube.