Open water swimming looks truly gorgeous from the shore. Out there, beneath the beautiful veneer, is a sport that – regardless of the water quality – frequently turns dirty. In the event, like so much surrounding marathon swimming, the truth was slightly more prosaic. “In the UK alone there are at least half a million people who are taking up open water swimming – from the Channel, to all the great swims happening around the country,” she said. “The most amazing thing for me was swimming along the back of the course, looking to my left and seeing Corcovado with Christ’s arms outstretched.

Source: The Guardian August 15, 2016 14:48 UTC