Making open water swimming accessible: Spotlight on Supported Swimming Project at Swim Serpentine
Open water swimming can feel daunting, especially for swimmers with disabilities or those new to big events. That’s why accessibility and inclusion matter so much. In September 2025 an adaptive athlete, Sophie Etheridge, supported another swimmer, also called Sophie, to complete a challenging 2 mile swim at Serpentine as part of the Richard Whitehead Foundation’s new Supported Swimmer Project.
Support swimmers can enhance your experience, build confidence and help with accessibility needs. The Richard Whitehead Foundation matches swimmers with experienced support swimmers who can match your pace and support you every step of the way.
How was your experience of Support Swimming?
“I loved it. I was actually knackered afterwards, but I loved it, I had some previous experience of doing it with a young person I coached, but it was very different doing it with an adult. I’ve basically fallen in love with doing it. It's great fun.”
For Sophie, the best part of being a Support Swimmer seeing someone achieve something they didn’t think they could do. “When I took part in Ultra 33.3, there were people doing 22.2 or 11.2 kilometres over the week. One lady looked absolutely exhausted and said, ‘I think I’m going to call it.’ I could see the finish line, so I said, ‘No, I’ll swim with you.’ I got the biggest hug at the end, and it's that sort of moment that's really rewarding.”
Supporting Sophie at Swim Serpentine
Preparation started long before the swim and Team Sophie met and trained together several times ahead of the event.
“When Sophie and I swam together, or we had a coffee, I would talk through what to it she should expect. Having experience of events helps because it's reassuring for the person to know that the person that's helping them has got that experience and knowledge.”
They also planned what Sophie needed on the day in terms of nutrition and drinks to keep them fuelled throughout the swimDuring the swim, communication was key. “When Sophie was swimming front crawl, when she looked at me I was able to smile at her, gesture to come this way or put a thumbs up to make sure she was all right. It was the reassuring her that she was safe and that we could take our time.”
And the moment Sophie realised she could do it? “She didn’t believe in herself very much. It wasn’t until the last lot of purple buoys on the second lap that she said, ‘Oh my God, I’m actually going to finish this, aren’t I?’”
Highlights at Swim Serpentine
“One of the things that made me happiest, apart from Sophie finishing, was that when we crossed the line, there was a row of wheelchairs waiting for their owners. In nine years of open water swimming, I’ve never seen that. There were about four or five wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, all lined up, and people ready to help. At point-to-point swims, you always have this fear that your mobility aids won’t be waiting for you at the finish. That’s quite a big thing for a lot of people. At Serpentine, that wasn’t going to happen because they had a system and so many people to help out.
Another highlight was that people could walk all the way around the lake. Sophie loved that, she followed a mermaid balloon and whenever she struggled, I’d point it out.” This also meant that Sophie’s friends could follow the route and cheer and wave, which gave her a huge boost and motivation to keep going.
Advice for swimmers with disabilities
“I would definitely recommend joining online groups and communities. The ‘Swim Serpentine and Beyond Facebook’ group is a great place where people often share their support needs and experiences. I always encourage reaching out to event organisers and their accessibility teams too, they were fantastic this year. I’d also suggest joining the ‘Adaptive and Disabled Open Water Swimmers’ group, where you can chat with experienced swimmers with similar disabilities, pick up tips, and learn what events are really like.”
Sophie reflects, “Swim Serpentine organisers did really well, they were very on the ball with accessibility. If someone asked me for a good starter event for people with a disability, I’d recommend it.”
Why it’s worth it
“It’s beneficial not just for the swimmer, but for the supporter as well. The pride and joy you feel from helping someone do something that they never thought was possible, and then they've gone and done it. Sophie messaged me saying she'd slept with a medal under a pillow for a week and it's a small thing but it means so much.”
And Sophie adds: “Being a support swimmer has taught me a lot. I think you'll find that with quite a lot of the swimmers once they've done it once, they'll want to do it again.”
Interested in becoming a support swimmer?
If you are experienced in open water swimming and want to make a real difference, this could be for you. It’s challenging, yes - but it’s fun, rewarding, and unforgettable. Get in touch to register your interest.
Interested in getting support for a swim?
If you are new to open water swimming or want to take the next step in your swimming journey and would benefit from some support to take part in Swim Serpentine in 2026, get in touch and we’d love to see if we can help.