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Chris Ballard's Swim Story
01 July 2026

Chris Ballard's Swim Story

Stories from the Water

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​Chris is a journalist and the author of five books. The latest, The Plunge: Maverick Swimmers, an Unlikely Quest, and the Transformative Power of Cold Water, it is a globe-trotting narrative about swimmers, the science of discomfort, and the psychology of endurance. 

Lynne Cox called it "brilliant."  Jeff Pearlman described it as "masterful" and "life-affirming." And Adam Grant deemed it, "mesmerizing," adding, "I still loathe cold water but I loved this book."

Booklist and Publisher's Weekly gave it starred reviews, describing it as "entertaining," "ambitious," "thrumming with energy," and "a jubilant exploration."

You can pre-order at Simon & Schuster.

For two decades, I was a Senior Writer at Sports Illustrated, writing features, profiles, and investigations. My work has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, and other publications.


This episode is one story. The Water’s Edge is where stories like this turn into lived experience. Feeling inspired? Find Meaning in the Monotony or subscribe to my Substack for Lessons from the Water 

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Questions, comments, feedback, or if you'd like to be a guest, reach out to me.

Stories from the Water is produced by http://254studio.com

Music credit:
Epic Inspiration  by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration-
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer Todd Lantry.

Are you ready to change the way you experience the water? Join the SwimMastery Open Water Camp in Loreto, Mexico in 2027. Find out more: SwimMastery Open Water Swim Camps

 Learn more and plan your Lake Shasta adventure at Houseboats.com

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