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Women Brave Icy Waters for Empowerment Dip
14 Mar
Summary
- Thousands of women participated in annual sea dips for International Women's Day.
- Events were held at Sandbanks beach in Dorset and Brighton beach.
- The Big Swim also raises funds for the Surfers Against Sewage charity.
Thousands of women participated in an annual sea dip to celebrate International Women's Day on March 14, 2026. Events were held simultaneously at Sandbanks beach in Dorset and Brighton beach, drawing over 1000 women to each location. This marked the fourth year for The Big Swim, an event initiated by adventure blogger Nicky Chisholm.
The Big Swim emphasizes participation and personal pride over competition, encouraging attendees to wear "warm and sparkly" outfits. Organizer Rosie Tanner, who brought the event to Poole after attending in Brighton in 2024, highlighted the event's role as a community space fostering female empowerment and resilience.
This year's event aimed for a record-breaking turnout and also served as a fundraiser for Surfers Against Sewage, a UK charity campaigning against ocean pollution. Jo Morley from the charity stressed the urgency for government action to end water pollution.
Additionally, the Women's Eights Head of the River Race, one of the world's largest women's rowing events, also took place on March 14, 2026, with over 320 crews competing on the River Thames.
