Super Swimmer Story: The Remarkable Journey of Laura Hodgson
Some swimmers discover open water by accident. Others grow into it. And then there are those like Laura, whose story shows what happens when curiosity, courage and consistency collide.
Long before she became the Sub10 swimmer everyone now knows, Laura was the child who quietly swam a 1500m badge at age eight, entirely backstroke, in her local leisure centre. She kept swimming until her early teens, drifted away from it, returned briefly during a triathlon phase in 2014, and left again. She had no idea open water would one day become her anchor.
That changed in August 2020.
During lockdown, she spotted a friend’s post about Taplow Lake, looked it up, booked in the same day… and never looked back. At first she swam in a sleeveless wetsuit – gloves and boots in winter. But as the seasons passed, so did her barriers. By May 2021, she ditched the wetsuit. By the winter of 2022, she left behind the gloves and boots too. Each year, she set little challenges. Each time, she surprised herself.
Laura has logged over 1,000 NOWCA swims!
99.9% of them at Taplow Lakeside.
This is a level of dedication that still makes even the most seasoned swimmers blink.
Discovering the Sub10 Club
Like many Taplow regulars, Laura first saw the Sub10 Club advertised in the changing rooms and café. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a personal mission. After finishing second on the leaderboard the year before (and third for two years before that), she set her sights on first place.
Someone casually said, “Wouldn’t it be amazing if you hit 100 Sub10 swims in one season?”
That was it. Challenge accepted.
Last year, she became the first swimmer ever to reach that Sub10 milestone. This year she reached it again, and inspired others to do the same.
Laura has now achieved 500 cumulative sub10 swims!
The Buzz of Cold Water
Her first cold swim?
“A real shock to the system,” she laughs. “I wondered why I was doing this mad thing. But by the time I got out, the buzz answered the question for me.”
Since then, winter has become something she not only tolerates, she welcomes it.
Whether it’s the simple mindfulness of being in cold water or the immediate relief from a stressful workday, these swims reset her body and mind.
Memories Made in Ice and Distance
Two swims stand out above the rest:
- A 5km charity swim – just one year after she began open water swimming, raising money for Dreamflight.
- And the time Taplow Lake froze over. Staff spent ages breaking ice to carve a channel just wide enough for swimmers.
“The tinkling sound of the broken bits of ice was magical,” she recalls.
Staying Grounded, Staying Grateful
Despite topping the Sub10 leaderboard, Laura is quick to say the achievement felt personal rather than public. She didn’t want her milestone to overshadow others’ first Sub10 seasons:
“For me, it was about my own progression.”
She doesn’t use a strict pre-swim ritual – just an intention to enjoy the water and adapt to whatever the day brings. Post-swim, she avoids sitting down, puts on several layers, grabs a hot drink, and joins the chat. Community is a huge part of the magic.
Challenges and Quiet Progress
Open water hasn’t been without difficulty. Degeneration in her lower spine sometimes limits her distance, which can be frustrating. But she accepts the ebb and flow: some swims feel strong, others don’t. For her, progress has been steady rather than spectacular – a long, upward curve built on showing up consistently.
Her Advice for New or Nervous Swimmers
Laura’s approach is refreshingly grounded:
- Use summer for working on distance – winter challenges are about temperature, not time.
- Don’t compare your gear or timings to others.
“Your swim is your swim – totally individual. No two swimmers are the same, and no two swims are the same.”
- Listen to your body.
Set aims, not expectations.
What’s Next?
Laura doesn’t chase big events – she swims for joy, not pressure. If an event looks fun (and the cut-off time isn’t a concern), she’ll go for it. Otherwise, Taplow Lake is home, and that’s enough.
Laura’s story is proof that you don’t need speed, medals or grand ambitions to achieve something extraordinary. Sometimes it’s as simple as turning up, embracing the cold, and letting the lake change you – one swim at a time.
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