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Great British Bake Off star Laura Adlington, from Gravesend, tries open water swimming at St Andrew's Lakes in Halling

15:20, 09 May 2022

updated: 15:26, 09 May 2022

A Bake Off star from Kent who is an advocate for body positivity has shared her open water swimming experience to her 250k Instagram followers.

Laura Adlington, who made it to the final of the Channel 4 show, is now more well known for promoting plus size clothing and for her self-love podcast than baking cakes.

Laura Adlington went open water swimming at St Andrew's Lake Photo: @laura.adlington (56543577)
Laura Adlington went open water swimming at St Andrew's Lake Photo: @laura.adlington (56543577)

She often takes to social media to talk about overcoming her fears and self-doubts by doing things such as going to an aquapark, attending the National Television Awards, or wearing a swimsuit on holiday.

And now she has shared a post about going open water swimming at St Andrew's Lakes in Halling.

Laura, from Gravesend, posted a series of videos following "her first proper open water swim" on Sunday with the caption: "This was SO much fun honestly."

The body positivity champion is seen wearing a wetsuit and bright pink swimming hat going into the water and St Andrew's and later coming out with a beaming smile on her face.

She added: "Yes I was a bit nervous about squeezing into a wetsuit and yes I was worried about being fit enough to do it, but after the initial shock of the cold it was amazing.

Laura Adlington went open water swimming at St Andrew's Lake Photo: @laura.adlington (56543583)
Laura Adlington went open water swimming at St Andrew's Lake Photo: @laura.adlington (56543583)

"Another thing ticked off the list! I can’t wait to do it more often."

The post received more than 10,000 likes including from This Morning presenter Alison Hammond. Lots of her followers congratulated her while others wanted to know where she had been for her swim. Laura said St Andrew's Lakes was great.

Laura, who now lives Halling, has previously posted about wearing a wetsuit on a trip to an aqua park for a hen do.

She said at the time: "I originally said I wouldn’t do it because I was worried that a) I wouldn’t fit in the wetsuit and b) I wouldn’t be physically fit enough to get around it.

"Up until a few days ago I was going to sit on the sidelines and watch everyone else have fun, before a last minute YOLO feeling came over me and I decided to give it a go.

Laura Adlington posted this pic on a hen do last year (56548507)
Laura Adlington posted this pic on a hen do last year (56548507)

"The wetsuit just about fit but was tight and accentuated every lump and bump, and the course itself was much harder than I had anticipated.

"But I stayed the course. And most importantly I laughed. I had fun. I made memories."

You can follow Laura on Instagram @laura.adlington

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