Chris Ballard — The Plunge: Maverick Swimmers, an Unlikely Quest, and the Transformative Power of Cold Water - with S.L. Price — at Conn Ave

Chris Ballard, a longtime senior writer for *Sports Illustrated*, presents his new book *The Plunge: Maverick Swimmers, an Unlikely Quest, and the Transformative Power of Cold Water* in conversation with fellow journalist S.L. Price. The event, hosted by Politics and Prose, explores Ballard’s immersive three-year journey into the world of cold-water swimming and plunging. Blending adventure narrative with scientific research, *The Plunge* traces humanity’s historical and modern relationship with cold exposure, profiling record-breaking grandmothers, Olympic aspirants, and everyday enthusiasts while examining how voluntary cold can sharpen focus, reduce inflammation, and retrain the body’s stress response. Ballard will be joined by S.L. Price, a former senior writer for *Sports Illustrated* and author of five books, including *The American Game*. The evening is free and open to the public, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.

When: Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Tickets: Free admission; no advance tickets or reservations required. Seating is first come, first served.

Lineup: Chris Ballard (author) in conversation with S.L. Price (journalist and author)

Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (Conn Ave location)

Note: To request accessibility accommodations, email events@politics-prose.com ideally one week before the event; the venue will make an effort to accommodate all requests up to the time of the event. The book *The Plunge* (hardcover, $30) will be available for purchase at the event.