​I’m a journalist and the author of five books. The latest, The Plunge: Maverick Swimmers, an Unlikely Quest, and the Transformative Power of Cold Water (Simon & Schuster, June 9, 2026), is a globe-trotting narrative born out of three years of research and reporting.
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The Sunday Times called The Plunge, "extraordinary." It's also been featured in Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Saturday Morning, ESPN, and NPR's Here & Now. Booklist and Publishers Weekly both awarded it starred reviews, while Adam Grant deemed it, "mesmerizing," adding, "I still loathe cold water but I loved this book."
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You can find The Plunge at your local independent bookstore or order online here.
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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.
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Previous books include The Art of a Beautiful Game and One Shot at Forever. Eight of my stories have been optioned for film, and seven selected for The Best American Sports Writing. I was a finalist for a National Magazine Award, appeared in The Best American Magazine Writing, and received the Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting.
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I’ve also taught narrative storytelling and reporting at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, leading a team that partnered with The New York Times to cover COVID-19 in California. ​
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Contact: chrisballard33 [at] gmail.com
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