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.
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."
You can find The Plunge at your local independent bookstore or order online here.
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.
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.
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.
Contact: chrisballard33 [at] gmail.com
