Greg Harper - The Best Swimmer in Long Course Triathlon???
Mar 17, 2025
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In this chat, Greg Harper, a professional triathlete hailed as a top swimmer in long course triathlon, shares his journey from coaching to competing. He offers tips on improving the swim techniques of athletes like Lionel Sanders and Sam Long. Greg dives into his own training evolution, highlighting the importance of endurance and joy in the sport. He also reflects on the emotional challenges of being a triathlete, blending personal experiences with insights about love and identity. Get ready for an engaging mix of sports and life lessons!
Greg Harper emphasizes the importance of branding in triathlon, highlighting how his confidence enhances community connections and engagement.
Harper advocates for systematic coaching focusing on swimming technique, stressing the need for triathletes to address ingrained habits for performance improvement.
Transitioning to a coaching team has helped Harper improve his training structure, blending volume with collaboration among professional triathletes to enhance performance.
Deep dives
The Rise of Greg Harper: Embracing His Identity
Greg Harper discusses his persona as the self-proclaimed best swimmer in triathlon, emphasizing the importance of branding within the sport. He expresses confidence in his swimming abilities, crediting it to the influence of exceptional coaches he has had throughout his life. This self-assurance enhances his connection to the triathlon community and allows him to engage with fellow athletes, like Vincent Luis, by comparing their swimming prowess and competitive experiences. Harper’s entertaining personality is recognized as a vital asset in making triathlon more engaging and enjoyable for fans and participants.
Anatomy of Triathlon Swimming: Technique over Fitness
The dialogue shifts to the significance of swimming technique in triathlon, with Harper highlighting the need for athletes to develop their 100-meter speed for improved performance. He outlines a systematic approach to coaching professional triathletes, suggesting intensive in-person training to address technical issues before enhancing fitness. Harper believes that many established triathletes face limitations due to ingrained habits in their swimming strokes, necessitating a comprehensive reevaluation of their techniques. This process could involve drills and exercises to instill proper body awareness and streamline their swimming for better results in races.
Analyzing Performance: Spotting Technique Faults
Harper provides a detailed critique of Lionel Sanders’ swimming technique, focusing on specific faults that hinder performance. He identifies Sanders' high-elbow recovery issue, which negatively impacts his rotation and catch while swimming. Harper suggests that addressing these technical deficiencies can significantly improve speed and efficiency in the water. By fostering better shoulder mobility and rotating properly during strokes, he believes Sanders can close the gap with faster competitors and enhance his open water performance.
Transitioning to Coaching: Finding the Right Environment
Transitioning from self-coaching to working with a supportive coaching team has provided Harper with structured training and accountability. He shares insights on how collaborating with fellow professional triathletes has shaped his training philosophy and enhanced his performance. By focusing on training volume and building an aerobic base, Harper has seen improvements in his bike and run metrics. This shift to a more systematic approach allows for gradual progress and strategic training while encouraging a collaborative spirit among his peers.
Setting Goals: Balancing Ambition and Realism
Harper reflects on his running goals and upcoming participation in an Ironman, recognizing the blend of excitement and uncertainty that comes with the challenge. He talks about modifying his training to increase run mileage and incorporate quality intervals, emphasizing the importance of gradual improvement. While he aims to excel, he also acknowledges the need to manage expectations, especially in his first Ironman. Ultimately, Harper highlights the need for a supportive mindset as he works toward his goals, valuing both the journey of training and the depth of connection fostered through the sport.
Greg Harper is arguably the best swimmer in long course triathlon and has taken it upon himself to become swim advisor to the bad pro swimmers. He’s also on the journey himself of trying to ride & run at the level required to capitalise on his swim so that he can start winning big races. Today we talk about how he would fix Lionel Sanders & Sam Long’s swims, hear all about his own training (ride & run, mainly) and chat about our love lives.
