The Effortless Swimming Podcast

What happens when a veteran swim coach, who's spent years refining adult swimmers and triathletes, returns to coaching high school kids? In this episode, Frank Sole—coach, educator, and lifelong student of the sport—shares how “water is water” no matter your age, and why the principles of balance, buoyancy, and body awareness remain timeless. Frank dives into the biggest crossover lessons he’s bringing from Masters swimmers to juniors, the importance of teaching athletes to “own their technique,” and why he tells even his fastest swimmers to slow down and swim well, not fast. We also explore how Frank’s coaching philosophy has evolved over decades, the power of habit over outcome, and the surprising results his athletes are getting—not just in the pool, but in their lives. Whether you're a coach, a swimmer, or someone who's passionate about getting better, this episode is packed with wisdom, stories, and the kind of gold you can take straight to your next session. 05:16 Focus on Process Not On Outcome 19:17 Mastering Breathing: A Coach's Perspective 21:01 Mastering Breathing Technique 21:59 Coach Check In Routine 37:03 Evolvong Coaching Philosophy 39:16 18 Minute Rule 40:36 Embrace Ignorance Seek Growth 41:15 Evolving Mindset: From Close To Collaborative

Sharon Van Rouwendaal, an Olympic gold medalist in open water swimming, shares her journey from elite athlete to coach. She emphasizes the importance of patience in teaching adults and how minor adjustments can lead to significant improvements. Topics include the key elements of effective warm-ups, the necessity of dryland exercises, and how proper kicking influences overall stroke efficiency. With practical tips for mastering freestyle technique, Sharon encourages adult swimmers to integrate innovative exercises for better performance.

Today, we have a powerhouse guest—Greg Harper, the fastest swimmer in Ironman 70.3!  Greg shares his key lessons from the pool to open water, how to develop speed and endurance, and the mental strategies that set top swimmers apart. From the snowball effect of smart training to the secrets of holding a faster stroke rate, this episode is packed with actionable insights for triathletes and swimmers alike. 01:53 Transition From Pool To Openwater 05:05 Getting More Comfortable In Openwater 09:27 Snowball Effect In The Right Way 11:50 Openwater Is So Much About Awareness 17:25 Don't Stop When It Gets Difficult 20:40 Short Intervals And Speed Focus 23:50 Paddles Size 29:59 Favourite Set 36:53 Change Of Belief 42:07 Developing The Ability To Hold Faster Stroke Rate 56:12 Working On My Stroke 1:00:18 Be A Student Of The Sport    

Dive into the world of swimming as the analysis of over 8,000 swimmers reveals what truly matters for speed and efficiency. Discover how overthinking and pressure can hinder progress, while confidence grows from small victories. Uncover the importance of technique, mindfulness, and the right gear, alongside practical advice for mastering the sport. Learn to focus on the fundamentals and embrace the mental aspects of swimming, ultimately transforming your approach to the water.

What if you could go from struggling at 2:20 per hundred to cruising at 1:55? Today's guest, Fraser Hill, did exactly that, and he's sharing exactly how he did it. Fraser started swimming as an adult, dabbled in triathlons, and eventually found himself diving deep into the world of technique, training, and open water swimming. From joining an effortless swimming camp in the Maldives, to refining his stroke using simple but powerful cues, Fraser has transformed not only his speed, but his entire approach to swimming. In this episode, we talk about the key changes that made the biggest impact on his speed. The mental battles of open water swimming and how small tweaks like fixing body position and connecting the stroke led to massive breakthroughs. If you've ever felt stuck in your swimming progress, Fraser's story will give you some practical takeaways to help you break through your own barriers. 01:48 Swimming Background 04:25 From 2:20 to 1:55 06:42 You Need Someone Else Giving You Feedback 09:48 Small Changes, Big Differences 13:19 Openwater Swimming 18:29 Next Big Improvement 27:06 Drills 31:48 Advise For Swimmers Who Are Struggling To Break The 2-Minute Mark

Imagine standing behind the blocks knowing that everything, years of training, sacrifice, and your Olympic dream, comes down to this one race. That was the reality for Brianna Throssell at the 2016 Olympic Trials, where she had just one shot to make the team. In this episode, Brianna takes us behind the scenes of her Olympic journey, what it felt like to step onto the world's biggest stage for the first time, the nerves, the lessons, and the moments that shaped her career. From grueling training camps in Thailand To the mindset shifts that helped her break through. She says an honest and inspiring look at the highs and lows of elite swimming. Plus we dive into what's next for her as she steps away from the pool for now and explores life beyond full time training. If you're looking for insights into what it takes to compete at the highest level and the mental resilience that fuels champions, you won't want to miss this one. Let's get into the podcast. 01:59 Most Nerve Wracking Race 3:58 Rio, Tokyo and Paris 05:46 Pivotal Moments 09:03 Change In Environment 12:28 Hardest Training Sets 20:57 Training Camp Schedules 22:23 Social Media During Training 24:16 Visualization/ Mental Rehearsal 27:14 Developing Technique 28:59 Increasing The Power of Kick 30:18 Character Traits and Skills 33:36 Being Able To Say Yes To Opportunities 35:45 Future Plans 36:45 Core Lessons: Resilience

In this conversation, Alex Roman, a self-taught swimmer, shares his incredible transformation from a 2:00/100m pace to a lightning-fast 29-second 50m freestyle. He details the moment that ignited his curiosity about swimming efficiency and how he shifted to smarter training strategies. Key topics include mastering technique through insightful feedback, the importance of strength training, and purposeful drills that lead to significant improvements. Alex's journey inspires anyone looking to enhance their swimming skills, regardless of experience.

Welcome to the podcast. This is a rebroadcast of another podcast called the Human Endurance Podcast with two friends of mine, Bruna and Fabi. I was a guest on there recently, and I wanted to share this episode with you because I feel like a lot of key things were covered that if you're a swimmer or a triathlete, this is going to help you improve. Whether you want to get better at open water swimming, making sure you fuel correctly, how you should train, what are some common mistakes and foundational skills    01:28 Meet Brenton Ford: Founder of Effortless Swimming 11:24 Common Mistakes and Foundational Skills for Swimmers 18:56 Improving Swimming Technique and Training Tips 29:16 The Importance of Drills and Effective Training 39:45 Skills in Open Water Swimming vs. Pool Swimming 44:02 Increasing Stroke Rate vs. Distance Per Stroke 47:47 Choosing the Right Wetsuit 58:15 Fueling for Long Swim Sessions 01:03:14 The Journey of Effortless Swimming 01:15:12 The Future of Swimming 01:20:38 Fire Questions

Have you ever felt like you know what to do, but you're just not sure how to make it happen? Whether you're an athlete looking to unlock better performance or a coach wanting to make lasting impact. Today's episode is for you. Our guest is Nick Winkelman, author of The Language of Coaching, a groundbreaking book on how the right words can transform how you move. Train and perform. Nick has worked with elite athletes and coaches around the world. And today he's sharing the secrets of using cues, analogies, and storytelling to spark real lasting change. In this episode, we'll cover how the words you hear or tell yourself can supercharge your improvement. Why using the right cues can make your stroke smoother, your technique sharper, and your training more effective, and the power of storytelling to break down barriers, shift mindsets, and help find your edge. And it's not just for coaches. This is about understanding your own journey. Nick's insights will help you spot what's holding you back and how to focus your energy where it really counts. Whether you're looking to shave seconds off your swim, find more confidence in the way that you're moving or performing, or learn to enjoy the process of getting better. This episode is packed with a heap of takeaways that you can use in the pool and beyond. The Start Of Language of Coaching How My Role As A Coach Is Making An Impact Internal And External Cues How Often Do You Repeat The Analogy? Nothing Seems To Stick Storytelling Technique Writing The Book

I'm thrilled to bring back Bobby McGee, a legendary endurance coach with a knack for unlocking an athlete's full potential. But before we dive in, let me tell you a story about one of Bobby's transformative experiences. Imagine this, a room filled with some of the world's top Olympic coaches from sports as diverse as gymnastics, field hockey, and bobsledding. Bobby found himself immersed in conversations that challenged his perspective and sharpened his skills. And it wasn't just about technique or training plans. It was about understanding people on a deeper level. And this experience opened Bobby's eyes to the power of emotional intelligence in coaching and performance. It's something he's applied ever since. And in today's episode, Bobby shares some of the lessons he learned in that room. How understanding yourself and your coach can unlock new levels of performance and trust, and why mastering pacing strategies is crucial for success, and how fine tuning your mechanics can help you move more efficiently. It's a fascinating conversation filled with a lot of actionable advice, and whether you're a swimmer, a runner, a triathlete, I've got no doubt you'll take away a lot from this episode with Olympic run coach, Bobby McGee. Let's get into it. Coaching Concepts Athlete Profiling: Understanding Each Individual Athlete Emotional Analysis Building Trust Coaching Philosophies Coaching Olympic Level Athletes and Mid-Range Athletes Hardness Factor Thrive Mentality You've Got To Have That Killer Mentality Identifying Inefficiency Looking More Into Conditioning in Swimming Breathing Technique In Running Stroke Length and Stroke Rate Pacing and Energy Conservation Visualization