The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming

Dr Jeremy Drake is a cancer researcher at Deakin University, a former elite triathlete and a current world championship age-group medallist. More than twenty years ago, I had the opportunity to coach Jeremy during his early years in elite draft-legal triathlon. Since then, his journey has spanned international triathlon competition, a PhD in cancer biology and a career dedicated to understanding how exercise and stress influence cancer progression.

In this conversation, we explore the lessons Jeremy learnt from elite sport, including a challenging introduction to draft-legal racing in Hobart and the persistence required to bounce back just six weeks later. We discuss the realities of balancing a PhD with high-performance sport, the role of resilience in both science and athletics and the personal experiences that shaped Jeremy's commitment to cancer research.

Jeremy shares the story of his mother's breast cancer diagnosis, how it transformed his perspective as both a scientist and a son and the importance of persistence when facing setbacks in life, sport and research.

We also dive into some fascinating emerging science exploring the relationship between exercise, stress and cancer. Jeremy explains what myokines are, how exercising muscles communicate with the rest of the body and why researchers are increasingly interested in the role physical activity may play in improving cancer outcomes.

We also discuss:

The unique demands of elite draft-legal triathlon

Persistence, failure and learning from setbacks

Balancing sport, research and life

Stress and cancer progression

Exercise as medicine

Art, creativity and fundraising for cancer research

The future of exercise oncology

Links
ProMetTre Cancer Research
https://pmtcr.org/

Jeremy Drake, Deakin University
https://experts.deakin.edu.au/43898-jeremy-drake

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/scienceandartofows/

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This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

What does it mean to age successfully as an athlete?

In this episode, I sit down with Professor Peter Reaburn, one of Australia's leading experts on masters athletes and someone who has spent a lifetime bridging the gap between sport science and real-world athletic performance.

Peter's journey spans competitive swimming, surf lifesaving, triathlon, academia and masters sport. From winning one of Queensland's earliest triathlons and achieving his goal of racing the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, to leading research into healthy ageing and athletic performance, Peter brings a unique combination of scientific expertise and lived experience.

Together, we explore:

What defines a masters athlete

The concept of successful ageing

Why increasing numbers of older adults are turning to open water swimming

The role of social connection in lifelong participation

How training should evolve as we age

The importance of maintaining intensity and introducing new training stimuli

Strength training, muscle mass and healthy ageing

Recovery, sleep and nutrition for masters athletes

Open water swimming skills, safety and preparation

Common mistakes older athletes make

Practical advice for swimmers who want to remain active and competitive for life

Throughout the conversation, Peter shares not only the science underpinning healthy ageing and athletic performance, but also lessons learned from more than five decades in swimming, surf lifesaving and endurance sport.

Whether you're an open water swimmer, triathlete, coach or simply interested in maintaining health and performance as you age, this episode provides valuable insights into what it means to stay active, engaged and thriving throughout life.

 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Research on successful ageing in masters athletes (David Geard and colleagues)

Research on recovery in masters athletes (Thomas Doering, Nattai Borges and colleagues)

Peter Reaburn's work on masters athlete training, recovery and longevity

Miami Masters Swimming Club

Masters Swimming Australia

 

 

Enjoyed this episode?

If you found this conversation valuable, share it with a training partner or someone in your swimming or triathlon community.

You can also follow The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming on Facebook and Instagram for more episodes, insights and updates.

https://www.instagram.com/scienceandartofows/ (@scienceandartofows)

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Why do people come to the water, and what keeps them returning?

In this episode, I’m joined by William Ellis: open-water swimmer, marathon swim coach, actor, voice artist, and host of An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast. Through his own swimming journey and hundreds of conversations with swimmers from around the world, Will has developed a unique perspective on resilience, community, personal growth, and the role the water can play in helping us navigate life's challenges.

Our conversation explores:

Developing mastery when progress feels slow

What acting and swimming can teach us about resilience

Confidence, uncertainty and taking on ambitious challenges

How swimming helped Will navigate grief and adversity

The importance of community and connection in open-water swimming

What Will has learned from interviewing swimmers from all walks of life

Why people come to the water, and what they find there

We also discuss Will's successful English Channel crossing, his circumnavigation swims of Jersey, his preparation for a 70 km lengthwise swim of Lake Geneva, and the charitable work supporting his son Odie's specialist school.

Find out more about Will
🌊 An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast
https://owswimpod.com 

🎙️ William Ellis
https://www.williamhenryellis.com 

🏊‍♂️ Open Water Swimming profile
https://www.openwaterswimming.com/actor-and-open-water-swimmer-will-ellis-raises-funds-for-charity-through-podcast-and-solo-swims/ 

❤️ Lake Geneva fundraiser supporting Odie's specialist SEND school
https://www.justgiving.com/page/william-ellis-lake-geneva?newPage=true 

Enjoyed this episode?
If you found this conversation valuable, share it with a training partner or someone in your swimming or triathlon community.

You can also follow The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming on Facebook and Instagram for more episodes, insights and updates.

https://www.instagram.com/scienceandartofows/ 
(@scienceandartofows)

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

What makes an open water swimming event truly accessible?

In this episode of The Science & Art of Open Water Swimming, I speak with Sam Moore, one of the driving forces behind the GeoBay Swim, a unique 20 km point-to-point swim from Dunsborough to Busselton that has quickly become a favourite on the Western Australian open water swimming calendar.

Sam shares the story of how the event grew from an idea during Ironman WA training sessions in Geographe Bay, and how a chance conversation led him to discover that coach Mick Bray had created a similar swim years earlier. We explore how that original concept evolved into the GeoBay Swim we know today.

We discuss:

The origins and history of the GeoBay Swim

The influence of Mick Bray and the local swimming community

Why the event doesn't require support boats

The unique "beach party" changeover format

Stopping the clock and encouraging a more social relay experience

Wetsuits, inclusion, and reducing barriers to participation

GeoBay's role as a stepping stone to swims such as Rottnest and Port to Pub

Why the event continues to grow and recently sold out

The future of the event, including potential shorter-distance options

More broadly, this conversation explores how thoughtful event design can help more people experience the challenge, community and enjoyment of open water swimming.

Links
GeoBay Swim

https://www.geobayswim.com.au/

GeoBay Swim on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/geobayswim/

GeoBay Swim on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/geobayswim

Parkinson's WA

https://www.parkinsonswa.org.au/

Connect with the Podcast
Follow The Science & Art of Open Water Swimming for conversations with swimmers, coaches, researchers and event organisers exploring the many dimensions of open water swimming.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, your swim squad, or anyone interested in open water swimming.

 

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Open water swimming in Western Australia continues to grow, attracting everyone from first-time ocean swimmers to elite athletes competing on the world stage.

In this episode, I speak with Ben Roberts, Manager of Events and Partnerships at Swimming WA, about the evolution of the Swimming WA Open Water Series, now entering its twentieth season. We discuss the factors driving participation growth, how the series caters for swimmers of all ages and abilities, and the role open water swimming can play in building confidence, community and lifelong involvement in the sport.

Ben also shares his own journey from elite pool swimmer to managing Australia's largest open water swimming series, along with his perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing open water swimming in Western Australia.

In this episode we discuss:

Ben's swimming journey and transition into sports administration

The history and growth of the Swimming WA Open Water Series

Why open water swimming is becoming increasingly popular in WA

Participation trends across different age groups

Creating opportunities for beginners through to elite athletes

The importance of offering a range of event distances

Open water swimming as a tool for retention and lifelong participation

Regional events and expanding opportunities beyond Perth

The pathway from pool swimming to high-performance open water competition

The impact of hosting Australian Open Water Championships in WA

The upcoming 3 km Knockout format and future innovations

What the future of open water swimming in Western Australia might look like

Mentioned in this episode
Swimming WA Open Water Series https://www.openwaterswimming.com.au/

Swimming WA https://wa.swimming.org.au/

Swimming WA Open Water Series Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OWSSeries

Swimming WA Open Water Series Instagram https://www.instagram.com/owsseries/

Enjoyed this episode?

If you found this conversation valuable, share it with a training partner or someone in your swimming or triathlon community.

You can also follow The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming on Facebook and Instagram for more episodes, insights and updates.

https://www.instagram.com/scienceandartofows/ (@scienceandartofows)

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.