The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming

Dr Andrew Lyttle has spent more than three decades helping athletes and coaches better understand how humans move through the water. From his PhD research on drag and swimming efficiency at UWA, through nearly 20 years at WAIS, to his current role as National Performance Support Lead for Biomechanics at the AIS, Andrew has been at the forefront of swimming biomechanics in Australia.

In this episode, we explore the science of drag, why efficient swimming should feel easier rather than harder and how our understanding of technique has evolved over time. Andrew shares lessons from his research, his experiences working with elite swimmers and coaches, and some of the key biomechanical principles that apply to both pool and open water swimming.

Whether you're a swimmer, triathlete, coach or simply curious about the science behind performance, this conversation offers a fascinating insight into what makes swimmers faster and more efficient in the water.

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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.

Barbara Pellick: I Reckon I Could Swim Back

 

As a child, Barbara Pellick stood on Cottesloe Beach looking out towards Rottnest and wondered whether anyone could swim that far. Years later, after completing her first solo Rottnest crossing, she found herself standing on the beach at Rottnest thinking something even more ambitious:

"I reckon I could swim back."

 

In this episode of The Science & Art of Open Water Swimming, Barb reflects on a lifetime in the water, from discovering open water swimming in Bunbury to completing 30 solo Rottnest Channel crossings, becoming the first woman to complete a Rottnest double crossing, and going on to become the first Western Australian to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.

Along the way, we discuss:

How a relatively late start led to a lifetime of marathon swimming

The story behind her first solo Rottnest crossing and the decision to swim back

What it was like attempting a Rottnest double crossing in 1994

The lessons learned from the English Channel, Manhattan Island, and Catalina Channel

Completing more than 50 marathon swims without a DNF

Why mindset matters more than most swimmers realise

The joy of coaching and helping others achieve goals they once thought impossible

Taking on the challenge of ice swimming and completing the Extreme Ice Mile

Throughout the conversation, Barb reflects on persistence, self-belief, embracing challenge, and the importance of finding your own reason why.

Whether you're training for your first open water swim or your next major challenge, Barb's story is a reminder that remarkable achievements often begin with a simple idea:

"I reckon I could swim back."

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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.

Charlotte O'Beirne is the founder of Swimming Women, open water swimmer, coach, community builder and self-described "Chief Mermaid".

In this conversation, Charlotte shares her journey from competitive swimming in England to marathon ocean swimming in Western Australia, including multiple Rottnest Channel crossings and a personal battle with fear in the ocean. More importantly, she explains how those experiences led to the creation of Swimming Women, a community that has helped thousands of women build confidence, develop new skills and discover a sense of belonging in the water.

We discuss the importance of safe and supportive swimming environments, the power of community, lessons learned from coaching women of all ages and abilities, and why swimming is often about much more than swimming itself.

Whether you're a pool swimmer, open water swimmer, triathlete, coach, or someone considering a return to the water, this episode is a reminder that there are many ways to find your place in swimming.

Links
🌊 Swimming Women
https://www.swimmingwomen.com.au

📸 Swimming Women on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/swimmingwomen

📘 Swimming Women on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/SwimmingWomen

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.

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.

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/

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.

 

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.