In today’s episode, I’m sharing 10 things I wish I knew when I first started swimming. Whether you’re just beginning or have been in the water for a while, these lessons can help you take your swimming to the next level.

Let’s face it—most beginners train too hard, focus on the wrong details, and waste a lot of time and energy. That not only slows progress but can lead to frustrating plateaus or even injuries like shoulder pain.

These 10 key insights will help you avoid those common mistakes. We’ll break down what truly matters when it comes to gear, technique, training, and mindset—so you can swim smarter, stay injury-free, and start seeing real improvement in the pool.

2:00 Essential gear only
3:24 Basics first
4:56 Training
6:40 Open-water challenges
8:09 Interval training works
11:56 More Than The Pool
12:56 Drills Equals Fast Swimming
13:57 Staying Consistent
15:02 Persistence pays off
16:13 The Real Reward

In this episode, we’ll break down that key insight—how chasing speed can hold you back, why real progress comes from subtle adjustments, and the shift in perspective that turns resistance into flow. If your stroke has ever felt more like a struggle than a rhythm, this episode is for you.

1:10 Progress Isn't Linear
2:18 Video Yourself Early
3:12 Control The Mental Side
4:23 Consistency
5:52 The Clock
6:49 Your Stroke Does Not Have To Look Like The Pros
9:26 Comfortable Gear Matters More Than Fancy Gear
10:24 Have A Goal Even A Small One
12:05 How To Stay Calm In the Chaos
13:37 Swimming Beyond The Pool

In this episode, I'll give you the exact issues that hold swimmers back at each pace from beginner swimmers at two 30 per hundred or slower, all the way to advanced swimmers at one 15 per hundred for a kilometer.
And I'll also give you actionable drills and strategies to help you progress to the next level.

02:10 – Drill 1: Horizontal body posture
03:30 – Drill 2: Balanced tempo
05:00 – Drill 3: Efficient breathing
06:20 – Drill 4: Catch & pull mechanics
08:00 – Kit/gear suggestions
09:30 – Putting it all together
11:00 – Programming & progression
12:30 – Real-life example
14:00 – Summary & tips to keep improving