As a lifelong swimmer and someone who can swim front of pack, this video is spot on! I developed the relationship with the water as a young child and competitive swimmer for nearly 20 years. But trying to explain the relationship with the water to adult newcomers is very difficult. LS explains what I never could.
Same here. Had been a competitive swimmer for my whole youth, stoped frustrated at 18 when I got told it will never be enough for international competitons and started again 10 years later for triathlon. 4 months in and I'm already beating Lionels times while taking it easy. Finally I'm starting to realise how precious it is to feel at home in the water :)
Agreed! I'm a lifelong swimmer as well, even briefly coached, and yet I could never quite articulate this explanation and feeling to my athletes or friends. So well said!
stop BSing...with swimmers secret "feel for the water".....in high school, my kids were swimming 2 hours per day....olympians swim 6 hours a day for years...."feel for the water" my ass...😂
The water always gave me the shits. We had swimming lessons for PE at school. Ten years of it and I hated every second of it. Even the thought of the water would turn me into a nervous wreck. I was already 13 years old before I could put my face into the water. Terrifying.
Wow! This video gives me hope. I’m a 67 YO Ironman who has had the same relationship struggles with the water as Lionel. Trying to muscle my way through the water has made me slower and also made me view the swim as nothing more than the price of admission for the bike and run. I want to enjoy swimming for the rest of my life, but I’m not yet there. Seeing this video helps assure me that I shouldn’t give up!
I could never really swim properly, only about 2 lengths of a pool - 50m. I then got signed up for a charity sprint triathlon at work and basically over 3 months went from 50m to being able to swim 1000m. It was without a coach, I would just watch a video about a certain technique and then try it in the pool next time, 3-4 times a week. It's never too late guys, you can do whatever you set your mind to!
You have described my relationship with the water to a T. Watched so many videos and tried so many things and never ever feel smooth. I see others swim effortlessly and just don't know how to get there. Kudos to sticking with it and providing hope to us mere mortals.
Thank you Lionel. Simply wow. I just wrote this in my journal. By far the best clipped I watched on swimming since I started 12 years ago. Keywords - slip versus grip. Develop a relationship with the water. Soft-touch. Discover the right amount of pressure where it feels as if you’re gripping the water. There’s a sweet spot. Find it. Applying more pressure or less effort, causes your front crawl stroke to slip through the water and become less efficient.
I gave this man a hard time when he was doing crazy things like going vegan and doing a full ironman in training, weeks out from Kona. I criticised him for his stubborn refusal to get a coach. But I will commend him for admitting he needed help to get to the next level, for being a student of his craft and never giving up on seeking improvement. There is nobody better at talking about his sporting craft than Lionel. He is so passionate, honest and so articulate, a joy to listen to. Respect.
These are really profound insights about relations/entanglement/responsiveness between self and material generated through corporeal experience. These observations are as fascinating for swimmers/triathletes as they are for human geographers! I'm not even a triathlete, but I keep coming back to Lionel's videos because his reflections are amazing
I only learned to swim since last year at 56, to conquer a life long fear of drowning (non fatal drowning at age 10). I can now swim front crawl and breaststroke well (50m for fc and 100m for bs so far, working on more). At first water was an enemy. Now every pool time I work with water to make friends. Working on endurance and distance teaches me to stay calm to get my form and breathing in check when tired (panic can creep in). I learn swimming by myself. I go by how I feel in the water like am I moving, how fast I move, both sides the same (bilateral breathing), rotation, balance, kick….. after each lap or 2 laps I stop to recall all these to tweak the next lap. My goal is to exert only enough to move in water at a desirable speed, and be as consistent as possible. As a newbie, being consistent doing everything right is my goal. Like a golfer, hitting every ball right no matter what else is going on is important.
To hear your transition and journey genuinely inspires me in the pool. Hearing you were a 2:40/100m gives me hope. 18 months ago I couldn't swim 100 without spending all my gas tickets. I'm swimming 1:45 for 1.8km and working towards first ironman. Keep inspiring legend. Honesty is the best policy. Much love
Thanks Lionel. I started to swim in late 2019 (at 57!!!) and even with pool closures I can finally see a glimpse of improvement because I have "stopped fighting" the water and now ignore what others are thinking about me or what they are doing. Cheers mate.
The best video! Swam for fun as a kid. Took my own kids to beach. Now retired and wanted to pick it up as a lap swimmer. This video is the most important video to start with!
The last few weeks i've been evaluating why i've not been able to break my 1:45/100m 1500m pace. My next swim I'm going to introduce myself to the water and we're going to be friends. I can feel it.
I wish every “new” swimmer could see this, the insight is incredible! I was fortunate enough to be dumped in the water at 3yo, swam club for another 20, and I never knew how much I took water feel for granted. The “catch” is everything, can’t understate the importance of catch drills. In our typical club practice, I’d say 40-50% of the time was spent on “slow” drill work, not full on swimming. Lionel is so right, master the form first and then the speed will come.
He’s been stubborn and egotistic for years thats why he cant improve his swimming. He questions his coaches when he has no basic understanding of swimming. Its all about feel for the water. There’s a reason why he won’t catch the top athletes. Plain and simple.
Love this! D1 All-American here, you’re right on track when talking about “feel” and “soft hands”… immediately knew you were on the right path when I saw you hitting sculls in the vid. Very thankful that I got that feel from an early age… but oh man all of that low impact training over the years did not prepare me for running. Cheers to learning new skills!
Funny that I started swimming 6 months ago and developed a good technique 2 month in everybody said I looked very professional and elegant, but I couldn't go over 25 meters without stopping. One day, everything click, I learned that it isn't about putting pressure, it's about following the water and I had to relearn every technique again bc I'd learned the "good" technique based on the idea that you have to put pressure and now I have to readjust and I now I can swim 1.8 meters easily
I've really enjoyed your videos of late Lionel & Talbot. You can see that Lionel is clearly in a better mental headspace in his career & it shines through in your videos. It's great to see him smile & joke & not be so frustrated as he has been in past years. Keep it up.
It's similar to rowing - I was a competitive rowing coach and can tell you the fastest part of the stroke is actually on the recovery when the blades are out of the water and you're pulling your feet towards you on your way to the next stroke - the boat effectively shoots forward under your butt. Newcomers think it's all about ripping as hard as they can on the oar during the drive portion of the stroke and then racing to the next as quickly as possible... but maximizing that recovery part of the stroke in the most efficient way possible is what covers more distance between strokes. It takes years to master in order to intuitively know how to adjust on the fly at all speeds.
Lionel's explanation of swimming is the best I ever heard. I learned to swim 40 and did everything he shared, swam thousands of yards, with huge stroke counts, terrible efficiency, lots of energy expended, and glacial times ... I did not improve until many years later when I slowed down and began feeling the water. I will never post what is considered fast or even average times, but I now swim efficiently and the experience is very enjoyable.
This was the best description that I have heard. I realized that all of these how-to videos were only making it harder for me. You were spot on about how swimming is intrinsic when you learn as a child. I just learned properly at 54 and have realized that you really only know when you know. People can give tips, but you kind of need to figure it out on your own.
Such a good video. Yes, it's more like running on ice (adjust and feel when you're gripping). Love feeling every part of the water flow around me, like harmony, a symphony, no fighting.
Been in the struggle learning to swim as an adult for 2 years. Best video and super motivational for anyone trying to swim better. Got to get that water relationship going on because right now water and I have a massive love/hate relationship going on. It’s been mostly hate for the past couple of months too!
I recently started swimming and I'm glad to hear that Lionel's 100m best time was 2:00/100m back in the early days. Mine is 2:04/100m. This whole video gives me hope of improving, even at an older age.
Standing vertical and reaching to the ceiling one arm at a time with a heavy back pack is strengthening my traps and shoulders and be long in the water. First time agony next time easy now increasing weight. Just did a 42 second 50m. First swim of the year. Plus I've been doing a lot of heavy back pack walking. Stresses core hips shoulders legs and when walking. Lots of effortless swimming videos should help ur technique as well. Did u crack 2 minute 100m?
Holy crap, what an awesome video! Thank you!! I did my first sprint late last year. I went on to continue swimming hoping to get better. After months of swimming I could barely break 2:15/100. I kept trying to reach/rotate/streamline and reduce drag thinking I would automatically go faster. One day I looked back at my sprint race and noticed it was the fastest (1:45) I had swam. I finally saw it was my stroke rate. The adrenaline must have made me swim at twice the rate I was currently training at. I wasted all that time trying to swim smooth but I was also ruining my shoulders trying to pull harder to increase speed. What’s funny is after 9 months of “training” my 1:45 now is a hard effort in the pool and that same 1:45 in my race 9 months ago seemed easy!
You're absolutely spot on, as a kid the brain is so flexible it can learn anything and master it to a high degree. If you learn it later, by default it is not crucial for you to survive and that's why my friends kids that do swimming as kids will always be superior, same as learning a language really. Thats the complexity we are dealing with.
Absolutely the very best swim video I’ve ever seen! Totally makes sense, can’t wait to get into the pool and start my relationship with the water. Thanks Lionel!!!
content of this vid is absolutely brilliant in my opinion! I'm 55 today and still this motivates me so much that it really means a lot to me. Thanks LS and all the best for '22 season !!
It’s really about embracing or accepting the swim. I agree you have to find your perception of the water. Many triathletes come to the swim with preconceived notions about water and the sport.
The relationship good swimmers have with the water is: balance in water. I remember a conversation with Adam van Koeverden (Canadian Olympic gold medalist - kayak) and we talked about how great paddlers have great balance in the boat. When you are balanced in the water, you are not spending energy and technique getting your self back to balance.
The relationship I had with the water for most of my life was abject fear. I learned how to swim 10 years (I'm 52) & have completed some iron distance events since. But I continue to struggle with my swimming. I struggle & have no feel for the water. I'm just a mediocre age-grouper on my best days, but it's really great--and inspiring--to hear Lionel's reflections on swimming. Thanks!
I did my first triathlon just last fall at 34 years old. I hated swimming up until very recently because I also approached it like a runner - throwing myself in a lake and just... trying to pound out the yards. It finally clicked for me a few months ago and now I honestly look forward to all of my swim workouts every week as my favorite part of the week. I'm still not all that fast (1:55/100y or so) but I'm having so much fun with it and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Thank you for this encouragement, Lionel. It's more helpful than you probably realize.
You put into words a swimming feeling really difficult to express. Love the way you’re approaching your trainings and the way you’re expressing your thoughs in your videos. Thanks Lionel.
Well said and explained Lionel! I started to swim at my 4 years of age and I remember all those thoughts were in my head when I was swimming and getting better! Keeps strong man! Strech more and treat water like your lover.
This video just 100% changed my perspective about creating a “relationship” with the water to get faster - the self-awareness during the explications gets me fired up!
Thanks Lionel for a great vidblog. I am an older athlete training for my first triathlon and your words are inspiring and continue to give me hope that I will better my swim with practice, practice, practice and developing a relationship with the water. Great advice.
As someone that is watching videos and trying new techniques that never gets me faster... this is just GOLDEN!!! Thank you for taking the time to explain it!
I started training for a 70.3 back in October. Coming off of a few marathons, I just assumed I would be at best an average swimmer out of the gates due to my overall cardio and ability to endure discomfort. Man was I way off the mark. After 6 weeks of taking a "running" mentality of trying to push through, I was forced to hit the reset button after seeing basically no gains. This video 100% captures the stage I was in and am still to a certain extent. Developing a high level of being comfortable in the water is step 1. You can't focus on technique and always panic without. Once the light bulb goes off then you will see drastic improvements. I definitely agree with LS that it takes YEARS to develop.
years....and what people seem to forget : thousands of miles swimming....ask to those people who complain about "not improving" in swimming....how much was their biggest weekly swim volume....ask them if they can swim a perfect (without even talking about "speed") 200 medley....there is no secret sauce...no "special" abilities....as Edison would say, perfect swimming is about 1% genetic, 99% work.
As a slow swimmer with a really bad relationship with water, I'm so happy you made this video. Makes a lot of sense and I feel understood. All that you're saying truly rings a bell. So thanks so much for this video. This motivates me to pick up swimming again after 5 months of no swimming 🙈😬
Half of this is incredible encouraging to hear Lionel struggle and articulate what all of us bad/nervous/frustrated swimmers go through but the other half is extremely discouraging that it took him 11 years to figure it out 😭
I couldn’t agree more. The pleasure and satisfaction that swimming provides when you can feel this harmony and relationship with the water, is probably unmatched in any other sport. I’m definitely not out there with the best swimmers, by far not, but at 58, I swim my 1500 meters in 21 minutes of pleasure, not of suffering, and that matters more than being maybe a minute faster, and hating it. Thanks Lionel for reminding us that enjoying something is the best way to improve it 😁
Lionel, brother you changed my approach to swimming in one sentence and I am totally inspired by this interview. I totally digressed to being a kind in the pool - now just paddling on and on for hours just trying to get a feeling on what's this thing in my hands that i am trying to move around in. My only que now is the side wall of the pool that i use to guide myself - when my hands starts moving and exiting - it should be the same point (i.e. i moved and not slipped!). It is totally unbelievable - THANK YOU! I tried like you using the force that we have but then what you said totally clicked for me - reminding me that all the kids that are swimming on 1.20-1.30 easy have literally no more force than me yet they "fly". I can only add to what you are saying is that kids not only have no expectations when they interact with the water but for them being weaker it feels much more denser and they grow with this. So that's a huge advantage and something that i will try to go through (without force just feel) to get some of that taste as an adult. Big thanks and I will definitely let you know after some months in your discord channel.
I've been swimming for almost my entire life so it was hard for me to explain what the connections with water means, because that was natural for me. You explained it perfectly and it's good to know this feelings from a different point of view :)
Always an inspiration. Stay hungry and humble at the same time. What I love about you is being hungry and lately the ability to be coached. I think this will be the year!!!! All the best and God Bless!!!
I was basically resigned to running duathlons after dedicating time to swimming and not seeing my times drop at all. Thanks for giving us frustrated adult swimmers a better perspective and some hope!
Terrific insight Lionel. There are so many videos of ‘essential techniques’ but none of that comes close to a great coach who understands there’s more to swimming than technique. I’m self-taught and began swimming for my first triathlon in 2016, muscled through, unable to break 28 mins for 1500m and completely gassed out. It’s taken me a couple of very frustrating years to retrain my mind and body, but I’ve gained over 2 minutes with nowhere near the effort from before. Swimming is so much more enjoyable now
I think you are spot on. I started swimming again last year after not swimming for over 20 years. Stopped as a teen. But as a child and teen I learned that feeling for the water. After an initial phase it comes back pretty quickly. I still dont swim very fast, thats not the goal. I just enjoy the exercise and the weightloss (15kg in 6mo). Only recently I understood that other people dont have that feeling. I was often confused when some people were struggeling with basic things. For them the water is the enemy. The hostile enviroment and it stresses them out. Hence why relaxing and feeling the water is so important.
I feel the same as Lionel about swimming. I started as a midlife adult as an alternative to running when I got injured. I'm now down to 15:34 on 1 km in 25 m pool. And have a pb on 400 m of 5:56. I've done 100 m in 1:14 and is now trying to change focus to become more efficient since I've reached a plateu using my strength and cardio so far. So I can relate to everything Lionel mentions about getting only so far with strenght in the water. I've swam for nine years now. :😊
This was a wonderful interview. I’ve only been back swimming for a month, but I learned how to swim at such a young age I can hardly remember my first time in the pool. Can’t wait for my next session to see if I can dial in on the sweet spot with the water.
Grew up swimming since Johnny Weissmuller was a child hood hero. I never got into running, perhaps because I am built like a line backer... I never really had a chance for swim team after grades school. Picked it up again at about age 55, and I am 71 now. My daughter wanted me to come swimming with her and her friends after sleep overs. Also I had to get ready for getting both hips and a knee replaced. I never had to fight the water, I just took to it naturally. Getting the 'feel' for the water is huge. I do thank You Tube for some good swim instructors. Of course, some are terrible.... There is always some small thing to work on with swimming. You never get 'perfect'.
7:40 - I think about this every time I go into the open water. Of course safety first, but all it takes is a little bit of water in the mouth to throw you off and thus breathing off and thus momentum and thus no chance for a breather, but as we get more comfortable in the water less concern with this happeninig and even if it does happen you can handle it
I'd love to see Lionel apply such great insight to his running form as well, using his arms as a loosely swinging pendulum. From my point of view, it's way too tight, stopping the natural movement "the muscle way" from within full motion. But who I am to give advice to such a great athlete...
My best swims have been after a crappy day at work and going to train at night all stressed and one day I felt the water calming me and clearing my mind and was just gliding.. smile on and fell in love with swimming but I have to work on always feeling that way when I train.. thank you for reminding us!
Excellent Lionel! This note is very good for all athletes. I am an Olympic coach and it really is a central issue in the development of any athlete who competes in the water. Thank you so much!
Love Humble Lionel . He started 2mins plus per hundred. I always thought these guys are born super human super talented. But its the Hard work the grind commitment dedication is what makes them superhuman. Great video.
Lionel - I think what you’re saying helps lot of us, I totally agree and looking forward for recommendations on how to built better relationship with the water. Thanks my friend
Thank you for this story. 9th grade for me my swim coach who coached Olympian’s and state titles repeatedly said hey come out for the team you’ll love it. I said no. It would be 23 years later until I tried to teach myself. Brutal lesson. I’m also a teammate of Tower26 and Gerry
Absolutely love this video (who am I kidding, I love all of the Lionel videos!) but this is awesome and such a great reflection with powerful words and ways to rethink swimming as an adult learner. Incredible work Lionel and incredible work to the entire team that supports you! I can’t thank you enough!
Thanks Lionel, I like this perspective, very Zen if you will, over the last year it has been easy to watch your swim progress and I hope to take this and can’t wait to try some of these techniques.
Of all the things I've ever read or watched on swimming, the way LS explains this from his own perspective finally made it "click" for me. It's more of a touch thing than a blunt force thing.
Wow! Swim coach says "forget about time". "Run a mile at a 155bpm" says Dr Maffetone to a 25 year old Mark Allen. Different but same. "The master has failed more times than the student has tried". You will definitely swim better without a stiff neck hehe. I disagree with your running statement that it's different. Walking, marching, drills, troting are great ways to improve ones running posture. It's an upright feeling. Bike? Melting onto a bike is a good relationship with a bike. A feeling. It takes more skill to ride a bike slow than fast haha. Great insights come out of the toughest journeys. Thanks LS. Thumbs up
As a lifelong swimmer and someone who can swim front of pack, this video is spot on! I developed the relationship with the water as a young child and competitive swimmer for nearly 20 years. But trying to explain the relationship with the water to adult newcomers is very difficult. LS explains what I never could.
Agreed. I’m a former distance swimmer and I actually didn’t realize how much I take for granted until watching this video.
Same here. Had been a competitive swimmer for my whole youth, stoped frustrated at 18 when I got told it will never be enough for international competitons and started again 10 years later for triathlon. 4 months in and I'm already beating Lionels times while taking it easy. Finally I'm starting to realise how precious it is to feel at home in the water :)
Agreed! I'm a lifelong swimmer as well, even briefly coached, and yet I could never quite articulate this explanation and feeling to my athletes or friends. So well said!
stop BSing...with swimmers secret "feel for the water".....in high school, my kids were swimming 2 hours per day....olympians swim 6 hours a day for years...."feel for the water" my ass...😂
The water always gave me the shits. We had swimming lessons for PE at school. Ten years of it and I hated every second of it. Even the thought of the water would turn me into a nervous wreck. I was already 13 years old before I could put my face into the water. Terrifying.
Wow! This video gives me hope. I’m a 67 YO Ironman who has had the same relationship struggles with the water as Lionel. Trying to muscle my way through the water has made me slower and also made me view the swim as nothing more than the price of admission for the bike and run. I want to enjoy swimming for the rest of my life, but I’m not yet there. Seeing this video helps assure me that I shouldn’t give up!
I could never really swim properly, only about 2 lengths of a pool - 50m. I then got signed up for a charity sprint triathlon at work and basically over 3 months went from 50m to being able to swim 1000m.
It was without a coach, I would just watch a video about a certain technique and then try it in the pool next time, 3-4 times a week. It's never too late guys, you can do whatever you set your mind to!
always love how humble lionel is
You have described my relationship with the water to a T. Watched so many videos and tried so many things and never ever feel smooth. I see others swim effortlessly and just don't know how to get there. Kudos to sticking with it and providing hope to us mere mortals.
Me too
Thank you Lionel. Simply wow. I just wrote this in my journal. By far the best clipped I watched on swimming since I started 12 years ago. Keywords - slip versus grip. Develop a relationship with the water. Soft-touch. Discover the right amount of pressure where it feels as if you’re gripping the water. There’s a sweet spot. Find it. Applying more pressure or less effort, causes your front crawl stroke to slip through the water and become less efficient.
I gave this man a hard time when he was doing crazy things like going vegan and doing a full ironman in training, weeks out from Kona. I criticised him for his stubborn refusal to get a coach. But I will commend him for admitting he needed help to get to the next level, for being a student of his craft and never giving up on seeking improvement. There is nobody better at talking about his sporting craft than Lionel. He is so passionate, honest and so articulate, a joy to listen to. Respect.
These are really profound insights about relations/entanglement/responsiveness between self and material generated through corporeal experience. These observations are as fascinating for swimmers/triathletes as they are for human geographers!
I'm not even a triathlete, but I keep coming back to Lionel's videos because his reflections are amazing
I only learned to swim since last year at 56, to conquer a life long fear of drowning (non fatal drowning at age 10). I can now swim front crawl and breaststroke well (50m for fc and 100m for bs so far, working on more).
At first water was an enemy. Now every pool time I work with water to make friends. Working on endurance and distance teaches me to stay calm to get my form and breathing in check when tired (panic can creep in).
I learn swimming by myself. I go by how I feel in the water like am I moving, how fast I move, both sides the same (bilateral breathing), rotation, balance, kick….. after each lap or 2 laps I stop to recall all these to tweak the next lap. My goal is to exert only enough to move in water at a desirable speed, and be as consistent as possible. As a newbie, being consistent doing everything right is my goal. Like a golfer, hitting every ball right no matter what else is going on is important.
That's amazing. I'm the same but I just gave up. It's too difficult.
To hear your transition and journey genuinely inspires me in the pool. Hearing you were a 2:40/100m gives me hope. 18 months ago I couldn't swim 100 without spending all my gas tickets. I'm swimming 1:45 for 1.8km and working towards first ironman. Keep inspiring legend. Honesty is the best policy. Much love
I am glad that finally a pro is willing to talk about how hard swimming is.
Thanks Lionel. I started to swim in late 2019 (at 57!!!) and even with pool closures I can finally see a glimpse of improvement because I have "stopped fighting" the water and now ignore what others are thinking about me or what they are doing. Cheers mate.
The best video! Swam for fun as a kid. Took my own kids to beach. Now retired and wanted to pick it up as a lap swimmer. This video is the most important video to start with!
The last few weeks i've been evaluating why i've not been able to break my 1:45/100m 1500m pace. My next swim I'm going to introduce myself to the water and we're going to be friends. I can feel it.
:-) Once you two are acquainted, could you introduce me to your new friend?
I'm a similar pace let me know if you break it 🤣 I'm still trying to get my pre lockdown times back. Out of interest what's your 100m PB ?
@@swimgood3873 1:36 is my 100m PB
How was it
@@nathanmclain9027 I'm surprised it's not faster based on the 1500m pace. Deffo do some 100s off 2min and hard 50s off 1min to get some speed work in
I wish every “new” swimmer could see this, the insight is incredible! I was fortunate enough to be dumped in the water at 3yo, swam club for another 20, and I never knew how much I took water feel for granted. The “catch” is everything, can’t understate the importance of catch drills. In our typical club practice, I’d say 40-50% of the time was spent on “slow” drill work, not full on swimming. Lionel is so right, master the form first and then the speed will come.
He’s been stubborn and egotistic for years thats why he cant improve his swimming. He questions his coaches when he has no basic understanding of swimming. Its all about feel for the water. There’s a reason why he won’t catch the top athletes. Plain and simple.
Love this! D1 All-American here, you’re right on track when talking about “feel” and “soft hands”… immediately knew you were on the right path when I saw you hitting sculls in the vid. Very thankful that I got that feel from an early age… but oh man all of that low impact training over the years did not prepare me for running. Cheers to learning new skills!
Funny that I started swimming 6 months ago and developed a good technique 2 month in everybody said I looked very professional and elegant, but I couldn't go over 25 meters without stopping. One day, everything click, I learned that it isn't about putting pressure, it's about following the water and I had to relearn every technique again bc I'd learned the "good" technique based on the idea that you have to put pressure and now I have to readjust and I now I can swim 1.8 meters easily
I've really enjoyed your videos of late Lionel & Talbot. You can see that Lionel is clearly in a better mental headspace in his career & it shines through in your videos. It's great to see him smile & joke & not be so frustrated as he has been in past years. Keep it up.
I’ve watched this 2x now and feel like I’m still learning. These kind of knowledge sharing videos are gold
It's similar to rowing - I was a competitive rowing coach and can tell you the fastest part of the stroke is actually on the recovery when the blades are out of the water and you're pulling your feet towards you on your way to the next stroke - the boat effectively shoots forward under your butt. Newcomers think it's all about ripping as hard as they can on the oar during the drive portion of the stroke and then racing to the next as quickly as possible... but maximizing that recovery part of the stroke in the most efficient way possible is what covers more distance between strokes. It takes years to master in order to intuitively know how to adjust on the fly at all speeds.
Lionel's explanation of swimming is the best I ever heard. I learned to swim 40 and did everything he shared, swam thousands of yards, with huge stroke counts, terrible efficiency, lots of energy expended, and glacial times ... I did not improve until many years later when I slowed down and began feeling the water. I will never post what is considered fast or even average times, but I now swim efficiently and the experience is very enjoyable.
This was the best description that I have heard. I realized that all of these how-to videos were only making it harder for me. You were spot on about how swimming is intrinsic when you learn as a child. I just learned properly at 54 and have realized that you really only know when you know. People can give tips, but you kind of need to figure it out on your own.
Such a good video. Yes, it's more like running on ice (adjust and feel when you're gripping). Love feeling every part of the water flow around me, like harmony, a symphony, no fighting.
I am so happy for you that you have gained some clarity as to how to swim well, and treating swimming as an end, instead of a means to an end.
Learnt to swim at 28. 10 years on, had the best swim of my life after listening to this. Thank you, Lionel!
Been in the struggle learning to swim as an adult for 2 years. Best video and super motivational for anyone trying to swim better. Got to get that water relationship going on because right now water and I have a massive love/hate relationship going on. It’s been mostly hate for the past couple of months too!
I recently started swimming and I'm glad to hear that Lionel's 100m best time was 2:00/100m back in the early days. Mine is 2:04/100m. This whole video gives me hope of improving, even at an older age.
Standing vertical and reaching to the ceiling one arm at a time with a heavy back pack is strengthening my traps and shoulders and be long in the water. First time agony next time easy now increasing weight. Just did a 42 second 50m. First swim of the year. Plus I've been doing a lot of heavy back pack walking. Stresses core hips shoulders legs and when walking. Lots of effortless swimming videos should help ur technique as well. Did u crack 2 minute 100m?
Holy crap, what an awesome video! Thank you!! I did my first sprint late last year. I went on to continue swimming hoping to get better. After months of swimming I could barely break 2:15/100. I kept trying to reach/rotate/streamline and reduce drag thinking I would automatically go faster. One day I looked back at my sprint race and noticed it was the fastest (1:45) I had swam. I finally saw it was my stroke rate. The adrenaline must have made me swim at twice the rate I was currently training at. I wasted all that time trying to swim smooth but I was also ruining my shoulders trying to pull harder to increase speed. What’s funny is after 9 months of “training” my 1:45 now is a hard effort in the pool and that same 1:45 in my race 9 months ago seemed easy!
You're absolutely spot on, as a kid the brain is so flexible it can learn anything and master it to a high degree. If you learn it later, by default it is not crucial for you to survive and that's why my friends kids that do swimming as kids will always be superior, same as learning a language really. Thats the complexity we are dealing with.
Absolutely the very best swim video I’ve ever seen! Totally makes sense, can’t wait to get into the pool and start my relationship with the water. Thanks Lionel!!!
content of this vid is absolutely brilliant in my opinion!
I'm 55 today and still this motivates me so much that it really means a lot to me. Thanks LS and all the best for '22 season !!
Incredibly insightful. Should be mandatory listening for every triathlete at any level. Nice work Lionel
What's cool about Lionel Sanders is that he's articulate with his words and down to earth story telling. I like this guy!
It’s really about embracing or accepting the swim. I agree you have to find your perception of the water. Many triathletes come to the swim with preconceived notions about water and the sport.
The relationship good swimmers have with the water is: balance in water. I remember a conversation with Adam van Koeverden (Canadian Olympic gold medalist - kayak) and we talked about how great paddlers have great balance in the boat. When you are balanced in the water, you are not spending energy and technique getting your self back to balance.
The relationship I had with the water for most of my life was abject fear. I learned how to swim 10 years (I'm 52) & have completed some iron distance events since. But I continue to struggle with my swimming. I struggle & have no feel for the water. I'm just a mediocre age-grouper on my best days, but it's really great--and inspiring--to hear Lionel's reflections on swimming. Thanks!
I did my first triathlon just last fall at 34 years old. I hated swimming up until very recently because I also approached it like a runner - throwing myself in a lake and just... trying to pound out the yards. It finally clicked for me a few months ago and now I honestly look forward to all of my swim workouts every week as my favorite part of the week. I'm still not all that fast (1:55/100y or so) but I'm having so much fun with it and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Thank you for this encouragement, Lionel. It's more helpful than you probably realize.
You put into words a swimming feeling really difficult to express.
Love the way you’re approaching your trainings and the way you’re expressing your thoughs in your videos.
Thanks Lionel.
Well said and explained Lionel! I started to swim at my 4 years of age and I remember all those thoughts were in my head when I was swimming and getting better! Keeps strong man! Strech more and treat water like your lover.
These tips are amazing … as a adult with swim trauma I’m grateful
This video just 100% changed my perspective about creating a “relationship” with the water to get faster - the self-awareness during the explications gets me fired up!
Thanks Lionel. Second time listening to this video. Starting over (again), this time with a masters group. Your words and wisdom mean a lot.
Thanks Lionel for a great vidblog. I am an older athlete training for my first triathlon and your words are inspiring and continue to give me hope that I will better my swim with practice, practice, practice and developing a relationship with the water. Great advice.
This is probably one of the best videos about swimming on YT.
As someone that is watching videos and trying new techniques that never gets me faster... this is just GOLDEN!!! Thank you for taking the time to explain it!
I started training for a 70.3 back in October. Coming off of a few marathons, I just assumed I would be at best an average swimmer out of the gates due to my overall cardio and ability to endure discomfort. Man was I way off the mark. After 6 weeks of taking a "running" mentality of trying to push through, I was forced to hit the reset button after seeing basically no gains. This video 100% captures the stage I was in and am still to a certain extent. Developing a high level of being comfortable in the water is step 1. You can't focus on technique and always panic without. Once the light bulb goes off then you will see drastic improvements. I definitely agree with LS that it takes YEARS to develop.
years....and what people seem to forget : thousands of miles swimming....ask to those people who complain about "not improving" in swimming....how much was their biggest weekly swim volume....ask them if they can swim a perfect (without even talking about "speed") 200 medley....there is no secret sauce...no "special" abilities....as Edison would say, perfect swimming is about 1% genetic, 99% work.
great stuff Lionel. stoked to watch your races this year
I’m excited to see what you do this season💪💪
As a slow swimmer with a really bad relationship with water, I'm so happy you made this video. Makes a lot of sense and I feel understood. All that you're saying truly rings a bell. So thanks so much for this video. This motivates me to pick up swimming again after 5 months of no swimming 🙈😬
I could listen to stuff like this for hours, you guys ever thought of doing a podcast?
Hands down one of the best videos you’ve done, many people are too afraid to slow down to go faster.
Half of this is incredible encouraging to hear Lionel struggle and articulate what all of us bad/nervous/frustrated swimmers go through but the other half is extremely discouraging that it took him 11 years to figure it out 😭
I couldn’t agree more. The pleasure and satisfaction that swimming provides when you can feel this harmony and relationship with the water, is probably unmatched in any other sport. I’m definitely not out there with the best swimmers, by far not, but at 58, I swim my 1500 meters in 21 minutes of pleasure, not of suffering, and that matters more than being maybe a minute faster, and hating it. Thanks Lionel for reminding us that enjoying something is the best way to improve it 😁
As a recent adult-onset swimmer this is a really interesting perspective. Thanks, Lionel!
Lionel, brother you changed my approach to swimming in one sentence and I am totally inspired by this interview. I totally digressed to being a kind in the pool - now just paddling on and on for hours just trying to get a feeling on what's this thing in my hands that i am trying to move around in. My only que now is the side wall of the pool that i use to guide myself - when my hands starts moving and exiting - it should be the same point (i.e. i moved and not slipped!). It is totally unbelievable - THANK YOU! I tried like you using the force that we have but then what you said totally clicked for me - reminding me that all the kids that are swimming on 1.20-1.30 easy have literally no more force than me yet they "fly". I can only add to what you are saying is that kids not only have no expectations when they interact with the water but for them being weaker it feels much more denser and they grow with this. So that's a huge advantage and something that i will try to go through (without force just feel) to get some of that taste as an adult. Big thanks and I will definitely let you know after some months in your discord channel.
I've been swimming for almost my entire life so it was hard for me to explain what the connections with water means, because that was natural for me. You explained it perfectly and it's good to know this feelings from a different point of view :)
Always an inspiration. Stay hungry and humble at the same time. What I love about you is being hungry and lately the ability to be coached. I think this will be the year!!!! All the best and God Bless!!!
Swimming is frustrating! Work hard get faster..not necessarily. Great video, i'm sure all adult onset swimmers can relate.
I was basically resigned to running duathlons after dedicating time to swimming and not seeing my times drop at all. Thanks for giving us frustrated adult swimmers a better perspective and some hope!
Ny far the most helpful video I've watched about swimming. Ty Lionel
Terrific insight Lionel. There are so many videos of ‘essential techniques’ but none of that comes close to a great coach who understands there’s more to swimming than technique. I’m self-taught and began swimming for my first triathlon in 2016, muscled through, unable to break 28 mins for 1500m and completely gassed out. It’s taken me a couple of very frustrating years to retrain my mind and body, but I’ve gained over 2 minutes with nowhere near the effort from before. Swimming is so much more enjoyable now
Great content Lionel. Really gonna take this heart when I practice my swim stroke.
I wrote under one video a year ago, I'm glad that you found the right person who correctly directed you on the right track
I think you are spot on. I started swimming again last year after not swimming for over 20 years. Stopped as a teen. But as a child and teen I learned that feeling for the water.
After an initial phase it comes back pretty quickly. I still dont swim very fast, thats not the goal. I just enjoy the exercise and the weightloss (15kg in 6mo).
Only recently I understood that other people dont have that feeling. I was often confused when some people were struggeling with basic things. For them the water is the enemy. The hostile enviroment and it stresses them out. Hence why relaxing and feeling the water is so important.
Lionel, Love your Honesty and Passion. You lead by example and show Respect to others. God bless you.
Justin Slade! Can't wait to make my way down there to catch up with him and maybe do a little swimming.
Thank you so so much Lionel for this. God bless you!
great content ! Probably the best of your channel so far. It feels transparency, humility and passion.
Keep pushing Lionel !!
Inspiring Lionel! Already looking forward to getting back to the pool! Thank you 🏊♂️
Very well described! Thanks for sharing!
Yoda Lionel. Swimming, I love. Me too, sir. Me too. Proud of your humility and willingness to learn. Once again, you’re the best.
I feel the same as Lionel about swimming. I started as a midlife adult as an alternative to running when I got injured. I'm now down to 15:34 on 1 km in 25 m pool. And have a pb on 400 m of 5:56. I've done 100 m in 1:14 and is now trying to change focus to become more efficient since I've reached a plateu using my strength and cardio so far. So I can relate to everything Lionel mentions about getting only so far with strenght in the water. I've swam for nine years now. :😊
I can relate to this so much. Thank you for the incredibly wise words, can't wait to see where this journey takes you!
Inspiring! Thank you Lionel for bringing the rest of us Hope.
This was a wonderful interview. I’ve only been back swimming for a month, but I learned how to swim at such a young age I can hardly remember my first time in the pool. Can’t wait for my next session to see if I can dial in on the sweet spot with the water.
Wow!!! This is the best video about swimming I have seen - gonna take this to heart. Thanks!!! 🙏🙏🙏
Fantastic description and thoughts. Thank you.
Grew up swimming since Johnny Weissmuller was a child hood hero. I never got into running, perhaps because I am built like a line backer... I never really had a chance for swim team after grades school. Picked it up again at about age 55, and I am 71 now. My daughter wanted me to come swimming with her and her friends after sleep overs. Also I had to get ready for getting both hips and a knee replaced. I never had to fight the water, I just took to it naturally. Getting the 'feel' for the water is huge. I do thank You Tube for some good swim instructors. Of course, some are terrible.... There is always some small thing to work on with swimming. You never get 'perfect'.
Nice and insightful video. Best of luck for the next year!
7:40 - I think about this every time I go into the open water. Of course safety first, but all it takes is a little bit of water in the mouth to throw you off and thus breathing off and thus momentum and thus no chance for a breather, but as we get more comfortable in the water less concern with this happeninig and even if it does happen you can handle it
I'd love to see Lionel apply such great insight to his running form as well, using his arms as a loosely swinging pendulum. From my point of view, it's way too tight, stopping the natural movement "the muscle way" from within full motion. But who I am to give advice to such a great athlete...
My best swims have been after a crappy day at work and going to train at night all stressed and one day I felt the water calming me and clearing my mind and was just gliding.. smile on and fell in love with swimming but I have to work on always feeling that way when I train.. thank you for reminding us!
Once again he has proved why he's the man! Thank you
Excellent Lionel! This note is very good for all athletes. I am an Olympic coach and it really is a central issue in the development of any athlete who competes in the water. Thank you so much!
You delivered that message wonderfully 👏. Great video 📹
This is so inspirational! Love this wisdom.
Just started swimming 4 months ago for my first Ironman Texas!! Your an inspiration LS !!
Love Humble Lionel . He started 2mins plus per hundred. I always thought these guys are born super human super talented. But its the Hard work the grind commitment dedication is what makes them superhuman. Great video.
I can feel your passion for water in this interview. Thank you.
Lionel - I think what you’re saying helps lot of us, I totally agree and looking forward for recommendations on how to built better relationship with the water. Thanks my friend
Thanks, Lionel! You are awesome!
Great perspective and a new goal! Thanks for sharing this important insight about building a relationship with the water!
Thank you for this story. 9th grade for me my swim coach who coached Olympian’s and state titles repeatedly said hey come out for the team you’ll love it. I said no. It would be 23 years later until I tried to teach myself. Brutal lesson. I’m also a teammate of Tower26 and Gerry
Absolutely love this video (who am I kidding, I love all of the Lionel videos!) but this is awesome and such a great reflection with powerful words and ways to rethink swimming as an adult learner. Incredible work Lionel and incredible work to the entire team that supports you! I can’t thank you enough!
I'm so stoked for the coming season.
Lionel, thank you for that....such a good speech. Just at the right moment. Greets from Berlin/Germany
Thanks Lionel, I like this perspective, very Zen if you will, over the last year it has been easy to watch your swim progress and I hope to take this and can’t wait to try some of these techniques.
Of all the things I've ever read or watched on swimming, the way LS explains this from his own perspective finally made it "click" for me. It's more of a touch thing than a blunt force thing.
Loved the video. This video was for me and so spot on. Thank you Lionel for your insight.
Wow! Swim coach says "forget about time". "Run a mile at a 155bpm" says Dr Maffetone to a 25 year old Mark Allen. Different but same. "The master has failed more times than the student has tried". You will definitely swim better without a stiff neck hehe. I disagree with your running statement that it's different. Walking, marching, drills, troting are great ways to improve ones running posture. It's an upright feeling. Bike? Melting onto a bike is a good relationship with a bike. A feeling. It takes more skill to ride a bike slow than fast haha. Great insights come out of the toughest journeys. Thanks LS. Thumbs up