The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming
Hosted by endurance swimming coach and sport scientist Grant Landers, this podcast explores the realities of open water swimming, from preparation and performance to safety and decision-making. Each episode features conversations with swimmers, triathletes, coaches, and researchers, covering topics like training alongside work and family, adapting to conditions, and learning from success and setbacks. The show draws on Grant's coaching experience and research at the University of Western Australia, but aims to serve the broader open water swimming community. Whether you're a beginner or an endurance athlete, the podcast blends personal stories with evidence-based science.
Episodes
A/Prof Heather Massey: The English Channel, Cold Water and the Science of Swimming
What can marathon swimmers teach us about staying safe in open water? Can we really adapt to cold water? And why are researchers increasingly interested in the connection between outdoor swimming, wellbeing and mental health?
In this episode, I sit down with A/Prof Heather Massey, an environmental physiologist at the University of Portsmouth and a leading researcher in cold-water immersion, swim
Ceinwen Roberts: Marathon Swimming, Community and a Life in the Ocean
In this episode of The Science & Art of Open Water Swimming, I sit down with Ceinwen Roberts; marathon swimmer, coach, event organiser and one of the most influential contributors to open-water swimming in Western Australia.
From her early days in the pool to becoming an Australian Hall of Fame marathon swimmer, Ceinwen reflects on a lifetime spent in and around the water. We explore her jou
Will Rollo: Stewardship, Safety and the Rottnest Channel Swim
The Rottnest Channel Swim is one of Western Australia's most iconic sporting events, attracting thousands of swimmers, paddlers, skippers, volunteers and supporters each year. But behind every successful crossing is a huge effort to balance tradition, participation and swimmer safety.
In this episode, I speak with Will Rollo, President of the Rottnest Channel Swim Association, about his own jour
Dr Andrew Lyttle: Biomechanics, Curiosity and the Science of Drag
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 epis
Barbara Pellick: I Reckon I Could Swim Back
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
Charlotte O'Beirne: Mermaids, Confidence and Finding Your Place in the Water
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
Dr Jeremy Drake: Persistence, Exercise and Cancer Research
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
Prof Peter Reaburn: Successful Ageing, Masters Athletes and Swimming for Life
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
William Ellis: Why We Come to the Water
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
Sam Moore: Community, Inclusion and the GeoBay Swim
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 f
Ben Roberts: Participation, Progression and the Growth of Open Water Swimming in WA
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,
Jordina Quain: Identity, Belonging and the Hidden Impact of Endurance Sport
What does endurance sport give us beyond fitness and performance?
In this episode, I speak with Jordina Quain, an endurance swimmer, Ironman athlete, sexologist, educator and PhD researcher exploring how exercise shapes women's sexuality and sense of self.
Jordi recently completed her first solo Port to Pub crossing to Rottnest Island after overcoming significant health challenges, using open wa
Dr Sacha Fulton: Preparation, Adaptability and Performing Under Pressure
What does great preparation actually look like?
In this episode, I sit down with Dr Sacha Fulton, Accredited Sports Scientist, athlete preparation specialist, founder of Peak Preparation and a two-time Rottnest Channel solo swimmer, to explore how athletes can build the behaviours, routines and adaptability needed to perform when conditions don't go to plan.
Drawing on her experiences in elite s
Adam O'Byrne: Ice Swimming, Cold Water and Training for the Moments
In part two of my conversation with Adam O'Byrne, we explore his move from marathon swimming into the world of ice swimming.
Adam discusses cold-water adaptation, preparing for an Ice Mile, the physiological and psychological differences between marathon swimming and ice swimming, and how his background as a paramedic influences his approach to safety and risk.
We also talk about earning the Frost
Adam O'Byrne: Ironman, Channel Swimming and the Triple Crown
Adam O'Byrne's endurance sport journey spans Ironman triathlon, multiple Rottnest Channel crossings and the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.
In this first part of our conversation, Adam reflects on his progression from AFL football and paramedic shift work into Ironman racing, qualifying for Kona and eventually discovering marathon swimming. We discuss his first solo Rottnest crossing, the les
Dr Jen Walsh: Sleep, Recovery and Making It Work in Real Life
In this episode, Grant sits down with Dr Jen Walsh, a sleep scientist at the University of Western Australia, for a practical and grounded conversation about sleep — not as an optimisation strategy, but as a fundamental part of everyday life.
Together, they explore how sleep works, why it matters, and how it fits into the realities of early mornings, work, family demands, and imperfect routines. T
Dr Terry Griffiths: Curiosity, Preparation and the Australian Triple Crown
In this episode, Grant speaks with Dr Terry Griffiths, ocean engineer, long-distance swimmer and recent finisher of the Australian Triple Crown of open water swimming.
Terry’s journey into the water hasn’t been about chasing podiums but about curiosity, persistence and a desire to better understand the ocean. From his early experiences around the water through to completing three very different
Warwick Dalziel: The Evolving Swim, Race Dynamics and High-Performance Coaching
In this episode, Grant sits down with high-performance triathlon coach Warwick Dalziel to explore the evolving role of the swim in elite draft-legal racing.
Drawing on over 20 years of coaching experience — from junior development pathways through to Olympic and Commonwealth success — Warwick shares how the swim has shifted from a point of separation to a high-speed, highly skilled entry into th
Duncan Kinnear: Extreme Environments, Cold Water and Racing Beyond Completion
From Rottnest to Celtman—adapting to cold water, managing effort, and learning to race in extreme conditions.
In this episode, I’m joined by Duncan Kinnear, an endurance athlete whose journey spans the Rottnest Channel Swim, Ironman racing, and the unique demands of Celtman in Scotland.
We explore how different environments fundamentally change the experience of open water swimming—from warm, l
The Science & Art of Open Water Swimming: What We’ve Learned So Far
🟢 New to the podcast? Start here.
This episode brings together what actually matters in open water swimming.
Over the past six months, this podcast has explored open water swimming through the voices of swimmers, coaches, scientists and practitioners. In this episode, we step back and reflect.
What actually matters when you’re out in the water - when conditions change, plans break down and thi
Brenton Ford: Technique, Feel and Swimming Effortlessly in Open Water
What makes good swimming technique actually hold up in open water?
In this episode, Grant speaks with swim coach, entrepreneur and Effortless Swimming founder Brenton Ford about the gap between pool swimming and the realities of open water. From stroke mechanics and breathing patterns to racing strategy, mindset and lifelong improvement, Brenton shares insights drawn from nearly two decades of c
Mel Tantrum: Open Water Coaching, Athlete Development and High-Performance Leadership
In this episode, I’m joined by Mel Tantrum, one of Australia’s most experienced swimming coaches, with a career spanning open water, high performance and now para swimming at the national level.
Mel reflects on her journey from swimmer to coach, the experiences that shaped her coaching philosophy and the lessons she wishes she had known earlier in her own swimming career. We explore the unique d
Dave Budge: Water Safety, Risk Management and the Evolution of Mass Participation Events
In this episode, Grant speaks with Dave Budge, one of Western Australia’s most influential figures in triathlon and mass participation sport, about how water safety, risk management and event delivery have evolved over the past three decades.
As a Life Member of Triathlon WA and Race Director for more than 200 triathlons, along with major open water swims including the Busselton Jetty Swim and
Dina Levačić: From Channel Swims to Researching Adaptation
In this episode, Grant speaks with Dina Levačić, an elite marathon swimmer, Ocean’s Seven finisher and emerging researcher, about what years of extreme open water swimming can teach us about health, risk and adaptation.
Dina reflects on the lived experience of channel swimming:
how pain, fatigue, cold and uncertainty become normalised over time;
the role of support crews and community knowledge
Kate Bevilaqua: Long‑Course Triathlon Swimming, Pacing and Race‑Day Decisions
In this episode of The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming, I’m joined by recently retired professional triathlete and coach Kate Bevilaqua to explore the role of swimming in non‑drafting long‑course triathlon.
With the Busselton 100 marking the close of the WA triathlon season, this conversation looks at how athletes should think about the swim not as a standalone effort, but as the first de
Vicki Delves: Coaching Beginners, Confidence and Skill Building in Open Water
In this episode, Grant is joined by Vicki Delves to explore what it really takes to help people feel confident, capable and supported as they begin their journey into open water swimming.
Drawing on her experience coaching beginners and working closely with multisport athletes, Vicki shares how she helps swimmers translate fundamental skills into confidence in real‑world environments. The conver
Does Lighter = Faster? Body Composition and Performance Readiness: A special episode - originally recorded for The Distance Dr: In Practice
This episode was originally recorded for Dr Kate Baldwin’s podcast, The Distance Dr: In Practice, and is republished here with permission.
In this conversation, Kate and I unpack one of the most persistent ideas in endurance sport — that lighter is always faster. We explore where this belief comes from, how it has been reinforced through measurement culture and why it is often oversimplified or m
Mariko Collins: Waves, Curiosity and Adapting in Open Water
In this episode, Grant speaks with engineer and open‑water swimmer Mariko Collins about how swimmers move in waves, and what those forces feel like in the body. Drawing on her research and her recent first solo Rottnest Channel crossing, Mariko reflects on adaptation, curiosity, and the psychological challenges that emerge when things start to unravel late in a long swim.
This interview was reco
Glenn Taylor: Lake Argyle, Risk Management and Creating a World‑Class Open Water Swim
In this episode, I speak with Glenn Taylor, race director of the Lake Argyle Swim, about what it takes to create and safely deliver one of Australia’s most unique open water events. They explore freshwater swimming, reduced buoyancy, big‑lake conditions, risk management, and why Lake Argyle can behave more like an inland sea than a typical lake.
For more information on the Lake Argyle Swim visi
Dr Kate Baldwin: Injury Prevention, Strength Training and When to See a Physio
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Kate Baldwin - a physiotherapist, sport scientist, former professional triathlete and Rottnest Channel solo swimmer.
We explore injury in swimmers and endurance athletes, focusing on why injuries occur and how they can be prevented.
Kate shares practical insights on common swimmer injuries, the role of strength training in endurance sport, and how athletes can bet
Adam Knight: Preparation, Persistence and the Father–Son Channel Crossing
Qantas pilot Adam Knight shares the journey from years of team swims to committing to a solo Rottnest Channel crossing. Balancing irregular rosters, structured training and lessons from the podcast, Adam prepared meticulously for the challenge. When the official event was cancelled, he and his son Patrick organised an out-of-event tandem crossing - turning months of preparation into one of the mos
A/Prof Claire Badenhorst: Women’s Physiology, Iron and Performance Wellbeing
In this episode, Associate Professor Claire Badenhorst joins the show to explore the science of women’s health and performance in endurance sport.
We discuss menstrual health literacy, iron regulation, hepcidin, and how female athletes can better understand their bodies to support training and wellbeing.
Claire shares insights from her research career across Australia and New Zealand, while al
Ryan Evernden: Post-Big Swim Recovery, Strength and the Critical 2-Week Window
After months of preparation for a long‑distance swim, many athletes reach the finish line without a plan for what comes next.
In this episode, strength and conditioning coach Ryan Evernden breaks down what smart recovery really looks like, from rehydration and real food to gentle movement, early mobility, and the first steps back into training.
A practical and evidence-informed conversation for ad
Felicity Sheedy-Ryan: Abandonment, Adaptation and the Solo Return
In 2024, Felicity Sheedy-Ryan lined up for her first solo Rottnest Channel Swim. Fit, prepared, and ready — only for the race to be abandoned mid-crossing in some of the worst conditions in the event’s history.
For many swimmers, that would have been the end of the story.
In this episode, Flick reflects on what it meant to have a deeply personal goal taken away, how injury and identity had already
Dr Angela Spence: SIPE, Hypothermia and Safety in Open Water Swimming
Marathon swimmer and exercise physiologist Dr Angela Spence joins the podcast to unpack what happens to the heart, lungs and body temperature during long open water swims. We discuss swimming induced pulmonary oedema (SIPE), hypothermia, and emerging considerations around female physiology and individual variability in endurance swimming.
Instagram @dr_angie_phd
LinkedIn: angela-spence-69a682a3
Dr Liv Stewart: Vision, Sighting and Confidence in Open Water
Join me as I talk with Dr Olivia “Liv” Stewart an experienced channel swimmer and optometrist, about the relationship between vision, confidence, and performance in open water. We unpack practical sighting techniques, smart goggle choices, and how to navigate changing conditions with more calm and control. A must‑listen for anyone who wants their open water swimming to feel smoother, safer, and
Nathaniel Wells: Preparing the Mind for Long Open Water Swims
Endurance open water swimming is as much a psychological challenge as it is a physical one, yet mental preparation is often overlooked.
In this episode, psychologist and Rottnest solo swimmer Nathaniel Wells explores how swimmers can work with discomfort, uncertainty, motivation, and self-talk during long swims, while also protecting their mental wellbeing before and after big events.
Learn more
Gaby Villa: Nutrition, Fuelling and Feeding in the Water
Sports nutritionist and triathlete Gaby Villa joins the podcast to discuss nutrition for long open water swims, with a focus on fuelling strategies and the practical realities of feeding in the water during events like the Rottnest Channel Swim.
Gaby shares common mistakes swimmers make, how to plan and practise nutrition, and why effective fuelling needs to be individualised.
Learn more about Gab
Prof Scott Draper: Ocean Science, Waves and Channel Swims
In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Scott Draper, an experienced Channel swimmer and ocean scientist, to explore how waves influence swimmers and how route optimisation can improve both performance and safety during Channel swims.
link to the route optimisation website: https://www.rcs.optiswim.com/
This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as
April Mobsby: From team to solo: progression, confidence, and reflection.
In this episode of The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming, I’m joined by April Mobsby to discuss her progression from a team swim to a duo, and now preparation for a solo Rottnest Channel crossing. We explore confidence, reflection, pacing, and what it means to learn to trust your body as the distances increase.
This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noonga
Tyson Landers: Open Water Swimming, Resilience, and the Long Way Around
In this episode, Tyson Landers shares his journey into open water swimming, the challenges that shaped him along the way, and what he’s learned about resilience, preparation, and embracing the longer path when conditions and life don’t go to plan.
This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respec
Episode 1: Why This Podcast — Stories, Science, and Open Water
Episode 1 is live.
This podcast isn’t about training plans or race results.
It’s about the people, decisions, and experiences that shape open water swims and what we can learn from them.
In this short episode, I explain why I wanted to start these conversations and what to expect from future episodes.
If there’s someone you think I should talk to on the podcast, let me know.
This was recorded o
Podcast Trailer
A short introduction to The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming — exploring what it really takes to swim well and safely in open water, where experience, preparation, and science meet.
This was recorded on Whadjuk Nyungar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyungar people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respects to Elders past and present
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