Open water swimming

Yeah.

That's my open water book, which is called Unlocking the Open Water Swim.

This is basically just how to... transition from the pool to the open water.

And then even just from the open water to a one mile swim to a 5k swim to a 10k swim, you know, which is considered a marathon swim.

Yeah.

It's, you know, at first I definitely had panic attacks.

You know, I remember that first open water swim when I had to go, I had to swim in the Gulf for that first triathlon.

And the waves were incredible.

So, yeah, I do a lot of winter

sea swimming now, and I love it.

Wow.

We're lucky just around here as well.

So and it takes it takes us back to some of the things.

And we'll talk about, you know, I think it's the daily news of open water swimming, the World Open Water Swimming Association, the World Open Water Swimming Federation, all things that you founded or like you are, as I said, like you are the human Wikipedia of open water swimming.

Yes.

So we're going to dig more and more into it, which I love this.

A lot of work has to go into it because you don't usually see adult swimmers swimming.

turned that fast but um it's possible i would say generally you know it's just getting them stronger in open water um i don't know it kind of all i mean there's work that has to be done all three equally yeah that's the

other thing that people don't realize my wife did a couple of those little smaller tries like the rock and roll try or whatever i forgot what it's called yeah Anyway, but that wasn't in a pool.

That was in a lake.

Yeah, correct.

Are all of yours in open water? Yes.

All of them in open water.

Yeah, I don't think people realize that.

I used to swim competitively until I was about 13 when I retired.

Then I got into open water swimming in 2019 because I found out there's this thing called the London Classics Medal that you just get this giant medal if you've done the London Marathon, Ride London and Swim Serpentine.

So I was like, well, I need to get that.

And then I just completely fell in love with it.

And I love that you found that kind of zen in the open water versus in the pool.

And Matt, how did you start swimming?

I got into open water swimming in 2023.

So only a few years ago.

Welcome to the Science and Art of Open Water Swimming.

Today I'm joined by Andrew Page, a marathon swimmer whose relationship with the water spans decades, continents and more than 50 crossings of the Rottnest Channel.

While many swimmers dream of reaching Rottnest just once, Andrew has crossed again and again, building a remarkable swimming journey defined not by a single performance, but by consistency, perseverance, and a lifelong love of open water.

Along the way, he's completed some of the world's most iconic marathon swims, including the English Channel, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, and the Catalina Channel, earning the prestigious triple crown of open water swimming and a place in the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

But this conversation isn't simply about big swims and impressive achievements.

It's also about the friendships that begin with a casual conversation that lasts for decades.

The trust between swimmer and coach, the support of family, and the mindset required to keep showing up when the challenges become harder and the goals become bigger.

In this episode, Andrew reflects on his early years in swimming, his first rottnest crossing, what he's learned from more than 50 journeys across the channel, and why after all these years, he still feels drawn to the water.

I swim around Manhattan.

And then, you know, and then if you're going to do around Manhattan, the other two that make up the triple crown of open water swimming is, uh, our Catalina channel from Santa Catalina Island in, uh, California to Long Beach, and that's 20 miles.

Oh, boy.

Open Pacific and night.

And, um, who used to coach, but I knew I wanted to be a better, I wanted to, I think I was listening to my heart for the first time, which was coach, coach, coach, coach.

And, um, I remember I wrote the, um, I wrote the application to ask to be in the TI training and I still have it.

It says, I have never done open water swimming, but I think I would really enjoy it.

Is that the understatement of the world?

Yeah.

But, um, he says, "You know, I don't have a wetsuit, and I'm, haven't done open water swimming yet at this point." I, and I said, "Well, what did you sign up for?" He said, "Well, the sprint." He said, "Do you think I should drop down to like a, a duathlon?" And, you know, I'm a little bit more conservative, right? So I told him, I said, "You know what? I really think you should drop down to a...

Because if you've never been in the open water, and you don't have a wetsuit, and the water is cold," it was like, you know, low 60s.

That's very cold.

So cool.

Yeah.

So there's basically, if you can get into open water swimming, you not only can unlock triathlon, but now you've got a whole nother world to explore.

And we didn't even talk about swimrun, you know?