Just swimming for joy – COB027 - a podcast by Karen Parry outdoor swimming

This week’s podcast guest, Charlotte, has taught 900 women to swim or coached them to be better swimmers, in the past 6 years.

Listening to her think about her own swimming experiences, and how she draws on those to empathise with her clients, I wished I lived at Margaret River in Western Australia so she could coach me.

As a young swimmer she explains that swimming is just what she did. She had no concept of feeling body conscious in her togs. She was, as she puts it ‘a selfish sprinter in a pool’ who had Olympic trials before being distracted by student life.

But as an adult, when she entered her first open water event, she froze with terror.

In another event she had to be rescued as the pace of the pack carried her along and she found she couldn’t breathe.

It is these experiences she draws on, as much as her own highly competent understanding of technique, as it will be these things that will hold us back more.

She understands how much trust her clients are putting in her. She knows how brave they are being. And that inspires her to face her fears and to push on.

Her local group of wild swimmers, the Gnarabup Mermaids provides a local, friendly, welcoming, non-judgemental space where women can dip their toes into wild swimming. all abilities are welcomed and like every good outdoor swimming group, there is a local café for cake and chat afterwards.

It is a fabulous thing to find your tribe.

It seems to me to be even better if one of that tribe is a coach with a massive amount of empathy who is willing to help you reach your goals, whatever size they may be.

I really do wish I lived in Margaret River!



Things we talk about

Margaret River, Swimming Women, Gnarabup Mermaids, Rottnest, Leeuwin current, Formby Sea Swimmers and Val Smith, #Chester Frosties, WA Swimming, Paul Newsome, Swim Smooth, Barmouth Hurly Burly, Sydney harbour and ocean pools, Orkney episode of this podcast (Sarah), Swim Trek, Island Joy Rides,

Further episodes of Swim Wild Podcast

Further podcasts by Karen Parry outdoor swimming

Website of Karen Parry outdoor swimming