Show Notes
This week’s conversation centred around something every swimmer experiences, but few people truly prepare for: what happens after the event is over. Because the reality is that finishing the swim is only part of the journey. What you do next matters just as much.
0:00 - Intro
2:30 - 🌊 This Week In the Water We looked at several major stories and achievements from across the global open water swimming community. Including: • Port to Pub 2026 results • Australian Triple Crown completions • Catching up with Open Water Legend Grainne Moss • The Derwent River Big Swim anniversary • Ryan Stramrood’s circumnavigation of St Helena • The New Zealand Ocean Swim Series – Lake Karapiro Swim Fest • Jono Ridler’s Live Ocean challenge, continuing his long-distance journey with 129 km still to go. • A look at the upcoming release of the film, “Don’t Be Prey”.
21:30 - 🏊 The Main Set Physical Recovery After a Major Swim This week’s main topic focused on post-event physical recovery, something that many swimmers underestimate after months or even years of preparation. • Dehydration • Muscle damage and fatigue • Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) • General physical stress from prolonged effort We discussed the key stages of recovery, including: • Immediate Recovery (First Hours) • Short-Term Recovery (Days After the Event) As swelling, stiffness and fatigue settle in, recovery should focus on supporting the body’s natural repair processes. • Longer-Term Recovery (Weeks After) In the weeks that follow, swimmers should gradually transition back toward training while paying attention to any underlying issues.
40:18 - 💙 Weekly Wisdom Mental and Emotional Recovery While the body might take days or weeks to recover, the mind often takes longer. We explored the emotional side of finishing a major goal, including the experience many athletes describe as post-event blues. • A sudden loss of routine • A drop in motivation • Feelings of emptiness or lack of direction • Difficulty transitioning back into normal life
We discussed strategies to help navigate this period, including: • Accepting that these feelings are normal • Reflecting on the journey and what you have learned • Setting new goals, even small ones • Maintaining connection with the swimming community • Reconnecting with family, friends and other areas of life Recovery isn’t just about muscles and fitness. It’s about rebuilding balance across your entire life.
58:06 - 🎙 Live Q&A During the live Q&A we tackled a question many swimmers think about but rarely ask openly: How do you overcome the fear of predator animals in open water?
1:02:16 - ❄️ The Cool Down We reflected on the importance of what happens after the finish line and how recovery shapes the longevity of your swimming journey. Words of the Week: “A man is great not because he hasn’t failed. A man is great because failure hasn’t stopped him.” — Confucius –––––––––––––– 🔗 Stay Connected 📩 Join The After Swim Newsletter: https://afterswim.kit.com 📸 Instagram: /afterswimcommunity 📘 Facebook: /afterswimcommunity ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: /@afterswimcommunity ✉️ Email: [email protected] After Swim is a global online community for open water swimmers, built around conversation, shared experience and connection. If you enjoyed this episode: 👍 Subscribe 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments 🔔 Join us live next week
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This week’s conversation covered a wide cross-section of the global open water swimming community, from high-altitude swims and remote expeditions to major Australian events and meaningful milestones.
In this week’s episode we explore some of the places that make open water swimming so special. From global swim news to personal reflections on remote swim locations, this conversation is about why swimmers are drawn to certain waters and how we choose the challenges that shape our journeys. 0:00 - Intro 1:52 - 🌊 This Week In the Water We discuss: • The Completion of the Winter Swimming World Championships held in Oulu, Finland https://wswc2026.fi/ • Yolanda Carson completing the False Bay crossing in South Africa • The “NEWS” swim series concept https://infinitychannelswimming.com/honour-roll/news-swim-series/ • Andy back in the pool and what happened on race day. • The 30th anniversary of the Coogee Jetty to Jetty swim in Western Australia https://www.instagram.com/p/DVnQ3K3ABz1/ • Jay’s own experience racing Coogee Jetty to Jetty swim • Update on Jono Ridler reaching the 1,000km milestone of his incredible endurance swim. https://liveocean.org/swim4theocean/ • Reflections on the anniversary of the Epic Swim Maui reconnaissance swim https://www.instagram.com/epicswimmaui/