Freestyle Media

Afleveringen

• 
  #197: National Open Water & Exciting News with Alex Thurston & Julie Howe 04.08.2026 46min

  We’re celebrating four years of the Freestyle Media podcast with some exciting news! Woking’s Julie Howe joins the podcast team as a regular presenter. Find out what she’ll bring to the show and what listeners can look forward to. Helen is also joined by Nottingham Leander’s Alex Thurston to review the National Masters Open Water Championships at Rother Valley Country Park. Despite challenging high winds threatening the event, competitors enjoyed a fantastic day of racing. Alex shares his exp...
• 
  #196: European Masters Preview with Craig Ward & Vicki Payne 28.07.2026 39min

  Craig Ward and Vicki Payne join Helen Gorman to preview the pool swimming events at the European Masters Championships in Slovakia. From race goals to relays, travel and the excitement of competing against Europe’s best, they share how they’re preparing to race outdoors at the stunning X-Bionic Sphere in Šamorín. Along the way, they discuss what first-time international competitors can expect, the unique atmosphere of Masters racing abroad, and whether the local food and Slovak beer wil...
• 
  #195: Shark Bite to Oceans Seven: Paul Leonard’s Extraordinary Journey 21.07.2026 39min

  Paul Leonard shares the extraordinary story of becoming only the 44th person ever to complete the Oceans Seven challenge. From surviving a shark bite during his Molokai Channel attempt to returning a year later to finish the swim, Paul reveals the resilience, preparation and mental strength required to conquer the world’s toughest marathon swims. He also shares his training strategies, the highs and lows of the journey, and what it takes to succeed in one of endurance sport’s greatest c...
• 
  #194: What Is SIPE? Henry Goodlud’s Story & Woking’s World-Record Formula 14.07.2026 50min

  Woking Swimming Club’s Henry Goodlud joins the podcast to share his experience of developing Swimming-Induced Pulmonary Edema (SIPE), a potentially serious condition that forced him out of the water just weeks before the British Masters Championships in Aberdeen. Henry explains what SIPE is, how it developed during a 24-hour relay challenge, the symptoms swimmers shouldn’t ignore, and what can be done to reduce the risks. We also dive into the science behind Woking’s remarkable relay success,...
• 
  #193: In My Father’s Lane: Adam Wilkie’s Incredible Challenge 07.07.2026 37min

  Adam Wilkie is taking on one of the boldest challenges in swimming. Nearly 50 years after his father, Olympic champion David Wilkie, won gold and set a world record in the 200m breaststroke at the 1976 Olympics, Adam is attempting to match that iconic winning time of 2:15.11. The odds are against him. Adam walked away from competitive swimming at just 17 and is now rebuilding from scratch at the age of 33. He’s even left his job to commit fully to the challenge, while aiming to raise £2...
• 
  #192: MS Won’t Stop me Swimming with Nicci Beynon 30.06.2026 39min

  Masters swimmer Nicola (Nicci) Beynon shares her journey of balancing sport, career and family life while living with multiple sclerosis. Nicci talks about resilience, adapting to challenges and the role swimming continues to play in her health, wellbeing and happiness. She explains why saying “yes” to seemingly crazy challenges is so important to her mental health and how she hopes her experiences encourage others to be open minded the limits they may place on themselves. We also dive into t...
• 
  #191: Aberdeen 2026: Records, Revelry & Masters Magic 23.06.2026 56min

  World records, epic performances, travel tails and pornstar martinis… Olly Espinasse (Basingstoke Bluefins) and Molly James (Trafford Metro) join Helen Gorman to break down the biggest moments from the 2026 British Masters Championships in Aberdeen. From outstanding swims to unforgettable stories on and off poolside, this championship recap captures everything that made Aberdeen 2026 one to remember. Whether you were there or not, there’s plenty to enjoy. Enjoy additional content via our Inst...
• 
  #190: Inside 20+ Years of Swimming Journalism with Liz Byrnes 16.06.2026 42min

  We’re joined by respected swimming journalist Liz Byrnes, who has spent more than two decades at the heart of the sport covering Olympic Games, World Championships and some of swimming’s biggest moments. From the super-suit era and Duncan Scott’s stand against Sun Yang to athlete mental health, the rise of swimming longevity and the changing nature of elite competition, Liz shares her perspective on how the sport has evolved - and where it’s heading next. Having travelled the world covering s...
• 
  #189: Aberdeen Awaits: Previewing British Masters 2026 with Charlie Harris 09.06.2026 46min

  Join Charlie Harris and Helen Gorman for a preview of the 2026 British Masters Championships in Aberdeen. As the host of Scottish Swimming’s Aqua Pod and a member of their media and marketing team, Charlie brings a unique insider perspective on the championships, the venue and the Scottish masters swimming scene. From athletes and stories to watch, to practical tips for navigating the weekend, Charlie shares his knowledge from attending numerous national events in Aberdeen. Find out which swi...
• 
  #188: Sam Lawman's Pre-Race Routines That Work 02.06.2026 31min

  In this episode, super sprinter and sports scientist Sam Lawman lays out exactly how to nail the final 30 minutes before you step onto the blocks. From smart priming techniques to mental cues and race-ready routines, Sam shares practical, science-backed strategies to help swimmers feel sharp, focused, and ready to fire when it matters most. Visit our Instagram channel @freestyle_media_swimming for video content (priming video available soon!) If you’d like to try bicarb, visit htt...
• 
  #187: Jo Corben’s Training Camp Tales 26.05.2026 47min

  Back from a week training with Trojan SC in the Lanzarote sunshine, masters world record holders Helen Gorman and Jo Corben discuss everything from tough morning sets to celebrity selfies, sightseeing and cheese. The pair discuss why Lanzarote has become the unofficial spring gathering point for masters swimmers, the atmosphere of training alongside international squads, and whether there were any swimmers left in the UK - apart from Kirsty Johnson, who stayed home and broke a world rec...
• 
  #186: Nicola Charlesworth on Masters Swimming, Deaflympics and Determination 19.05.2026 40min

  Nicola Charlesworth shares her remarkable journey as a deaf swimmer, her return to the pool after a 17-year break, and the record-breaking performances that have made her a name to look out for in masters swimming. Her path back to success has been anything but straightforward - from representing Great Britain as an elite junior swimmer with Olympic ambitions, to navigating progressive hearing loss and recovering after being hit by a bus. Nicola shares the unexpected challenges she faces as a...
• 
  #185: Swimming Pool to Sofa: Rehab Reality with Chris Malpass 12.05.2026 37min

  Trafford Metro’s Chris Malpass chats about life in the early stages of recovery from knee surgery. Confined to the sofa rather than the pool, he shares the realities of rehab, adapting training, and the mental resilience needed to stay motivated when everything stops. Helen Gorman digs into the bigger picture; what it really means for masters swimmers to keep pushing limits in their 40s and beyond and uncovers that this is far from Chris’s first setback. Listen in for honest reflections and a...
• 
  #184: Racing Through Olympic History 05.05.2026 45min

  Join Olympic medallist and coach Brian Brinkley for a trip back to one of the most turbulent eras in sport. From the shadow of the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics to the podium highs of 1976 Summer Olympics, Brian shares what it was like inside the Olympic Village when history and controversy unfolded. We dive into the rise of East German dominance, the realities behind doping, and what it meant to race in the era of David Wilkie, when British swimming was making waves on the worl...
• 
  #183: Masters Making Waves at Aquatics GB Championships 28.04.2026 41min

  Helen Gorman catches up with masters swimmer John Wood following his standout performances at the Aquatics GB Championships in London, where racing shoulder-to-shoulder with the country’s elite pushed him to a lifetime best in the 100m butterfly at age 40. We also shine a light on other masters swimmers racing at the very top level, including Rebecca Guy, who powered her way into two finals, and Martin Bennell, who made history as the oldest ever competitor at the championships at 49. From wa...
• 
  #182: The Science of Altitude Training & Elite Insights from Mike Peyrebrune 21.04.2026 52min

  Mike Peyrebrune, coach and sports scientist at Loughborough University, joins us to share expert insight into altitude training and warm weather camps. Drawing on his experience working with Olympic swimmers, Mike explains how elite athletes use these environments to fine-tune performance - and what that really looks like in practice. We explore the science behind altitude training, from the physiological adaptations to the realities of living and training in a low-oxygen environment. What be...
• 
  #181: Inside the British Masters Decathlon 14.04.2026 36min

  We sit down with 2025 British Masters Decathlon champions Michelle Ware and Mike Hodgson to unpack one of swimming’s most intriguing competitions. They break down what the Decathlon actually is, how it works, and how any masters swimmer can get involved - whether you’re chasing points or just looking for a new challenge. We also dive into how it can keep you motivated across the season and push you beyond your usual comfort zone. Along the way, we tackle the mysterious age-adjustment formula ...
• 
  #180: From Tradition to 20.88: A New Way to Train? 07.04.2026 53min

  We discuss the radical training behind the fastest man in the world. Sonny Trigg shares what he learned from spending time in Brisbane with Cameron McEvoy. Fresh from witnessing the build-up to McEvoy’s world record-breaking 50m freestyle (20.88), Sonny gives a unique behind-the-scenes look at a programme that’s turning traditional swim training on its head. We explore the relentless focus on marginal gains, the team and environment that support it, and the mindset shift that allowed McEvoy t...
• 
  #179: Siân Clement and the Art of Extreme Swimming 31.03.2026 45min

  Meet Siân Clement, an intrepid open water and ice swimmer dividing her time between South Wales and Orkney and rarely choosing the easy path. In this episode, we learn about her remarkable journey from swimming alongside penguins in Antarctica to taking on the iconic Manhattan Island Marathon Swim and becoming the first woman to complete the Original Triple Crown of open water swimming: the English Channel, Bristol Channel, and the formidable North Channel between Ireland and Scotland. Siân s...
• 
  #178: The Art of the Taper 24.03.2026 44min

  Jamie Ingram joins us Helen Gorman to discuss his tapering strategy ahead of the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships this April. He’s one of Britain’s top butterfly swimmers and a Commonwealth Games medallist from 2022. Jamie explains what goes into preparation for a major event, what changes in the final weeks before competition, and the signs swimmers look for to know they’re ready to perform. He breaks down his 100m butterfly, from kick counts, pacing and strategy to handling pressure...