Four strokes, the English Channel, a hospice fundraiser and a world record. In September, Nik Haynes, Olly White, Ross Szender and Adam Tapp set a new world record for a medley relay crossing of the Channel. We catch up with Olly and Ross to hear the stories behind their swim.

And what stories! There’s a unicorn, giant jellyfish, a burning building and a bout of appendicitis — and that’s before we get to the tides and weather that can make or break any Channel crossing.

The team was supported by masters swimmer Heidi Bell-West, whose family DNA has a remarkable connection to Captain Matthew Webb, the first person to swim the Channel. Heidi was there to provide motivation, massage therapy and a steady hand amid the chaos.

Plus, Heidi joins Helen to round up some of the other intriguing Channel swimming attempts that took place around the same time the Devon Dads were making their way to France.

Visit the Devon Dads on Instagram @channelmedleyrelay2026. And visit @freestyle_media_swimming for video content.

Dan Mills joins Helen Gorman to preview the National Masters Short Course Championships in Sheffield. Last year, 17 world records fell - could we see even more this time around?

We pick out the races to watch, including a mouth-watering men’s 50m freestyle showdown between Aaron Francis and Tom Cahoon, with Commonwealth Games medallist Jamie Ingram in the mix.

The men’s 100m freestyle could see as many as six swimmers break the magical 50-second barrier, while 50-year-old Fleur Turner could be on course to dip under a minute in the women’s event.

And is women’s backstroke the hottest event in British Masters swimming right now? After a string of record-breaking performances this year, could Sheffield deliver even more?

We also celebrate some of the remarkable performances in the older age groups, exploring why Masters swimming is so good for our health and wellbeing. Dan brings a unique perspective to this discussion through his work as a doctor and public health campaigner.

Plus, he shares some stories behind Trafford Masters’ success, his own approach to swimming and his ambition to challenge for a European record in Sheffield.

We want to hear from you! Why do you think Masters swimming is getting faster and faster; and how can the sport better manage the growing demand for championship entries?

Join the conversation on Instagram at @freestyle_media_swimming or request to join our private Facebook Group.

And please share the podcast with your swimming friends. Let’s get the whole Masters swimming community talking!

See you poolside!

How do you plan a training camp that caters for everyone, from 50m sprinters to open water swimmers? Julie Howe chats to Mike Hodgson from Woking Swimming Club - he has tackled that challenge four times, organising the club’s training camp in Cyprus.

Mike shares what he learned from getting it wrong in year one, how he structures training for such a diverse squad, and why race-pace work becomes a key focus in the four weeks leading up to the National Masters Short Course Championships in Sheffield.

He also shares practical sprint and distance sets you can try in your own training, plus tips on land-based work, recovery and how to plan a successful Masters training camp of your own.

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