Dr Jeremy Drake is a cancer researcher at Deakin University, a former elite triathlete and a current world championship age-group medallist. More than twenty years ago, I had the opportunity to coach Jeremy during his early years in elite draft-legal triathlon. Since then, his journey has spanned international triathlon competition, a PhD in cancer biology and a career dedicated to understanding how exercise and stress influence cancer progression.

In this conversation, we explore the lessons Jeremy learnt from elite sport, including a challenging introduction to draft-legal racing in Hobart and the persistence required to bounce back just six weeks later. We discuss the realities of balancing a PhD with high-performance sport, the role of resilience in both science and athletics and the personal experiences that shaped Jeremy's commitment to cancer research.

Jeremy shares the story of his mother's breast cancer diagnosis, how it transformed his perspective as both a scientist and a son and the importance of persistence when facing setbacks in life, sport and research.

We also dive into some fascinating emerging science exploring the relationship between exercise, stress and cancer. Jeremy explains what myokines are, how exercising muscles communicate with the rest of the body and why researchers are increasingly interested in the role physical activity may play in improving cancer outcomes.

We also discuss:

• The unique demands of elite draft-legal triathlon
• Persistence, failure and learning from setbacks
• Balancing sport, research and life
• Stress and cancer progression
• Exercise as medicine
• Art, creativity and fundraising for cancer research
• The future of exercise oncology

ProMetTre Cancer Research https://pmtcr.org/

Jeremy Drake, Deakin University https://experts.deakin.edu.au/43898-jeremy-drake

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/scienceandartofows/

If you found this conversation valuable, share it with a training partner or someone in your swimming or triathlon community.

You can also follow The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming on Facebook and Instagram for more episodes, insights and updates.

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

What does it mean to age successfully as an athlete?

In this episode, I sit down with Professor Peter Reaburn, one of Australia's leading experts on masters athletes and someone who has spent a lifetime bridging the gap between sport science and real-world athletic performance.

Peter's journey spans competitive swimming, surf lifesaving, triathlon, academia and masters sport. From winning one of Queensland's earliest triathlons and achieving his goal of racing the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, to leading research into healthy ageing and athletic performance, Peter brings a unique combination of scientific expertise and lived experience.

Together, we explore:

• What defines a masters athlete
• The concept of successful ageing
• Why increasing numbers of older adults are turning to open water swimming
• The role of social connection in lifelong participation
• How training should evolve as we age
• The importance of maintaining intensity and introducing new training stimuli
• Strength training, muscle mass and healthy ageing
• Recovery, sleep and nutrition for masters athletes
• Open water swimming skills, safety and preparation
• Common mistakes older athletes make
• Practical advice for swimmers who want to remain active and competitive for life

Throughout the conversation, Peter shares not only the science underpinning healthy ageing and athletic performance, but also lessons learned from more than five decades in swimming, surf lifesaving and endurance sport.

Whether you're an open water swimmer, triathlete, coach or simply interested in maintaining health and performance as you age, this episode provides valuable insights into what it means to stay active, engaged and thriving throughout life.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Research on successful ageing in masters athletes (David Geard and colleagues)
• Research on recovery in masters athletes (Thomas Doering, Nattai Borges and colleagues)
• Peter Reaburn's work on masters athlete training, recovery and longevity
• Miami Masters Swimming Club
• Masters Swimming Australia

Enjoyed this episode?

If you found this conversation valuable, share it with a training partner or someone in your swimming or triathlon community.

You can also follow The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming on Facebook and Instagram for more episodes, insights and updates.

https://www.instagram.com/scienceandartofows/ (@scienceandartofows)

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Why do people come to the water, and what keeps them returning?

In this episode, I’m joined by William Ellis: open-water swimmer, marathon swim coach, actor, voice artist, and host of An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast. Through his own swimming journey and hundreds of conversations with swimmers from around the world, Will has developed a unique perspective on resilience, community, personal growth, and the role the water can play in helping us navigate life's challenges.

Our conversation explores:

• Developing mastery when progress feels slow
• What acting and swimming can teach us about resilience
• Confidence, uncertainty and taking on ambitious challenges
• How swimming helped Will navigate grief and adversity
• The importance of community and connection in open-water swimming
• What Will has learned from interviewing swimmers from all walks of life
• Why people come to the water, and what they find there

We also discuss Will's successful English Channel crossing, his circumnavigation swims of Jersey, his preparation for a 70 km lengthwise swim of Lake Geneva, and the charitable work supporting his son Odie's specialist school.

🌊 An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast https://owswimpod.com

🎙️ William Ellis https://www.williamhenryellis.com

🏊‍♂️ Open Water Swimming profile https://www.openwaterswimming.com/actor-and-open-water-swimmer-will-ellis-raises-funds-for-charity-through-podcast-and-solo-swims/

❤️ Lake Geneva fundraiser supporting Odie's specialist SEND school https://www.justgiving.com/page/william-ellis-lake-geneva?newPage=true

If you found this conversation valuable, share it with a training partner or someone in your swimming or triathlon community.

You can also follow The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming on Facebook and Instagram for more episodes, insights and updates.

https://www.instagram.com/scienceandartofows/ (@scienceandartofows)

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

What makes an open water swimming event truly accessible?

In this episode of The Science & Art of Open Water Swimming, I speak with Sam Moore, one of the driving forces behind the GeoBay Swim, a unique 20 km point-to-point swim from Dunsborough to Busselton that has quickly become a favourite on the Western Australian open water swimming calendar.

Sam shares the story of how the event grew from an idea during Ironman WA training sessions in Geographe Bay, and how a chance conversation led him to discover that coach Mick Bray had created a similar swim years earlier. We explore how that original concept evolved into the GeoBay Swim we know today.

We discuss:

• The origins and history of the GeoBay Swim
• The influence of Mick Bray and the local swimming community
• Why the event doesn't require support boats
• The unique "beach party" changeover format
• Stopping the clock and encouraging a more social relay experience
• Wetsuits, inclusion, and reducing barriers to participation
• GeoBay's role as a stepping stone to swims such as Rottnest and Port to Pub
• Why the event continues to grow and recently sold out
• The future of the event, including potential shorter-distance options

More broadly, this conversation explores how thoughtful event design can help more people experience the challenge, community and enjoyment of open water swimming.

GeoBay Swim

• https://www.geobayswim.com.au/

GeoBay Swim on Instagram

• https://www.instagram.com/geobayswim/

GeoBay Swim on Facebook

• https://www.facebook.com/geobayswim

Parkinson's WA

• https://www.parkinsonswa.org.au/

Follow The Science & Art of Open Water Swimming for conversations with swimmers, coaches, researchers and event organisers exploring the many dimensions of open water swimming.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, your swim squad, or anyone interested in open water swimming.

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Open water swimming in Western Australia continues to grow, attracting everyone from first-time ocean swimmers to elite athletes competing on the world stage.

In this episode, I speak with Ben Roberts, Manager of Events and Partnerships at Swimming WA, about the evolution of the Swimming WA Open Water Series, now entering its twentieth season. We discuss the factors driving participation growth, how the series caters for swimmers of all ages and abilities, and the role open water swimming can play in building confidence, community and lifelong involvement in the sport.

Ben also shares his own journey from elite pool swimmer to managing Australia's largest open water swimming series, along with his perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing open water swimming in Western Australia.

• Ben's swimming journey and transition into sports administration
• The history and growth of the Swimming WA Open Water Series
• Why open water swimming is becoming increasingly popular in WA
• Participation trends across different age groups
• Creating opportunities for beginners through to elite athletes
• The importance of offering a range of event distances
• Open water swimming as a tool for retention and lifelong participation
• Regional events and expanding opportunities beyond Perth
• The pathway from pool swimming to high-performance open water competition
• The impact of hosting Australian Open Water Championships in WA
• The upcoming 3 km Knockout format and future innovations
• What the future of open water swimming in Western Australia might look like

Swimming WA Open Water Series https://www.openwaterswimming.com.au/

Swimming WA https://wa.swimming.org.au/

Swimming WA Open Water Series Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OWSSeries

Swimming WA Open Water Series Instagram https://www.instagram.com/owsseries/

Enjoyed this episode?

If you found this conversation valuable, share it with a training partner or someone in your swimming or triathlon community.

You can also follow The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming on Facebook and Instagram for more episodes, insights and updates.

https://www.instagram.com/scienceandartofows/ (@scienceandartofows)

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

What does endurance sport give us beyond fitness and performance?

In this episode, I speak with Jordina Quain, an endurance swimmer, Ironman athlete, sexologist, educator and PhD researcher exploring how exercise shapes women's sexuality and sense of self.

Jordi recently completed her first solo Port to Pub crossing to Rottnest Island after overcoming significant health challenges, using open water swimming as both a comeback goal and a pathway back to confidence, capability and connection.

Our conversation explores the deeper reasons people are drawn to endurance sport, including belonging, identity, purpose and what Jordi describes as the feeling of mattering. We discuss how exercise can influence confidence, relationships and body image, why some important aspects of women's experiences in sport remain under-discussed, and what her research is beginning to reveal about the connections between physical, mental and sexual wellbeing.

We also reflect on the role of community in achieving ambitious goals, the power of language in shaping our experiences, and why open water swimming continues to draw us back to the ocean.

• Jordi's journey into open water swimming and endurance sport
• Recovering from serious health challenges and finding a new goal
• Completing a solo Port to Pub crossing
• Community, belonging and support in endurance sport
• Confidence, capability and identity through challenge
• Women's experiences of exercise, body image and wellbeing
• Sexuality, relationships and sport
• The importance of language and framing
• The Mary Oliver quote that guided Jordi's Port to Pub swim
• What keeps drawing Jordi back to the ocean

Instagram: @the_sporty_sexologist https://www.instagram.com/the_sporty_sexologist/

LinkedIn: Jordina Quain https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordina-quain-8a800b169/

Enjoyed this episode? If you found this conversation valuable, share it with a training partner or someone in your swimming or triathlon community.

You can also follow The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming on Facebook and Instagram for more episodes, insights and updates.

Instagram: @scienceandartofows

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

What does great preparation actually look like?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Sacha Fulton, Accredited Sports Scientist, athlete preparation specialist, founder of Peak Preparation and a two-time Rottnest Channel solo swimmer, to explore how athletes can build the behaviours, routines and adaptability needed to perform when conditions don't go to plan.

Drawing on her experiences in elite sport, her work with Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and her own journey through endurance sport and open water swimming, Sacha shares why preparation is about far more than simply accumulating training kilometres.

We discuss:

• Why training performance and competition performance are not the same thing
• The role of preparation in managing uncertainty and pressure
• How adaptability can be developed through training
• Pool fitness versus open-water readiness
• Why open water swimmers should prepare for changing conditions, not perfect conditions
• The danger of becoming too reliant on numbers and metrics
• What separates elite athletes from recreational athletes
• The importance of consistency, recovery and behaviour change
• Why calmness on the start line is often a reflection of preparation

Whether you're preparing for your first open water swim, a Rottnest Channel crossing, or simply looking to become a more resilient and adaptable athlete, this episode offers practical insights from someone who has spent a career helping athletes perform at their best.

Links

🌐 Peak Preparation: https://www.peakpreparation.com.au/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peakpreparation/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sacha-fulton/

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with a friend or training partner.

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

In part two of my conversation with Adam O'Byrne, we explore his move from marathon swimming into the world of ice swimming.

Adam discusses cold-water adaptation, preparing for an Ice Mile, the physiological and psychological differences between marathon swimming and ice swimming, and how his background as a paramedic influences his approach to safety and risk.

We also talk about earning the Frosted Triple Crown, becoming an Iron Iceman, balancing endurance sport with family and career, and why some of the most important training sessions are the ones that prepare you for when things don't go according to plan.

A thoughtful discussion about challenge, preparation and what Adam calls "training for the moments"

Enjoyed this episode?

If you found this conversation valuable, share it with a training partner or someone in your swimming or triathlon community.

You can also follow The Science and Art of Open Water Swimming on Facebook and Instagram for more episodes, insights and updates.

https://www.instagram.com/scienceandartofows/ (@scienceandartofows)

This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.