Today, Debbie talks to Melissa Mantak about coaching and improving your swimming for triathlon. She has been working in triathlon as an athlete and coach for two decades and has been coaching full-time since 2000.

The topic today is swimming, and improving your stroke. As Debbie points out, the swim portion of the triathlon can be frustrating for people who came from running or cycling before they started on triathlon. However, as Melissa points out, even Olympians like Michael Phelps need to work on their stroke, so whatever level you are at, never feel nervous about trying to improve.

Melissa also brings up the fact that while your stroke rate is important, it is equally important that you speed up after you’ve improved your form. It is important that your speed comes in conjunction with using good form. In fact, she recommends working on your stroke at the beginning of your swim workout, so that you’ve already made your improvements before you start trying to swim faster.  

Melissa is a certified USAT coach, former coach of the USAT national development program and also a former ITU World Cup Champion. She is currently an entrepreneur and owner of the Empowered Athlete, LLC.  She also wrote the chapter on moving from sprint to Ironman in USAT’s book The Women’s Guide to Triathlon.