Recently crowned a double World Masters Champion for the 400 and 800 freestyle in Doha, Dan Mills recalls his swimming journey that saw him become age group champion as a teenager and go on to compete at the Youth Olympics. After a year of full-time training as an 18 year old, Dan decided to head to university and study medicine, and has since competed on the masters stage, to quite an outstanding level. This is Through The Water With Dan Mills. 

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This week I speak once more to John Wood, who recently competed at a licensed meet and made the qualifying time for the 100m butterfly for Olympic Trials in April this year.

The Trials will be held at the London Aquatics Centre and John - who is 37 and last qualified for an Olympic Trials 20 years ago - hopes to enjoy the experience and take on a no-pressure mentality. 

John discusses how he's got faster over the years and how his training is simple but on point. 

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This week, Beth Hogg joins to talk about how we can make the pathway to masters swimming a more attractive proposition to age group, senior and university swimmers. Such a small percentage of swimmers 'make it', but the rest can still experience the best years of their swimming lives at masters level - breaking PBs, setting records and winning medals. 

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Ben Shaw has two passions: swimming and fashion. In 2022, he decided to merge the two and create his own brand, named Last Is Fast (LIF). 18 months on, he now sells a range of products including swimming caps, t-shirts, hoodies and more, through his website and at pop-up shops at swimming competitions. 

Ben talks about how he came to setting up his brand, how it's been going and where he plans to take it in the future. 

You can check out the website at www.lastisfast.co.uk

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This week we go through the water with British record holder in the 200m freestyle (short course) in the 35-39 age category, James Wardle. 

James grew up in a swimming family and began with the club his dad had a long affiliation with spanning upwards of 40 years. James says he wasn't always the best in training as a teenager, but knew he had ability, and went on to swim with the Loughborough University team when he studied a Politics degree there. 

Now late 30s, swimming has become about more than racing and PBs - it's a routine and a lifestyle that keeps him feeling healthy in the body and the mind (though he still enjoys the odd PB... don't we all!). This is Through The Water With James Wardle.

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As our masters athletes prepare to head out to Doha, Qatar, I'm joined by Amanda Heath, Olly Espinasse and Esther Iseppi before they pack their bags and fly out for competition. 

We preview the Worlds, find out what they're swimming, what their hopes for the competition are, and if they have any plans to be tourists whilst out in Qatar.

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in 2004, Nigel Kube founded SwimTherapy, a technical analysis centre filming swimmers from all angles to help improve swimmers move through the water with more efficiency. 

Nigel was the original head coach, but that mantra has since been passed on to Jay Wilson, who has held the position for seven years. 

SwimTherapy, based in Leicester, UK, works with all swimmers, from age groupers, to masters, triathletes, and those looking to start from scratch.

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This week, Kevin Pickard joins the podcast to discuss AP Race's recent Masters Grand Prix at Moorways, Derby, as well as the up and coming one at Sunderland Aquatics Centre in March. AP Race is taking a really interesting approach to competitions and is keen to see the standards raised across the board in the sport.

Check out the recent competition in November last year with this behind the scenes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYkEl_VAeu4

There's still time to sign up for the competition next month. You can enter here: https://events.aprace.club/events/masters-gp-lc-2024/

 Get 15% off products from TheMagic5 by using the link: www.themagic5.com/freestylemedialimited

Get a personalised strength and mobility programme at www.oxolt.com

Martin Bennell, of Basingstoke Bluefins, might be mid-40s, but boy is he getting quicker and quicker every year. With a number of lifetime bests last year, he is on the cusp of a British record in the 50m breaststroke and is the current European holder of the event in the 45-49 age category.

Martin talks about his journey in swimming - how he's never taken it too seriously but loves the buzz of racing, and a new approach to training is helping him continue to get PBs. This is Through The Water With Martin Bennell.

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This week, coach Abbie Whiting and masters swimmer Ken Flett, join the podcast to discuss how many competitions and races per year they believe is the best amount.

How many competitions per year should be our 'target meets'? How many races per day is too many? Should we do sacrificial events? How many practice competitions and races should we do leading up to a target meet?

Get 15% off swimming gear from TheMagic5 by using the link www.themagic5.com/freestylemedialimited

Get a personalised strength and mobility programme from Oxolt Strength and Conditioning at www.oxolt.com