There is something about water that calls many of us back as we age.
In this episode of The Gift of Age Podcast, I speak with champion open water swimmer and coach Ceinwen Roberts about why swimming, whether in the ocean or a pool, can become one of the most powerful practices for strength, calm and vitality in midlife and beyond.
“You never regret a swim.”— Ceinwen Roberts
Show Notes
Swimming is one of the rare forms of movement that strengthens the body, while also calming the mind. As we age, many people rediscover the water not only for fitness, but for the sense of rhythm, resilience and freedom it brings.
In this episode of The Gift of Age, I speak with long distance swimming champion and coach Ceinwen Roberts about the beauty and benefits of swimming across the lifespan. Our conversation explores how time in the water can support strength, endurance, mental clarity and emotional wellbeing.
Watch the full conversation with Ceinwen
Ceinwen shares insights from decades spent both competing and coaching in the water. We talk about the unique physical advantages of swimming, the mental discipline it cultivates, and the powerful sense of connection many swimmers feel with the ocean.
Importantly, this conversation is not only for ocean swimmers. Whether you swim in a pool, occasionally dip in the sea, or are simply curious about new ways to support healthy aging, swimming offers a form of movement that is sustainable, restorative and deeply joyful.
In this conversation we discuss
• Why swimming is such a powerful form of exercise in midlife and beyond• The physical benefits for strength, mobility and endurance• How the rhythm of breathing and movement in water can calm the nervous system• The unique beauty and challenge of ocean swimming• The mental resilience and confidence that swimming can build• Why swimming is not only for elite athletes but for anyone seeking health and vitality
About my guest
Ceinwen Roberts is one of Australia’s leading open water marathon swimmers and a member of the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. She has completed many of the world’s most iconic endurance swims, including the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming where she holds world records, and is widely respected in the international marathon swimming community.
Beyond her own achievements, Ceinwen is a passionate coach and mentor who helps swimmers of all levels pursue their endurance goals. She is also co- founder of the Port to Pub Ultra Marathon Swim, now a major event on the global open water calendar.
Ceinwen’s life in the water reflects not only extraordinary endurance, but also a deep commitment to resilience, community and expanding what people believe is possible.
This conversation feels especially timely for me, as I will be swimming in a team in the Port to Pub Swim this weekend, my first team crossing from Leighton Beach to Rottnest Island. The 19.7 kilometre journey across the Indian Ocean will be shared amongst the six of us. Our fabulous team of swimmers is called Swim4Kids as we are helping raise funds for the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF). The event was founded by Ceinwen and has become one of the great open water swims on the international calendar.
Why this conversation matters
In a world that often promotes increasingly complex approaches to health and fitness, swimming remains beautifully simple. It is low impact, accessible across our lifespan, and uniquely capable of supporting both physical vitality and mental calm.
Whether in the ocean, a lake or a local pool, time in the water can become one of the most sustaining practices for healthy aging.
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