1. Maintain a streamlined position in the water, with high hips, minimal bending of the knees while kicking and no energy-wasting side to side movement.2. Ensure you have good stroke mechanics: arms should not cross the centre line, the elbows

You may think you're swimming well but there may be an aspect of your technique you know is not quite right - legs too low in the water, perhaps, or too much bending of the knee. Simply swimming more is not going to address these problems. You need

,” says Williams. “Go along to your local triathlon club and ask the swimming coach to assess your technique.” You may find it tough in the beginning, but if you switch from breaststroke to front crawl, you should easily knock seconds from your swim time

Q. I’m a strong swimmer but I struggle with sea events. Any ideas why?A. Alongside my academic work, I’ve been a beach lifeguard since the mid-90s and one major change I’ve seen is an increasing number of triathletes moving their regular swim

by piranhas. Or if you see yourself as a seasoned veteran, they'll show you how it is possible to shave off the seconds without having to shave your legs.If you're training for your first triathlon, it's fine to opt for any stroke in the swim but the focus

to improve your front crawl is to seek a second opinion. "It's always good to get some advice from a trained eye," says Williams. "Go along to your local triathlon club and ask the swimming coach to assess your technique." You may find it tough

and sitting on your feet with the tops of your feet against the floor. Gently lift your knees off the floor and hold for 10 seconds. Do this four times and repeat on alternate days.2. The Mistake: Poor Breathing Timing"If your technique or timing is off when

- and sometimes even in the pool when you're training. However, he's right: making friends with water could be the difference between loving every minute of a triathlon and metaphorically holding your breath until you exit the water.Triathletes from a non-swimming

naturally somewhere between your knees and groin. You don't need to actively hold it there.KickboardsKickboards are used to build leg strength and improve your kick. Triathletes are notoriously poor at kicking when they're swimming, partly because they want

It would never previously have occurred to me to seek out external help to improve my swimming or even to have a sense of introspection about it. But now, on the cusp of my first serious triathlon season, the obvious limitations of my swimming have become