Keri-Anne Payne's name is synonymous with open-water swimming. She won silver in the gruelling 10km marathon swim at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, when open-water made its Olympic debut.With London 2012 quickly approaching, Keri-Anne is predicted
It's the time of year when you take to the open water. You know you need a wetsuit, but have you considered a change of goggles? The small, clear goggles you've been using in the pool won't stand up to the demands of the open water.When it comes
in the type of water the race will be held in (sea, lake, river, reservoir, pool). Familiarity will build confidence. Find out the shape and number of laps so you can simulate the swim beforehand. Try to work out where you will position yourself for the start
with thinner material around the shoulders and arms if your stroke is strong enough to benefit from a change in pace. Whatever you choose, try swimming in the suit before you buy it. Most manufacturers allow this and many make their suits available at open-water
wetsuit in open water. It's important not to get too attached to your pull buoy, though: it will make swimming feel a lot easier, but don't let it become a security blanket.Zoggs' pull buoy (£5.99, www.zoggs.com, above) is layered for maximum buoyancy
and wasted no time in asking him exactly how each and every one of us can make big improvements in the pool or open water. Now a Speedo coach, Furniss has coached elite swimmers at Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth level. We asked him to identify
in to the dark water at Abbott’s Cliff near Dover, but the journey had really started many years earlier.I’d wanted to swim the Channel from an early age, but various constraints kept me from attempting the challenge until now. Once I’d made the decision
. At the end of an open-water swim, try to keep moving. Many athletes will stop abruptly, creating a bottleneck that affects those further back in the field. Similarly, moving away from the mount/dismount line of the bike leg will help avoid congestion. Should
