Freestyle Media

34:27

#206: More Strength, Less Time: Nathan Oxford on S&C...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/10/05

How much can you really achieve in the gym if you only have 40 minutes a week? Strength and conditioning coach Nathan Oxford works with some of the best Masters swimmers in the world, helping them make their time in the gym count. In this episode, Nathan shares practical advice for fitting effective strength and conditioning around a busy schedule - from fundamental movement patterns and supersets to making training more specific to your events. We look at how a small, consi...

en-us

51:20

#205: From Cardiac Arrest to Loch Ness with Nick...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/09/28

Nick Parkes shares the remarkable story of his return to swimming after suffering a cardiac arrest at the National Open Water Championships in 2023. Clinically dead for around 20 minutes, Nick has since dedicated a series of fundraising challenges to the air ambulance service that helped save his life. Now he has taken on his biggest challenge yet: swimming the full 22.5 miles of Loch Ness. Nick completed the epic swim in the dark, cold waters of the loch with fellow Masters swimmer and docto...

en-us

40:20

#204: The Comeback: Tom Cohoon on Chasing Olympian...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/09/21

After an eight-year break from competitive swimming, Tom Cohoon has made a remarkable return to sprint swimming. Inspired by watching his younger brother Alex compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Tom took on board lessons from the world’s best sprinters - and he has since broken a British Masters record in the 50m freestyle and found himself lining up alongside Olympic swimmer Alex at National Championship finals. And the most intriguing part? Tom is doing it while working full-time - chasing ...

en-us

51:57

#203: From Party Girl to World Champion: Jane...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/09/14

Jane Hansom’s story is one of transformation, resilience, and rediscovery. Once a promising swimmer in Scotland, Jane took a 20-year detour through the vibrant world of marketing and nightlife before returning to her athletic roots to become a world triathlon champion. Jane gave up swimming at 16, and returned to sport almost by chance - first as a runner, then as a triathlete - and went on to become an Ironman triathlon world champion. Now living in the Caribbean, she swims in the beau...

en-us

28:46

#202: Front End, Back End: Training the Whole Race

Freestyle Media ·

2026/09/07

Olly Espinasse - a lifelong Basingstoke Bluefins swimmer, British and European record-holder, and former coach - joins Julie Howe to share training sets spanning three decades of his swimming life. We look back to Olly’s teenage years, when he trained for everything from the 200m to the 1500m freestyle, tackling high-volume sets at high heart rates. It was a grind that taught him to hold his form under pressure, long before pace work became the buzzword it is today. We then turn to the sprint...

en-us

39:53

#201: European Gold: Katie Rees & Ben Winter on Their...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/09/01

What’s it like to compete at your first European Masters Championships - and come home with gold? European champions Katie Rees and Ben Winter join Helen Gorman to share their experiences from this year’s championships in Šamorín, Slovakia. Both making their European Masters debuts - and their first appearances on the podcast - they take us behind the scenes of the racing, the venue and the unique atmosphere of an international Masters meet. Katie, racing in the 25–29 age group, came home wit...

en-us

45:13

#200: Swimming for Life: Kelly Palace on Longevity &...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/08/24

US Masters swimmer and distance swimming World Record holder Kelly Palace joins Helen to share her fascinating journey through swimming - from coaching NCAA Division I athletes and writing books to hosting more than 300 episodes of the Champions Mojo Podcast, where she has interviewed over 50 Olympians. Kelly and Helen compare the Masters swimming scenes in the US and UK, exploring what makes them different, what they can learn from each other, and why Masters swimming continues to thrive. Th...

en-us

55:59

#199: What’s on the Menu? The Perfect Pre-Race Meal...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/08/17

Masters swimmer and nutrition coach Robbie Blackman joins us to explore one of the most important — and most debated — parts of race day: what to eat and drink before you dive in. We revisit the pre-race favourites of five Masters swimmers — Amanda Heath, Chris Jones, Janet McLean, Lizzie Bellinger and Joe Malone — and get Robbie’s verdict on their choices. From a love of rare steak and a vegetarian diet to managing a serious food allergy, their routines couldn’t be more different but fundame...

en-us

27:03

#198: The Sets We Never Forget

Freestyle Media ·

2026/08/10

Julie and Helen ease into Julie's first episode as co-host by doing something a bit different. They turn the mic on themselves and swap the training sets that never left them: the ones scrawled on a whiteboard years ago that somehow still live rent-free in their heads. Helen digs up the back-end pace breaststroke set she's been doing since joining Cardiff in 2017 (the same one she now does regularly in Lanzarote!) Julie counters with her medley comeback set, the one that got her back into rac...

en-us

46:52

#197: National Open Water & Exciting News with Alex...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/08/03

We’re celebrating four years of the Freestyle Media podcast with some exciting news! Woking’s Julie Howe joins the podcast team as a regular presenter. Find out what she’ll bring to the show and what listeners can look forward to. Helen is also joined by Nottingham Leander’s Alex Thurston to review the National Masters Open Water Championships at Rother Valley Country Park. Despite challenging high winds threatening the event, competitors enjoyed a fantastic day of racing. Alex shares his exp...

en-us

39:40

#196: European Masters Preview with Craig Ward &...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/07/27

Craig Ward and Vicki Payne join Helen Gorman to preview the pool swimming events at the European Masters Championships in Slovakia. From race goals to relays, travel and the excitement of competing against Europe’s best, they share how they’re preparing to race outdoors at the stunning X-Bionic Sphere in Šamorín. Along the way, they discuss what first-time international competitors can expect, the unique atmosphere of Masters racing abroad, and whether the local food and Slovak beer wil...

en-us

39:44

#195: Shark Bite to Oceans Seven: Paul Leonard’s...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/07/20

Paul Leonard shares the extraordinary story of becoming only the 44th person ever to complete the Oceans Seven challenge. From surviving a shark bite during his Molokai Channel attempt to returning a year later to finish the swim, Paul reveals the resilience, preparation and mental strength required to conquer the world’s toughest marathon swims. He also shares his training strategies, the highs and lows of the journey, and what it takes to succeed in one of endurance sport’s greatest c...

en-us

50:46

#194: What Is SIPE? Henry Goodlud’s Story & Woking’s...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/07/13

Woking Swimming Club’s Henry Goodlud joins the podcast to share his experience of developing Swimming-Induced Pulmonary Edema (SIPE), a potentially serious condition that forced him out of the water just weeks before the British Masters Championships in Aberdeen. Henry explains what SIPE is, how it developed during a 24-hour relay challenge, the symptoms swimmers shouldn’t ignore, and what can be done to reduce the risks. We also dive into the science behind Woking’s remarkable relay success,...

en-us

37:58

#193: In My Father’s Lane: Adam Wilkie’s Incredible...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/07/06

Adam Wilkie is taking on one of the boldest challenges in swimming. Nearly 50 years after his father, Olympic champion David Wilkie, won gold and set a world record in the 200m breaststroke at the 1976 Olympics, Adam is attempting to match that iconic winning time of 2:15.11. The odds are against him. Adam walked away from competitive swimming at just 17 and is now rebuilding from scratch at the age of 33. He’s even left his job to commit fully to the challenge, while aiming to raise £2...

en-us

39:12

#192: MS Won’t Stop me Swimming with Nicci Beynon

Freestyle Media ·

2026/06/29

Masters swimmer Nicola (Nicci) Beynon shares her journey of balancing sport, career and family life while living with multiple sclerosis. Nicci talks about resilience, adapting to challenges and the role swimming continues to play in her health, wellbeing and happiness. She explains why saying “yes” to seemingly crazy challenges is so important to her mental health and how she hopes her experiences encourage others to be open minded the limits they may place on themselves. We also dive into t...

en-us

56:51

#191: Aberdeen 2026: Records, Revelry & Masters Magic

Freestyle Media ·

2026/06/22

World records, epic performances, travel tails and pornstar martinis… Olly Espinasse (Basingstoke Bluefins) and Molly James (Trafford Metro) join Helen Gorman to break down the biggest moments from the 2026 British Masters Championships in Aberdeen. From outstanding swims to unforgettable stories on and off poolside, this championship recap captures everything that made Aberdeen 2026 one to remember. Whether you were there or not, there’s plenty to enjoy. Enjoy additional content via our Inst...

en-us

42:54

#190: Inside 20+ Years of Swimming Journalism with...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/06/15

We’re joined by respected swimming journalist Liz Byrnes, who has spent more than two decades at the heart of the sport covering Olympic Games, World Championships and some of swimming’s biggest moments. From the super-suit era and Duncan Scott’s stand against Sun Yang to athlete mental health, the rise of swimming longevity and the changing nature of elite competition, Liz shares her perspective on how the sport has evolved - and where it’s heading next. Having travelled the world covering s...

en-us

46:59

#189: Aberdeen Awaits: Previewing British Masters...

Freestyle Media ·

2026/06/08

Join Charlie Harris and Helen Gorman for a preview of the 2026 British Masters Championships in Aberdeen. As the host of Scottish Swimming’s Aqua Pod and a member of their media and marketing team, Charlie brings a unique insider perspective on the championships, the venue and the Scottish masters swimming scene. From athletes and stories to watch, to practical tips for navigating the weekend, Charlie shares his knowledge from attending numerous national events in Aberdeen. Find out which swi...

en-us

31:15

#188: Sam Lawman's Pre-Race Routines That Work

Freestyle Media ·

2026/06/01

In this episode, super sprinter and sports scientist Sam Lawman lays out exactly how to nail the final 30 minutes before you step onto the blocks. From smart priming techniques to mental cues and race-ready routines, Sam shares practical, science-backed strategies to help swimmers feel sharp, focused, and ready to fire when it matters most. Visit our Instagram channel @freestyle_media_swimming for video content (priming video available soon!) If you’d like to try bicarb, visit htt...

en-us

47:00

#187: Jo Corben’s Training Camp Tales

Freestyle Media ·

2026/05/25

Back from a week training with Trojan SC in the Lanzarote sunshine, masters world record holders Helen Gorman and Jo Corben discuss everything from tough morning sets to celebrity selfies, sightseeing and cheese. The pair discuss why Lanzarote has become the unofficial spring gathering point for masters swimmers, the atmosphere of training alongside international squads, and whether there were any swimmers left in the UK - apart from Kirsty Johnson, who stayed home and broke a world rec...

en-us

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

The GIST of It

The GIST of It

Dynasty Fantasy Football - Under The Helmet

Chad Parsons, Bleav

Overtime with Matt Moscona

Guaranty Broadcasting Company

Tha Boxing Voice

ThaBoxingvoice Radio

Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon

Yahoo Sports