17 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SWIMMING

There’s a strong case to be made for swimming being the ultimate physical activity. With correct technique, it provides a full-body workout and taxes your cardiovascular system, with a fraction of the injury risk of land-based sports. Which begs the question: why don’t more of us do it?

Despite the endless list of benefits, for most men, heading to the pool is secondary to the gym or other exercise. Many hit the pool to cool-down or recover, rather than using swimming as the main event. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a leisurely swim, but doing the same thing week in, week out isn’t going to do anything for your general fitness. But once you’re truly comfortable in the water – and know how to structure your sessions effectively – a whole new world of strength and cardio gains are at your fingertips. Here’s my best advice for pushing progress in the pool…

01 TIME IT RIGHT

Generally, public leisure centres offer regular-lane swimming sessions throughout the day. Morning sessions between 7am and 9am and early evening before 7pm are usually the busiest. It’s worth trying different session times to work out what type of swimmers are swimming and