I started swimming when I was 5–6 years old. At the time, my dad told me: “We live next to the ocean and you have to be a competent swimmer. You have no choice for now — but you can stop when you’re able to rescue me from the ocean in 1–2 meter waves.” We still haven’t done that test, and honestly, I’m not in any hurry to stop swimming.

Until 2023 the swimming program at our club consisted of long, slow swims with very little emphasis on technique. During the COVID-19 years I stopped swimming completely, as it was impossible to train more than once per week. In 2022 I started again, but I didn’t see much progress because we didn’t really have a coach — just someone who was receiving training sessions remotely.

Everything changed when the coach resigned and the club was left with no one to take over. I asked my dad if he could help, and he decided to step in. He took over coaching and running the club by converting it into a USRPT program.

Now in 2026 it has been three years since I began following this specific, focused USRPT approach, which emphasizes quality and race-pace specificity over endless mileage.I’m excited to see where this journey takes me, and I’d love for you to join me along the way.