Advertise on podcast: An Open Water Swimmer's Podcast

Available to subscribers only until end of Season 5 (March 2026). I have the nicest World Record Holder back on the podcast, he’s an astonishing swimmer: swimming faster than most can only dream; but has also become a global ambassador for our sport, championing change in our oceans and doing all he can to remain as front facing as possible. He completed the Ocean Seven in 2023 when he became the first person in history to achieve the Oceans Seven within a calendar year, and he also holds the record for the fastest cumulative time.… among his number of swimming achievements since the O7 include a record breaking Round Manhattan Swim and he’s gone on to swim around Ibiza in a two person relay with Nathalie Phol, braking another record in the process. It’s of course the wonderful Andy Donaldson.

(Available 31st January to subscribers. Episode free to play Saturday 7th February) I’ve been looking forward to this episode for some time… in July 2025, Andy Cornish swam the 33km of the English Channel. He had been blown out in 2024 rather frustratingly, due to an unlucky combination of weather, pilots retiring and boat malfunctions... He also had booked to swim the 70km of Lake Geneva in 2025: So two huge swims ended up being booked for the same year. I was lucky enough to crew for him on his Lake Geneva undertaking which was an breathtaking experience for everyone involved. Andy hit the most ferocious storm during the night on his 70km attempt which very nearly derailed the entire event: almost zero visibility, lightening, torrential rain and a fierce wind that whipped the lake up into a maelstrom for about seven hours… Andy managed to stick out the storm (and the night) and continue to swim non stop for exactly 24 hours, albeit through very gritted teeth, and landed at Meillerie, just shy of the finish. He had his swim ratified at an amazing 51km and he joined the 24hour club in the process. This is an amazing story of stop start - being on the so-called "Dovercoaster" - and also being content and satiated with the day that mother nature can give you, knowing you gave your all on such a massive lake… I recorded some voice notes throughout the day a few of which I play to Andy on the podcast for the first time… if you listen carefully you can hear him swimming in the back ground… Andrew Cornish everyone!

This lady needs no introduction, having been crowned the greatest competitive open water swimmer of all time. She won three Olympic medals, Gold at Tokyo 2016, Silver at Rio 2020 and then Gold in her final Olympics in that famous 10km in Paris 2024, where the course was challenging to say the least. On top of that she is a double World Champion in the 10km, and has won more medals in the pool and other Open Water distances. She really is the GOAT, and it was my privilege to be able to bring this chat to you… it’s Sharon van Rouwendaal…!

Episode free to play at the end of Season 5 (March 2026) This bonus episode is with the "Swim Smooth" founder and all round swimmer and international coach Paul Newsome. He came onto the podcast 5 years ago and a lot has changed since then with the launch of his swim smooth guru app; designed for swimmers to create their own training plans and it also gives live feedback on your stroke… and he is just happens to be in the best swim shape of his life. He recently completed a gruelling 16km degree swim in 30 degree water (his son periodically pouring iced water on his head) and is about to embark on another Rottnest swim, although this time as a relay. He continually champions our sport across the world and it was a delight as ever to have him on. Enjoy!

Today’s guest is a remarkable athlete: he completed the Ocean’s Seven in 2019 in a then world record time, and along the way suffered multiple visits to hospital, having been pulled unconscious out of the water twice on the odd delayed success; thanks largely to the tricky and unpredictable waters of the North Channel were he had asphyxia due to jellyfish stings, a collapsed lung and hypothermia. On separate occasions… He swam on the FINA world cup circuit, representing his native Hungary, and among his high number of other very long swims include completing an incredible 80 km crossing of Lake Balaton in 25 hours 32 minutes to join the 24-Hour Club, back in 2008. This man is a machine and an unbelievable swimmer… it’s Attila Manyoki!

Episode free to play at end of Season 5 (March 2026). We have another brilliant former guest on today who is rewriting the record books. He is only 18 and has completed the English Channel, Catalina, and a few years ago became the first male to swim the double North Channel. He is an astonishing swimmer who this year completed the first double Irish Triple Crown (double North Channel, double Galway Bay and a Triple Fastnet; It’s of course one of Sandy Cove’s favourite resident swimmers, Brian Foster.

Having come to swimming later in life my guest this week is a former top level rower turned Channel Swimmer… she is someone who consistently trains to such high level, churning out very impressive mileage extremely consistently. She swam the English Channel on her second attempt - having had a bizarre delayed success on her first; her determination and grit was wonderful to see. Among her other swims are Old Harry to the Needles, Windermere and Jersey to France… with other swims planned for the foreseeable future. It’s Julia Maguire...

My guest for Episode 2 is an Australian Paralympian, having represented his country as a runner at three Paralympic Games, before transitioning to triathlon in 2022 at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham… being totally blind from birth, he is an extraordinary athlete who has not only climbed Mt Everest to 8,300m, has competed on Dancing with the Stars, and has now taken to marathon swimming. In 2025 he completed the 48km 20 Bridges Round Manhattan swim in 9 hours and 8 minutes and later that same year he wanted to become the first totally blind person to complete the English Channel, having attempted it in 2024… this is the extraordinary (I say that a lot in this episode) Gerrard Gosens.

Episode free to play at end of Season 5. This lady needs no introduction having swam the only quadruple English Channel and she was the first person to swim a double North Channel. She recently completed within a fortnight, a triple lake challenge swimming the 65km of Lake Constance, the 37km of Lake Zurich and topping the two weeks off with a 70km Lake Geneva swim. Amazing stuff: it is of course the legendary Sarah Thomas.

This first Episode of Season 5 is with a World Record holder who swam the 70km of Lake Geneva in 2024 in a staggering 22 hours and 48 mins... becoming the fastest female ever to do so. Among her other swims are some pretty fast crossings of Lake Windermere and a double crossing of Lake Bala, and she has even ticked off the Scottish Triple Crown in Loch Awe, Loch Ness and Loch Lomond. It's the fabulous Sam Farrow.

Update on Season 5 and the bonus material that will be on offer for subscribers... very excited to share all the episodes with you all.

This second bonus episode is with the legendary Ger Kennedy. Ger was the overall captain and organiser of this mad and beautiful idea to put two five person relay teams together to swim the English Channel on a very cold winter day in January 2024. With the sea temperature around 7 degrees and air temp around 2 degrees, both teams set off in earnest, having done weeks of cold water preparation... I loved this chat as it is about ten people pushing the envelope of what is possible in winter swimming. Enjoy!!

In January of 2024 two teams of five swimmers set off to become the first winter relays to swim the English Channel. With the air temperature at 2 degrees and the water around 7 degrees, the men's team were successful in 14 hours and 45 minutes. Each team member swimming at least three one hour rotations in just their trunks, goggles and swim hat, as per EC Swimming rules. Sadly, the women's team had to abort due to a boat malfunction: that being said, while the boat was stationary and the crew were attempting to remove the issue, the women's team had to tread water alongside the bobbing vessel: again as per the hourly swim rotation rules. This event was some of the most extreme cold water swimming I have ever seen, and I was lucky enough to chat to two of the men's team... this episode is with one of the most humble swimmers you are ever likely to meet: Lee Johnson.

The final episode of Season Four is with a young man who has written himself firmly into the record books. Brian Foster, the 16 year old who in 2024 became the first man (second person) to swim the North Channel Double and also becoming then youngest ever soloist in the process. His double took him a remarkable 24 hours and 50 minutes... He also swam the English Channel and Catalina in preparation for this remarkable achievement. We chat all things Sandy Cove, swimming proper sets in the sea all year round and generally what makes this young man so special.Season 4 is in collaboration with Ocean Lube, the ocean-friendly anti-chafing skin cream that saves your skin and protects our oceans.

Today’s guest is with a former GBR elite athlete, who was originally a 400 IM swimmer, turned 10km OW swimmer. She talks very openly and candidly about her struggles with competing at the highest level of the sport, recovering form injury and also an eating disorder which very nearly took her out of the sport altogether. Once she had hung up her goggles from the sport, she decided to swim the English Channel, after also completing the Straights of Gibraltar swim. As you do. This is a wonderful chat and it was my honour to speak to Amber Keegan… Season 4 is in collaboration with Ocean Lube the anti-chafing skin cream that protects your skin and saves our oceans.