15/05/2026
I had a 1-1 pool coaching session with Lynn at Lochgelly High School Pool last night.
Lynn wanted help with her breathing during front crawl. Like many swimmers, she felt she couldn’t get enough air in both the pool and open water. During open water events, waves interrupting her breathing had caused her to stop swimming altogether.
We started with a few breathing exercises to “warm up” the lungs and body before swimming. Many swimmers know that feeling where the first 10–15 minutes feels the hardest — breathing exercises can help make that transition easier.
Once in the water, Lynn was breathing every 2 strokes but still felt uncomfortable and needed a bigger breath. Instead of focusing on inhaling more, I encouraged her to focus on a softer, more controlled exhale.
That sounds counterintuitive, but swimmers who struggle with breathing are often over-breathing — gasping for air and creating tension in the body. More balanced breathing helps bring relaxation and control.
Gradually, length by length, Lynn became more relaxed and was able to stretch out her front crawl. The difference in her swimming was really noticeable.
By the end of the session, she was confidently practising breathing every 4 strokes with a calm, controlled exhale, over 4 lengths, and even managed breathing once every 6 strokes over a few lengths. This can be a really useful skill in open water when waves or other swimmers disrupt your breathing pattern.
A brilliant session that both swimmer and coach really enjoyed.
