What does 'Swimming Smart' mean to you?

SwimCoachJoao
4 days ago
2 min read

When I was asked by Seamus about what it really means to swim smart, my mind immediately went to the idea of curiosity. In the video, I talk about how true progress in the pool doesn’t come from just grinding through sets—it comes from questioning why we do each drill, each rep, each technical cue.

Too often, swimmers and coaches fall into the trap of thinking “harder is better,” when in reality, smarter training leads to more consistent, long-term improvement.

For me, smart training is rooted in intention and insight. Instead of mindlessly hammering 50s, we break down the biomechanics, the tempo shifts, the feel for the water, and the feedback loop between athlete and coach. Every sprint, turn, and breakout becomes a chance to sharpen awareness and refine precision.

Beyond that, I explained that swimming smart doesn’t mean avoiding effort—it means applying effort with purpose. It’s about matching physical intensity with mental engagement. Coaching elite sprinters has shown me that the difference between good and great is often found in tiny details: the timing of rotation, the quality of hand entry, the subtle adjustments in streamline.

Those details only emerge when the athlete is present, intentional, and curious—not just moving through the set on autopilot. And when that happens, the results speak for themselves: faster times, deeper understanding, and swimmers who truly master their craft.

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