#164 | Tea Košnjek | Deep Strength

Tea Košnjek is a kinesiologist and a strength & conditioning coach working with Olympic-level swimmers and freedivers around the world.

From pool to depth disciplines, she helps athletes optimise their performance by focusing on strength, movement efficiency, and mastering technique.

Between 2018 and 2024, she was the technique and S&C coach for freediver Alenka Artnik, a multiple world champion and world record holder. 

Tea continues to support a wide range of freedivers globally—both pool and depth—in unlocking their full potential through strength and technique training.

In this episode we discuss:

Tea is from Slovenia, and has a background in competitive swimming.
She studied kinesiology and started coaching strength and conditioning.
Tea was inspired to look further into freediving when she saw the dives on Diveye.
Tea collaborated with Alenka Artnik (episodes #57 and #154) for many years.
What does ‘training’ mean, actually?
What are the most unique aspects of training for freediving, compared to other sports?
What is periodisation and how to do it.
What can we do during the base training phase?
How gender differences influence training decisions.
About how periods affect hormones and therefore training.
Showing up for training, perceived exertion, mental condition and how it affects motivation.
Deloading before the competition or event.
Specific attention to each freediving discipline:

(See the video version of the podcast on the True Depth Freediving YouTube channel for videos of exercises)

FIM (Free Immersion)
CWTB (Bifins)
CWT (Monofin)
CNF (No Fins)

Comparing the depth disciplines to the pool versions.
Tracking training and progress and what to track.
How to recover from training.
Supplementation (protein, creatine, omega 3, vitamin D)
Sauna, cold plunges, foam rollers, etc.
Advice for coaches on how to motivate and encourage our athletes/coachees.
Tea’s services and Instagram.
DESERT ISLAND QUESTIONS - Patreon Exclusive Section
Why does she freedive?

For all episodes of The Freedive Cafe Podcast, information about freediving courses, coaching, workshops and retreats in Dahab, Egypt, visit www.truedepthfreediving.com

To support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/freedivecafe