PODCAST · sports
Freestyle Media
by Helen Gorman, Joe Malone
Weekly podcasts, all for the sport we love.
Episodes
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#207: From Sprinters to Distance Swimmers: Planning the Perfect Masters Training Camp with Mike Hodgson
How do you plan a training camp that caters for everyone, from 50m sprinters to open water swimmers? Julie Howe chats to Mike Hodgson from Woking Swimming Club - he has tackled that challenge four times, organising the club’s training camp in Cyprus. Mike shares what he learned from getting it...
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#206: More Strength, Less Time: Nathan Oxford on S&C for Masters Swimmers
How much can you really achieve in the gym if you only have 40 minutes a week? Strength and conditioning coach Nathan Oxford works with some of the best Masters swimmers in the world, helping them make their time in the gym count. In this episode, Nathan shares practical advice for fitting...
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#205: From Cardiac Arrest to Loch Ness with Nick Parkes & Rebecca Lennon
Nick Parkes shares the remarkable story of his return to swimming after suffering a cardiac arrest at the National Open Water Championships in 2023. Clinically dead for around 20 minutes, Nick has since dedicated a series of fundraising challenges to the air ambulance service that helped save his...
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#204: The Comeback: Tom Cohoon on Chasing Olympian Brother
After an eight-year break from competitive swimming, Tom Cohoon has made a remarkable return to sprint swimming. Inspired by watching his younger brother Alex compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Tom took on board lessons from the world’s best sprinters - and he has since broken a British Masters...
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#203: From Party Girl to World Champion: Jane Hansom's Journey
Jane Hansom’s story is one of transformation, resilience, and rediscovery. Once a promising swimmer in Scotland, Jane took a 20-year detour through the vibrant world of marketing and nightlife before returning to her athletic roots to become a world triathlon champion. Jane gave up swimming at…
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#202: Front End, Back End: Training the Whole Race
Olly Espinasse - a lifelong Basingstoke Bluefins swimmer, British and European record-holder, and former coach - joins Julie Howe to share training sets spanning three decades of his swimming life. We look back to Olly’s teenage years, when he trained for everything from the 200m to the 1500m...
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#201: European Gold: Katie Rees & Ben Winter on Their Šamorín Experience
What’s it like to compete at your first European Masters Championships - and come home with gold? European champions Katie Rees and Ben Winter join Helen Gorman to share their experiences from this year’s championships in Šamorín, Slovakia. Both making their European Masters debuts - and their...
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#200: Swimming for Life: Kelly Palace on Longevity & Performance
US Masters swimmer and distance swimming World Record holder Kelly Palace joins Helen to share her fascinating journey through swimming - from coaching NCAA Division I athletes and writing books to hosting more than 300 episodes of the Champions Mojo Podcast, where she has interviewed over 50...
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#199: What’s on the Menu? The Perfect Pre-Race Meal with Robbie Blackman
Masters swimmer and nutrition coach Robbie Blackman joins us to explore one of the most important — and most debated — parts of race day: what to eat and drink before you dive in. We revisit the pre-race favourites of five Masters swimmers — Amanda Heath, Chris Jones, Janet McLean, Lizzie…
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#198: The Sets We Never Forget
Julie and Helen ease into Julie's first episode as co-host by doing something a bit different. They turn the mic on themselves and swap the training sets that never left them: the ones scrawled on a whiteboard years ago that somehow still live rent-free in their heads. Helen digs up the back-end...
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#197: National Open Water & Exciting News with Alex Thurston & Julie Howe
We’re celebrating four years of the Freestyle Media podcast with some exciting news! Woking’s Julie Howe joins the podcast team as a regular presenter. Find out what she’ll bring to the show and what listeners can look forward to. Helen is also joined by Nottingham Leander’s Alex Thurston to…
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#196: European Masters Preview with Craig Ward & Vicki Payne
Craig Ward and Vicki Payne join Helen Gorman to preview the pool swimming events at the European Masters Championships in Slovakia. From race goals to relays, travel and the excitement of competing against Europe’s best, they share how they’re preparing to race outdoors at the stunning X-Bionic...
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#195: Shark Bite to Oceans Seven: Paul Leonard’s Extraordinary Journey
Paul Leonard shares the extraordinary story of becoming only the 44th person ever to complete the Oceans Seven challenge. From surviving a shark bite during his Molokai Channel attempt to returning a year later to finish the swim, Paul reveals the resilience, preparation and mental strength...
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#194: What Is SIPE? Henry Goodlud’s Story & Woking’s World-Record Formula
Woking Swimming Club’s Henry Goodlud joins the podcast to share his experience of developing Swimming-Induced Pulmonary Edema (SIPE), a potentially serious condition that forced him out of the water just weeks before the British Masters Championships in Aberdeen. Henry explains what SIPE is, how…
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#193: In My Father’s Lane: Adam Wilkie’s Incredible Challenge
Adam Wilkie is taking on one of the boldest challenges in swimming. Nearly 50 years after his father, Olympic champion David Wilkie, won gold and set a world record in the 200m breaststroke at the 1976 Olympics, Adam is attempting to match that iconic winning time of 2:15.11. The odds are against...
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#192: MS Won’t Stop me Swimming with Nicci Beynon
Masters swimmer Nicola (Nicci) Beynon shares her journey of balancing sport, career and family life while living with multiple sclerosis. Nicci talks about resilience, adapting to challenges and the role swimming continues to play in her health, wellbeing and happiness. She explains why saying...
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#191: Aberdeen 2026: Records, Revelry & Masters Magic
World records, epic performances, travel tails and pornstar martinis… Olly Espinasse (Basingstoke Bluefins) and Molly James (Trafford Metro) join Helen Gorman to break down the biggest moments from the 2026 British Masters Championships in Aberdeen. From outstanding swims to unforgettable stories...
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#190: Inside 20+ Years of Swimming Journalism with Liz Byrnes
We’re joined by respected swimming journalist Liz Byrnes, who has spent more than two decades at the heart of the sport covering Olympic Games, World Championships and some of swimming’s biggest moments. From the super-suit era and Duncan Scott’s stand against Sun Yang to athlete mental health…
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#189: Aberdeen Awaits: Previewing British Masters 2026 with Charlie Harris
Join Charlie Harris and Helen Gorman for a preview of the 2026 British Masters Championships in Aberdeen. As the host of Scottish Swimming’s Aqua Pod and a member of their media and marketing team, Charlie brings a unique insider perspective on the championships, the venue and the Scottish…
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#188: Sam Lawman's Pre-Race Routines That Work
In this episode, super sprinter and sports scientist Sam Lawman lays out exactly how to nail the final 30 minutes before you step onto the blocks. From smart priming techniques to mental cues and race-ready routines, Sam shares practical, science-backed strategies to help swimmers feel sharp,...
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#187: Jo Corben’s Training Camp Tales
Back from a week training with Trojan SC in the Lanzarote sunshine, masters world record holders Helen Gorman and Jo Corben discuss everything from tough morning sets to celebrity selfies, sightseeing and cheese. The pair discuss why Lanzarote has become the unofficial spring gathering point for...
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#186: Nicola Charlesworth on Masters Swimming, Deaflympics and Determination
Nicola Charlesworth shares her remarkable journey as a deaf swimmer, her return to the pool after a 17-year break, and the record-breaking performances that have made her a name to look out for in masters swimming. Her path back to success has been anything but straightforward - from representing...
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#185: Swimming Pool to Sofa: Rehab Reality with Chris Malpass
Trafford Metro’s Chris Malpass chats about life in the early stages of recovery from knee surgery. Confined to the sofa rather than the pool, he shares the realities of rehab, adapting training, and the mental resilience needed to stay motivated when everything stops. Helen Gorman digs into the...
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#184: Racing Through Olympic History
Join Olympic medallist and coach Brian Brinkley for a trip back to one of the most turbulent eras in sport. From the shadow of the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics to the podium highs of 1976 Summer Olympics, Brian shares what it was like inside the Olympic Village when history and...
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#183: Masters Making Waves at Aquatics GB Championships
Helen Gorman catches up with masters swimmer John Wood following his standout performances at the Aquatics GB Championships in London, where racing shoulder-to-shoulder with the country’s elite pushed him to a lifetime best in the 100m butterfly at age 40. We also shine a light on other masters...
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#182: The Science of Altitude Training & Elite Insights from Mike Peyrebrune
Mike Peyrebrune, coach and sports scientist at Loughborough University, joins us to share expert insight into altitude training and warm weather camps. Drawing on his experience working with Olympic swimmers, Mike explains how elite athletes use these environments to fine-tune performance - and...
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#181: Inside the British Masters Decathlon
We sit down with 2025 British Masters Decathlon champions Michelle Ware and Mike Hodgson to unpack one of swimming’s most intriguing competitions. They break down what the Decathlon actually is, how it works, and how any masters swimmer can get involved - whether you’re chasing points or just...
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#180: From Tradition to 20.88: A New Way to Train?
We discuss the radical training behind the fastest man in the world. Sonny Trigg shares what he learned from spending time in Brisbane with Cameron McEvoy. Fresh from witnessing the build-up to McEvoy’s world record-breaking 50m freestyle (20.88), Sonny gives a unique behind-the-scenes look at a...
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#179: Siân Clement and the Art of Extreme Swimming
Meet Siân Clement, an intrepid open water and ice swimmer dividing her time between South Wales and Orkney and rarely choosing the easy path. In this episode, we learn about her remarkable journey from swimming alongside penguins in Antarctica to taking on the iconic Manhattan Island Marathon…
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#178: The Art of the Taper
Jamie Ingram joins us Helen Gorman to discuss his tapering strategy ahead of the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships this April. He’s one of Britain’s top butterfly swimmers and a Commonwealth Games medallist from 2022. Jamie explains what goes into preparation for a major event, what changes in…
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#177: Can Baking Soda Make You Faster?
This week we dive into the science of lactate, that familiar burning sensation you feel in the closing stages of a hard race, and explore why bicarbonate of soda – baking powder – is being used by elite athletes to slow down lactate acid production. We look at how athletes can train to improve...
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#176: From Olympic Heartbreak to King of the Channel
Michael Read MBE is a legend of British swimming. He has spent more than six decades pushing the limits of endurance in the water. Selected for the 1960 Olympic team before an accident ended that dream, he went on to carve out an extraordinary career in marathon swimming — including 33 crossings…
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#175: New age group. Same obsession.
David Bryant is competing more than anyone we know right now - chasing records and rolling back the clock to his youth. From international racing in the 80s to masters globe trotting (with a possible side hustle in espionage), he’s proof that ambition doesn’t retire. We discuss the privilege and...
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#174: From Sequins to Swimscape
Mel Bardsley has never just “gone for a swim.” From representing her country in artistic swimming to winning BUCS university water polo championships and competing in National League Division 1, she’s spent a lifetime pushing limits in the water. She’s swum the English Channel in a relay, claimed...
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#173: I Used AI to Break a British Masters Record
In December, Dom Wooldridge broke the British Masters 100m butterfly record in the 30–34 age group - with an unexpected training partner: AI. Unable to attend all his training sessions with City of Cardiff Swimming Club, Dom turned to AI-generated sessions to supplement his preparation. In this...
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#172: Brad Price's 3,100 Pull-Up Challenge
We catch up with masters swimmer Brad Price after he’s just wrapped up an epic January challenge: 100 pull-ups every single day - 3,100 in total - in support of a charity that helps retired military and police dogs live out their well-earned retirements. Brad discusses the methods that kept him...
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#171: Two Swimmers, One English Channel, Very Different Outcomes
Rebecca Lennon and Sarah Fitzgerald-Smith join Helen Gorman on the Master Swimming Podcast for a powerful conversation about the realities of attempting to swim the English Channel - where preparation meets uncertainty, and outcomes are never guaranteed. With significantly fewer people having…
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#170: Can AI Make You A Faster Swimmer?
Is AI the ultimate assistant coach or a step too far? Matt Gray, assistant head coach at City of Peterborough Swimming Club, joins us to unpack how artificial intelligence is shaking up swimming. From free apps and instant feedback to race-winning pacing strategies, we explore whether AI could...
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#169: Should Masters Swimmers be Allowed to Wear Full Bodysuits?
Do you wish you could race in one of those shiny rubber full body suits from 2009? Do you think you could smash your personal best times and look like a superhero in the process? Or are you glad that those days are gone? Helen Gorman and Conor Osborough, discuss bodysuits and there's a special...
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#168: From Elite Swimming to Firefighting: Lauren Quigley's Journey
Backstroke ace, Lauren Quigley joins us at the start of a Commonwealth Games year to reflect on the medals she won at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and during an illustrious career at saw her crack the 60 second mark for 100m backstroke (long course). Hailing from a swimming family, we...
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#167: Lessons from Lublin & Training Smart for the Year Ahead
John Wood joins Helen Gorman to reflect on the European Masters Short Course Championships held in Lublin, Poland. We discuss everything from John's impressive gold medal and lifetime best performance in the 100m butterfly to the size of pizza slices available at the pool cafe. We review the…
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#166: Surrey vs Hants: Inter County Christmas Cup & 2025 Review
Rival Inter County team managers from Surrey (Laura Kerrigan) and Hampshire (James MacTavish) take on the 'Inter County Christmas Cup', a new podcast game show devised without any rules or a scoring system. Helen Gorman asks the questions and Joe Malone is called in work out who wins. This...
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#165: History Maker Jane Asher Enters Swim Hall of Fame at 94
Hear from Jane Asher following her induction into the Swim England Hall of Fame. Jane has broken over 100 master’s swimming world records and won numerous world titles. Now she’s preparing for the next age group with a laser focus on the record books! Even in her 90s, her swims are a master class...
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#164: From Olympic Heartbreak to Masters Hall of Fame
This week, we meet Glen Christiansen, a Swedish Olympian and Masters World Record holder. We discuss Glen's journey from elite swimmer to coach, his heart breaking experience at the 1980 Olympics, why he attended the first ever World Masters Championships in Tokyo, and his recovery from a serious...
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#163: From zero to 49 second 100m freestyle hero!
Imagine doing just five months of training and breaking 50 seconds for the 100m freestyle? That’s exactly what Arran Francis did and he’s now one of the most exciting new faces on the masters swimming scene. Helen Gorman tracked him down to find out more. Arran talks through why joining Trafford...
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#162: Finding Love for Swimming Beyond Diabetes Diagnosis
This week, we meet Reg Lloyd, who shares his journey from elite swimming to managing type 1 diabetes and finding unexpected joy in masters swimming. He discusses the highs that earned him a stunning personal best time of 1 minute 46.1 for the 200m freestyle and securing a place at the National...
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#161: Together in the Fast Lane
Host Helen Gorman chats to Fleur and Spencer Turner, a well-known and very high achieving couple in the British Masters swimming community. They discuss their experiences at the US Masters Championships in Federal Way this summer, their achievements (including world record breaking relays), and…
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#160: 17 World Records Smashed - National Masters Review
After coaching Trafford to the Top Club award for the fourth year in a row, Bob Bolton joins Helen Gorman to review the National Masters Championships in Sheffield. Discussion covers record breaking swims, notable performers and unique insight into training and racing. Don’t miss this fun and...
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#159: From Windermere Record Breaking to River Breakthroughs
George Taplin joins the Masters Swimming Podcast to discuss his record-breaking end-to-end swim in Lake Windermere. George has a unique perspective on ecology and cleaning up our waterways given his full-time employment in the water industry. George grew up training with Olympic champion, Tom…
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#158: From Lanes to Legends: The National Masters Preview
Sonny Trigg, the one and only SwimSuitGuy, joins Helen Gorman to preview the 2025 National Masters Short Course Championships in Sheffield. From record contenders to legendary names and inspiring competitors, we explore the stories behind the swimmers who refuse to slow down. And even if you’re…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Freestyle Media have?
Freestyle Media currently has 207 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Freestyle Media about?
Weekly podcasts, all for the sport we love.
How often does Freestyle Media release new episodes?
Freestyle Media publishes regularly with 207 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Freestyle Media?
You can listen to Freestyle Media on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Freestyle Media?
Freestyle Media is created and hosted by Helen Gorman, Joe Malone.
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