Training in a pool prepares you physiologically and muscularly for open-water events. But races held in natural environments—where conditions can vary dramatically—require swimmers to manage many additional factors that can either limit or amplify the differences between competitors.
Some swimmers who excel in the pool may lose part of their advantage against slower athletes who are more comfortable in group swimming and less dependent on lane lines for direction.
The Specific Challenges of Open-Water Swimming
Swimming outside the pool brings unique challenges worth remembering (this list is not exhaustive).
- Starting among a dense, crowded field of swimmers
- Staying oriented throughout the race
- Spotting and turning around buoys
- Swimming in murky water, sometimes without seeing the bottom
- Changing pace during the race to find better positioning
- Managing wind, sun, or river current (remember the Seine events during the Olympics!)
- Dealing with algae, fish, or even jellyfish
- Handling feed stations in longer races
- Trusting your own navigation instead of following others
- Swimming in cold water
- Knowing how to swim with a wetsuit, if permitted by race officials
Our 10 Tips for Open-Water Success
Before tackling a triathlon or an open-water swim, remember that these events demand humility. Here are our top 10 tips to help you perform at your best:
1
Train in open water as often as possible—and in different conditions and locations—to get used to temperature changes, water clarity, wind, and sunlight.
2
Choose a wetsuit or swimsuit that feels comfortable and doesn’t restrict movement. Open-water events can be long, and comfort is key.
3
Match your goggles to the weather: use clear lenses for cloudy days and tinted ones for bright sun or sunrise starts. If the race begins facing east, the glare can be a problem. Always have several pairs ready—and race day is not the time to try new gear.
4
Position yourself at the start according to your level. Leave the front spots to the fastest swimmers to avoid getting pulled under in the rush.
5
Before the start, study the course carefully. Find tall landmarks (like a tree on a hill or a church tower) to help you sight and stay oriented—because once you’re in the water, waves, wind, and splashing can make it tricky.
6
Check the wind direction before the race and how it affects floating objects (lane ropes, buoys) so you can adjust your trajectory.
7
Before the start : warm-up properly—but make sure you don’t cool down too much between the end of your warm-up and the start of the race.
8
Eat foods suited to the event and, most importantly, ones you know work well for your digestion. Race day is not the time for dietary experiments.
9
Exhale—a lot. From the very beginning of the race, focus on breathing out fully. Starting with an oxygen debt is something you can’t recover from without stopping.
10
Don’t hesitate to slow down mid-race. It’s better to pace yourself and finish than to drop out. You can even take a few strokes of breaststroke or backstroke to recover your breath or loosen up your muscles.
Remember, nothing replaces training. Everything you practice beforehand will make race day smoother and more successful.
We believe in you!