Learning to Swim for My First Triathlon
If you had told me back in 2013 that I’d be swimming in a triathlon a year later, I probably would have laughed… and then panicked.
Why? Because I couldn’t even do front crawl until 2014. That’s right… the very year I signed up for my first triathlon, my swimming looked more like chaotic flailing than any recognizable stroke. Arms everywhere, legs like noodles, and breathing that was basically me gasping for air like a cartoon fish (I know funny mental image!). The lifeguard probably thought I was auditioning for a slapstick sketch… but seriously!
But that’s the magic of swimming: no matter how messy your start, you can always improve. And if I can go from terrified beginner to completing a triathlon swim, so can anyone.
Facing the Water With Epilepsy
Swimming isn’t just a physical challenge for me… it’s also a mental one. Living with epilepsy means I have to trust my body in ways that can feel vulnerable. But the water became a place of empowerment rather than fear.
I learned to listen to my body, to respect its limits, and to celebrate the small victories — like breathing without panicking, or completing a length without turning into a flailing mess. I personally find swimming to calm me, but everyone is very different.
How I Actually Learned Front Crawl
The journey wasn’t pretty. I started with small, basic exercises:
- Breathing practice – Standing in shallow water, putting my face down, blowing bubbles, and slowly learning to inhale to the side. It sounds simple, but it was revolutionary.
- Focus on glide, not flail – I realized early that frantic arms don’t make you faster. It’s the glide, the stretch, and using momentum that matter.
- Slow strokes, long strokes – Instead of racing my arms, I worked on smooth, controlled strokes. This saved energy and built confidence.
- Consistency over perfection – Even short swims a few times a week added up. Every lap, no matter how imperfect, was progress.
- Strength and mobility – Core, shoulders, and back work made my strokes more efficient and helped me feel in control.
By the time race day came, I wasn’t Michael Phelps. But I swam my distance. I finished the triathlon. And I proved to myself that starting at zero is okay. What matters is showing up, stroke by stroke.
The High-Cadence Myth — Why Flailing Arms Won’t Make You Faster
One of the biggest misconceptions I had as a beginner was thinking fast arms = fast swimming. Spoiler: nope. All that high-cadence pumping did was:
- make me exhausted after 25 meters
- throw off my breathing
- make my legs flail uncontrollably
- turn my swim into chaos
Swimming isn’t a fight… it’s a flow. The glide phase is where the magic happens: that stretch forward, the streamlined body, the momentum carrying you through the water. That’s real speed, not arm flailing.
When I finally slowed my arms and let the glide do its work, everything changed:
- My breathing became easier
- My heart rate stayed steady
- I stopped tiring halfway through the pool
- And, best of all, I started to look like a swimmer, not someone panicking in a lane
Tips That Actually Work
Here’s what helped me most — and can help anyone learning front crawl:
- Breathing first – Mastering exhaling underwater and inhaling to the side is everything.
- Don’t fight the water – Work with it, don’t try to muscle through. Smooth strokes beat frantic ones every time.
- Slow down to speed up – Perfect technique before chasing speed. Drills like catch-up or single-arm swimming are game-changers.
- Consistency is key – Even short swims multiple times a week build muscle memory and confidence.
- Strength and mobility – A strong core, flexible shoulders, and stable back make gliding easier and reduce fatigue.
- Consider a coach or swim group – Extra eyes and encouragement can transform your stroke overnight.
From “I Can’t” to “I Did”
Learning front crawl for my first triathlon was more than a physical achievement… it was a victory over fear, doubt, and my own limitations. Swimming taught me patience, persistence, and the power of showing up, even when you feel unprepared.
Whether you’re starting at zero or trying to improve your triathlon swim, remember:
- You don’t need to be fast.
- You don’t need to be perfect.
- You just need to keep going.
Step by step, stroke by stroke, glide by glide — the water will start feeling like home. Swimming is always about learning, you never learn to swim and master it, there will always be more. BUT, that’s what makes it truly amazing.
And if a girl with epilepsy who couldn’t do front crawl can finish her first triathlon, trust me… you can do this too.
