79 Crossings and Counting: VladSwim’s Legacy Across the English Channel

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you first got into swimming?

Since I was six years old, I’ve been in the water almost every morning as part of a local swim school in Slovakia. The school had a morning swim squad, and after training, we’d walk straight to school together. I swam competitively for 12 years and, after finishing high school, I moved to Moscow to attend the Sports University and become a swim coach. Those five years gave me the confidence and knowledge to coach swimmers of all levels.

After university, I opened a swim school in my hometown of Košice and coached at a local swim club. In 2001, I moved to Australia to expand my coaching experience. Later, I coached at North Shore Swimming Club in New Zealand, one of the top clubs in the country. I became Head Coach at CQ Aquajets in Rockhampton before launching my own swim program in Sydney in 2011. That’s how VladSwim was born – supporting swimmers to achieve their short- and long-distance goals around the world.

What brought you to Australia, and how did VladSwim come to life?

Swimming brought me to Australia. In Slovakia, once you reach a certain level as a coach, it’s hard to keep growing without fresh inspiration or international experience. I moved to learn more and improve my coaching.

VladSwim started with simple adult stroke correction sessions and small lunchtime squads. Within a year, the program grew to include personalised swim plans and regular morning and evening squads at the ABC Pool. After a few swimmers successfully completed 10km events, the demand grew for longer swim challenges, including the Rottnest Channel and eventually the English Channel. That’s when VladSwim became a go-to program for serious open water swimmers. Since 2011, the VladSwim program has coached 79 English Channel swimmers under my guidance, and VladSwim’s reputation is now known around the world. By adding more activities such as the Greece Swim Trip, the Cold Water Camp for Channel swimmers, and organising the VladSwim Challenge event in December with distances of 2.5km, 5km, and 10km, the program is becoming more established in the open water swimming community.

What is VladSwim and what inspired you to start it?

I saw a huge opportunity – there weren’t many programs designed to support adult swimmers with specific coaching for long distance open water swim goals. I was inspired to build something that could help people not just swim better, but achieve things they never thought possible.

What makes VladSwim different from other swim squads or coaching programs?

To be honest, I don’t focus on what other coaches are doing. What I bring to VladSwim is deep coaching knowledge, strong technical focus, and a personalised approach. I pay attention to the smallest details and help swimmers plan their season with structure and confidence. Most of all, I aim to build a strong, supportive swim community where everyone – from beginners to Channel swimmers – feels they belong.

Who are the typical swimmers who join VladSwim – and what are they usually training for?

Our swimmers range from 18 to their 70s. They’re all a little crazy, always smiling, and definitely fit! Some are just starting out – training for their first triathlon or a short ocean swim. Others are marathon swimmers preparing for 5km, 10km, or 20km events. And then we have the Channel swimmers – the most committed and adventurous of them all. We cater to a wide range of swim goals, and that diversity makes the program special.

How do you support swimmers who are just getting started or returning to swimming after a break?

We support returning swimmers with a simple, step-by-step approach – nothing rushed. The key is to build momentum with each session and make sure they feel welcomed and supported. We give them something to enjoy each time they swim.

What does a typical week of coaching or training sessions look like at VladSwim?

It depends on the season and what swimmers are preparing for, but here’s a general outline:

Monday: Warm-up for the week, with a focus on technique and aerobic pace using paddles and drills.

Tuesday: A slower-paced session with deep technical work and feel-based swimming. Sometimes we include fartlek sets.

Wednesday: High-intensity anaerobic sets to push speed and endurance.

Thursday: Day off.

Friday: Sprint-focused session with fartlek 50s.

Saturday: Ocean swims and event-specific practice.

How do you tailor training for different goals like ocean swims, triathlons, or endurance events?

While our main squad sessions focus on open water training, swimmers can purchase a personal plan tailored to their specific goals – whether it’s a sprint triathlon or a 35km marathon swim. These custom plans add extra sessions, volume, or intensity as needed, so everyone knows exactly what to do beyond squad training.

What’s your coaching philosophy when it comes to building both skill and confidence in the water?

Relax, smile, and be happy. If you enjoy what you’re doing, everything else becomes easier. Confidence comes from preparation, repetition, and staying positive throughout the process.

Cold water swimming presents unique physical and psychological challenges. How do you prepare swimmers to acclimatise both mentally and physically to colder temperatures?

The preparation for a cold water swim combines several key elements, all of which influence each other. The foundation is physical fitness and endurance – building up the swimmer’s overall strength and resilience. A strong body is more resistant to environmental stress, including cold temperatures.

Once physical fitness is developed, we introduce the cold water gradually. Mental preparation is just as important. Understanding the body’s adaptation process helps. Staying calm, accepting the cold, and controlling your thoughts are essential. Breathing techniques, positive thinking, and mental acceptance all help the body adapt more effectively. Negative thoughts can cause the opposite effect and make the experience more difficult.

After a cold water swim, what are your recommended steps for safely and effectively warming up to prevent afterdrop?

The safest and most effective recovery tool is breathing. Deep, controlled breathing generates internal energy and helps protect vital organs. In addition, it’s important to relax the muscles and allow the body to recover naturally. Don’t rush the process – let the body rewarm gradually.

What are some of the most rewarding moments you’ve had as a coach through VladSwim?

One of the best moments was when a swimmer told me they had a one-hour session with a top specialist – only to hear the exact same advice I’d been giving them all along. It confirmed that I wasn’t just guessing; I knew what I was doing. Those moments when swimmers come back, surprised and grateful, are what coaching is all about.

Find much more about Vlad and his program via the VladSwim site.