Freespeed: Unlocking Better Swimming with Coach Paul Eaglestone

Simon Ward, The High Performance Human Podcast

This week I'm joined by swim coach and author Paul Eaglestone, whose new book Freespeed offers a simple but powerful approach to improving front crawl technique — especially for triathletes.

Paul shares insights from a lifetime in swimming, including his early coaching work with Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee, and why he believes most triathletes can find "free speed" in the water through better technique, not harder work.

From hydrodynamics and stroke mechanics to the role of kicking, turns, and even dryland training, this conversation is packed with practical advice for swimmers of all abilities — whether you're tackling your first sprint triathlon or chasing a Kona slot.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why Paul prioritises efficiency over intensity — especially for triathletes
• How he helped Alex Yee become a smooth and confident swimmer
• The importance of stroke count as a metric for swim progress
• What triathletes can learn from elite swim training — and what they should ignore
• Why drills, kicking, and even tumble turns matter for open water performance
• How to use "target pace" training for real, measurable swim improvements
• Paul's take on mobility, strength training, and the ideal swim training mix
• Open water training tips: how much is enough and what to practise

Grab the Book:

Freespeed by Paul Eaglestone – available now

Connect with Paul:

Find Paul on social media or Zwift. Reach out if you’ve read the book or want to challenge his ideas!

Facebook - Freespeed Swimming

Paul Eaglestone

Instagram - peagle1867

Freespeedswimming

Paul highly recommends the following book

The Talent Code - Daniel Coyle

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