This week’s conversation centred around something every swimmer experiences, but few people truly prepare for: what happens after the event is over.

Because the reality is that finishing the swim is only part of the journey. What you do next matters just as much.

0:00 - Intro

2:30 - 🌊 This Week In the Water

We looked at several major stories and achievements from across the global open water swimming community. Including:

• Port to Pub 2026 results

• Australian Triple Crown completions

• Catching up with Open Water Legend Grainne Moss

• The Derwent River Big Swim anniversary

• Ryan Stramrood’s circumnavigation of St Helena

• The New Zealand Ocean Swim Series – Lake Karapiro Swim Fest

• Jono Ridler’s Live Ocean challenge, continuing his long-distance journey with 129 km still to go.

• A look at the upcoming release of the film, “Don’t Be Prey”.

21:30 - 🏊 The Main Set

Physical Recovery After a Major Swim

This week’s main topic focused on post-event physical recovery, something that many swimmers underestimate after months or even years of preparation.

• Dehydration

• Muscle damage and fatigue

• Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)

• General physical stress from prolonged effort We discussed the key stages of recovery, including: • Immediate Recovery (First Hours)

• Short-Term Recovery (Days After the Event) As swelling, stiffness and fatigue settle in, recovery should focus on supporting the body’s natural repair processes.

• Longer-Term Recovery (Weeks After) In the weeks that follow, swimmers should gradually transition back toward training while paying attention to any underlying issues.

40:18 - 💙 Weekly Wisdom Mental and Emotional Recovery

While the body might take days or weeks to recover, the mind often takes longer. We explored the emotional side of finishing a major goal, including the experience many athletes describe as post-event blues.

• A sudden loss of routine

• A drop in motivation

• Feelings of emptiness or lack of direction

• Difficulty transitioning back into normal life

We discussed strategies to help navigate this period, including:

• Accepting that these feelings are normal

• Reflecting on the journey and what you have learned

• Setting new goals, even small ones

• Maintaining connection with the swimming community

• Reconnecting with family, friends and other areas of life

Recovery isn’t just about muscles and fitness. It’s about rebuilding balance across your entire life.

58:06 - 🎙 Live Q&A

During the live Q&A we tackled a question many swimmers think about but rarely ask openly:

How do you overcome the fear of predator animals in open water?

1:02:16 - ❄️ The Cool Down

We reflected on the importance of what happens after the finish line and how recovery shapes the longevity of your swimming journey.

Words of the Week:

“A man is great not because he hasn’t failed. A man is great because failure hasn’t stopped him.” — Confucius

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