What if you could go from barely swimming two laps to becoming an Ironman World Champion in just three years? That's exactly what Bryce Morrison did.

In this episode, I sit down with Bryce to unpack his incredible transformation from college baseball player and complete swimming beginner to winning the 25–29 age group at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, including an impressive 58-minute swim in challenging conditions.

We dive into the technique changes that transformed his swimming, how video analysis and targeted drills accelerated his progress, and why consistency and smarter training made such a difference.

We also discuss his future ambitions, the possibility of turning professional, and what it will take to close the gap with the world's best swimmers.

If you've ever thought you started swimming too late or that becoming a faster swimmer was out of reach, Bryce's story might change the way you think about what's possible.

00:00 Introduction – Bryce Morrison's Kona Age Group World Championship Win
01:45 From College Baseball to Ironman Triathlon
02:35 Learning to Swim from Scratch
04:40 How Technique Helped Him Achieve a 58-Minute Kona Swim
06:00 The Three Biggest Swimming Technique Improvements
08:10 Winning Kona and Considering Going Professional
10:30 How Fast Do You Need to Swim to Compete as a Pro?
11:40 Building an Effective Ironman Swim Training Program
16:10 The Benefits of Swimming with a Masters Group
19:40 Swimming Technique Breakthroughs and Using Video Analysis
25:10 How Consistent Training and Threshold Work Improved His Triathlon Performance
30:10 Building a Swim-Focused Off-Season Training Block

Are you swimming at the same pace every session but struggling to get faster? In this episode, I join Kelly Palace on the Champions Mojo podcast to talk about why so many swimmers get stuck in the "gray zone" and how we can break through it.

As the founder of Effortless Swimming and a coach who has worked with thousands of adult swimmers, masters swimmers, and triathletes, I've seen how developing better technique and learning to swim at different speeds can make a significant difference in performance.

We discuss some of my favorite freestyle drills, including long dog and six-kick switch, and how they can help improve your catch, pull, coordination, and timing. I also explain why incorporating short sprints, varying your stroke rate, and allowing enough rest between intervals are essential for developing speed and building the ability to hold a faster pace.

I also share a training approach that has made a big difference in my own swimming: the 20 × 100 best-average set. It's a challenging session, but it helped me build the speed endurance I needed to qualify for Australian Open Nationals at age 38.

Finally, we talk about the importance of staying open-minded when working on your technique. Changes can feel awkward and may initially make you slower, but with patience and consistency, the improvements can come over time.

00:00 – Introduction to Brenton Ford and Effortless Swimming
01:05 – Teaching Freestyle to Adults vs. Children
02:30 – Balancing Technique Drills and Swimming Volume
04:00 – Making Swimming Fun Through Play and Exploration
05:30 – Brenton's Favorite Freestyle Drills: Long Dog and Six-Kick Switch
08:30 – When to Introduce Speed Training
10:00 – Developing Multiple Gears in Your Freestyle
12:00 – Why Rest Between Intervals Matters for Speed
14:00 – Swimming Equipment for Better Technique and Speed
16:00 – The Biggest Mistake: Training in the "Gray Zone"
17:30 – The 20 × 100 Best-Average Set for Building Speed Endurance
19:30 – How Brenton Qualified for Australian Open Nationals at Age 38
21:30 – Can Swimmers Continue Improving as They Get Older?
23:00 – What Makes Australian Swimming So Successful?
26:00 – Lessons from Coaching Masters Swimmers
28:00 – Why Technique Changes Feel Awkward Before They Work
30:00 – How to Keep Improving Your Swimming at Any Age
31:00 – Effortless Swimming Camps, Online Coaching, and Final Thoughts

Tired of your swimming goggles fogging up in the middle of a swim? In this episode, discover how to prevent foggy goggles, understand why condensation happens, and learn practical tips to keep your vision clear in the water. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced swimmer, these simple techniques can help you spend less time adjusting your goggles and more time focusing on your swim.

00:10 Why Swimming Goggles Fog Up
00:40 Understanding Temperature and Condensation
01:10 How to Prevent Goggles from Fogging
02:35 Choosing and Caring for Your Goggles
04:10 Tips for Keeping Your Goggles Clear
05:05 Alternative Goggle Options for Swimmers

Kelly Palace just broke the world record for the 65-69 age group in the 1500m long course freestyle, swimming 20:19 on only about 12,000 meters a week. She also broke the 400m record this summer (5:09).

Kelly is a 1984 US Olympic Trials qualifier and the first woman head coach in the Southeastern Conference. In this episode she explains why distance swimmers need real speed, shares her favorite sets (including "descend by equipment"), and describes the underwater technique behind her noisy stroke. She also talks about what she has learned from 350+ podcast guests, and why swimmers should take breaks but never retire.

Returning to swimming after years away can leave you feeling exhausted, sore, and disconnected from the water. In this episode, we break down three key things that can help you rebuild your swimming and feel stronger and more comfortable in the water.

You'll learn how body position, breathing, stroke length, and a more relaxed kick can make swimming feel easier and more efficient. We'll also look at how to structure your training when you're getting back into the pool and why giving yourself three to six months of consistent swimming can make a huge difference.

If you're returning to swimming after a long break, these simple technical and training adjustments can help you reconnect with the water and build your fitness without relying on brute strength.

00:00 How to Get Back Into Swimming
00:49 Fix Your Body Position
01:26 Breathe Without Getting Out of Breath
02:03 Build a Longer, More Efficient Stroke
02:46 Stop Kicking So Hard
03:42 How to Train When Returning to Swimming
05:02 What to Expect When You Start Again
05:51 Give Yourself 3–6 Months to Rebuild
06:34 Final Thoughts

#443 : If You Want Your Swimming To 'Click', Do This with Brenton Ford

Shoulder pain after swimming? Your technique could be the reason.

In this episode, we look at three common freestyle mistakes that can place unnecessary stress on the shoulder: an overly high elbow, crossing over the centre line, and overdoing the catch. Through clear demonstrations and underwater footage, you'll learn how to make your stroke more natural, efficient, and shoulder-friendly.

A great episode for swimmers looking to improve their freestyle technique while reducing unnecessary strain.

00:00 – Why Your Shoulder Hurts After Swimming
00:20 – The main freestyle technique flaws that can cause shoulder problems
01:20 – Flaw #1: Elbow too high
02:25 – Shoulder position and rotation
03:00 – Flaw #2: Crossing over the centre line
03:20 – Underwater look at the freestyle stroke
04:00 – Flaw #3: Overdoing the catch
04:55 – What happens when you overdo the catch
05:30 – Finding a more natural catch position
07:00 – Underwater examples and final technique reminders

In this episode, Brenton Ford interviews Jan Prins about freestyle biomechanics, stroke mechanics, and the latest technology used to analyze swimming efficiency. They explore how subtle changes in technique can significantly impact speed and performance.

00:10 Introduction to Jan Prins and his expertise in swimming biomechanics
01:31 Overview of the technology used for stroke analysis
04:40 Analyzing hip velocity and stroke subtlety
07:18 Why strength doesn't always equal speed in swimming
09:15 The importance of sustained velocity over peak power
12:26 Gradual acceleration and maintaining pressure in strokes
16:43 Finding new water and propulsive thrust
22:41 Engaging new water and hand positioning
26:36 The concept of finding new water through hand movement
28:23 Avoiding straight-line pulling and maximizing efficiency
34:39 Breathing techniques and timing in freestyle
42:25 Hip rotation and core stability in swimming