From Overcoming to Passion: My Open Water Journey

Hello, it is a great honor to share a bit of my story and experience with the Swim4Fun club. My name is Maura, I am 22 years old, and I am passionate about challenges. Ten months ago, I began my triathlon journey, and swimming in open water has been one of the most challenging and transformative parts of this experience. I must admit, at first, swimming was the part of the triathlon I liked the least. It seemed difficult, intimidating, and often frustrating.

My first contact with open water occurred during the reconnaissance of the course for the Ironman 70.3 Cascais race with the Swim4Fun club. It was my first time swimming in open water. During the first few months of triathlon training, I only swam in a pool and had never encountered the sea. The experience was both impactful and challenging. During the course, I felt a great deal of frustration. I had difficulty breathing; it felt like I was fighting against the water with every stroke. Anxiety, fear, and lack of technique made everything even harder. It was a constant struggle to keep pace and move forward.

Despite everything, this initial experience taught me something very important: I needed help, practice, and patience to improve. Two months ago, I decided to join the Swim4Fun club and began training regularly in open water. I still have a certain fear of the sea, but each training session has been an opportunity to face my fears and overcome my limitations.

With the support of my coach, I realized that breathing, which was once a major challenge, is a matter of technique and practice. I learned the importance of finding a rhythm, staying calm, and trusting the process. Little by little, the feeling of fighting against the water was replaced with greater control and growing confidence.

Today, two months later, I already see significant progress. Before, I couldn’t swim long distances without feeling completely exhausted. Now, with adjustments in technique and consistent training, I feel much more prepared for future challenges. There are still days when the sea is cold or choppy, but those are the workouts that strengthen me the most—not only physically, but also mentally.

Having a coach made all the difference in this process. The technical guidance, motivation, and personalized training helped me understand that progress in swimming requires patience and attention to detail. A quote that I like to remember in difficult moments is:
"Rain puts all cars on the same level, but not the drivers." – Ayrton Senna.

I have big plans for 2025, with several triathlon and swimming events in mind. Open water swimming, which used to be one of my biggest challenges, is now a growing passion. The Swim4Fun club has been essential in this journey, helping me build the consistency and confidence needed to evolve.

I am grateful to the club for the opportunity to be part of this incredible community and for helping me transform difficulties into achievements. I hope my story inspires others to face their fears and discover the power of the process.