About Us
Meet the team behind Swim Buddy NetworkOur Story
As you’re here, it’s probably safe to say you’re a swimmer like us !
So who are we ?
Well we are a worldwide group of people who love swimming – whether its indoor pools, lakes or the seas – we enjoy getting splashy. We have members who swim occasionally purely for recreation, right through to competitive swimmers & triathletes with people everywhere in between.
The Swim Buddy Network, stretches across a range of online platforms including a very active Facebook group (500+ members), Twitter & Strava. Our members reasons for joining cover everything from wanting to swim faster, swim further, lose weight, get fitter and even training for specific events.
If you are looking for a swim buddy for motivation, encouragement and support on your swimming journey then join us !
Simon
Swimmer In Chief, Dad, Nutcase
I’d not been swimming since I was a kid and then about 2 years ago I decided to get back in the pool. It started with going a couple of times a week and swimming very very slowly (not much has changed on that score), but in no time I was hooked.
So from swimming a few hundred metres at a time a couple of years ago, I’ve gradually improved my pace and technique. Then, this year I was able to take part in the Swimathon Triple 5k challenge. Now to say I ached afterwards is an understatement, but WOW !!! did it feel good to complete it.
I created the ‘Swim Buddy Network’ after reading comments online from people looking for buddies, then after buddying up with Justyna the whole idea for group just took off.
You can now find me in the pool four times a week and generally smelling of chlorine…
Justyna
Water Sorceress, Sister, Mental Mermaid
When I was 9 years old, I decided to join a swim club, but they said I was too old ?!? I begged the coach to give me a trial and eventually it worked, after that swimming became my everything. I was in the pool 13 times a week and was so proud when I qualified for nationals, I even remember asking: “Do you still think I was too old?”
Last year (after nearly a 25 year break) I finally started back swimming and fell in love with it all over again.
Talking to people who share the same passion for swimming is hugely motivating. It seemed like a platform was needed, where we could share experiences & achievements, or ask for advice and so ‘Swim Buddy Network’ was born.
For 2019, I’m swimming a virtual distance of 283km to help raise money for a cause very close to my heart ‘The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity’.
James
Minister of the Pool, Adopted Son, Geek
I learnt to swim as a child at my parents’ insistence but then took a slight hiatus as life and growing up got in the way. Fast forward 16 years and I found myself a fairly inactive 37 year old working from home and carrying slightly more ballast (3 stone to be exact) than I should be.
In an effort to get myself back down to the svelte person I once was, I decided it was time to find that inner active person again. The general consensus by medical types is that swimming is a good workout with very little impact to the body’s joints. Out came the swimming shorts from a long forgotten cupboard and I joined up for a monthly pass at my local pool.
Fast forward a year and I have developed a slight obsession with swimming, including discovering a great network of friends who have helped me improve my technique.