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What does it take to win an open water race when the water itself feels like a warm bath? On this week's Torpedo Swimtalk Podcast we sit down with Australian Masters standout Sharon Crisafi to unpack the 3km World Masters title she earned in Singapore - where heat, humidity and chop turned the race into a physiological and tactical puzzle. Sharon breaks down how she and her coach built a plan around the environment: hunting down warm indoor pools during winter, adding a wetsuit to simulate heat stress, and drilling race pace sets until the target speed felt familiar under fatigue.

We walk through the race from the pontoon to the final touch: drafting early to curb pacing nerves, taking the lead on lap two when the tempo dipped, and holding form through lap three. Sharon shares why she skipped mid-race fluids, how she fought to rehydrate after, and what she’d change next time. We zoom out to her full training picture—core pool sessions a week, open water practice, and strength work built around the swim chain with endurance-focused reps.

You’ll hear practical open water tactics you can copy right away: sighting advice, reading currents and ferry wake and understanding why ocean pace rarely equals pool pace. Sharon also opens up about managing nerves and aiming for Budapest with a realistic plan for freshwater and a deeper field.

If you care about open water strategy, heat acclimation, and training that respects real life while still chasing fast, this conversation is a blueprint.

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What if your fastest swim is still ahead of you? Torpedo Swimtalk Podcast sits down with New Zealand sprinter Laura Quilter, who left the sport for eight years and returned in her 30s to lay down lifetime bests—including a 25.08 in the 50 free at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Her story blends curiosity, self-coaching, and a focus less is more, challenging the old belief that more metres always equals more speed.

Laura breaks down how she rebuilt her sprint power with targeted strength work and smart periodisation: heavy lifts early in the cycle, then a shift to high-intent plyometrics as race day neared. In the pool, she replaced kilometres with broken 50s using parachutes, fins and paddles, stepping down resistance to convert strength into speed. We dig into the technical details that moved the needle—lateral body line to engage the lats, cleaner kick timing, and start cues like “thumbs to armpits” plus a back-foot loaded stance for a sharper dive. She even rethought her breakout to keep speed from stalling at the surface.

The mental game is just as compelling. As a registered nurse working PM shifts, Laura learned to manage imperfect sleep, test readiness session by session, and keep a simple mantra on loop: be cool. She’s candid about a tough 50 fly in Singapore, the confidence of a heat win in the 50 free, and how breathing choices can swing a race. We also explore recovery at 33 versus 23, creatine dosing, and the freedom that comes from training less but with far more intent.

If you’re a masters swimmer, a coach, or a sprinter chasing tenths, this conversation is a playbook for getting faster with fewer metres, better technique and a calmer mind.

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Torpedo Swimtalk is sponsored by AMANZI SWIMWEAR

#swim #swimmer #swimming #mastersswimmer #mastersswimmers #mastersswimming #openwaterswimmer #openwaterswimmers #openwaterswimming #swimminglover #swimmingpodcast #mastersswimmingpodcast #torpedoswimtalkpodcast #torpedoswimtalk #tstquicksplashpodcast #podcast #podcaster #podcastersofinstagram #swimmersofinstagram #swimlife #swimfit #ageisjustanumber #health #notdoneyet

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What does it take to build a masters swim community that actually lasts? Coach and athlete Dominic Tsui joins us to share how Fast Lane Masters in Hong Kong grew from a couple of swimmers in a rented lane into a culture-rich squad chasing podiums across Asia. From his first video analysis sessions to guiding relays that snag gold and break records, Dominic shows how consistency, simple technical priorities, and a clear meet calendar can transform adult swimmers at every level.

We dig into the essentials that matter most: why breathing is the foundation for speed and body position, how to time exhale and inhale to unlock rhythm, and the drills and sets that produce real gains without burning athletes out. Dominic unpacks his go-to 6-1-6 scull drill for freestyle and his broken 400s structure at 200 pace to build aerobic strength and race-readiness. He also shares how the indoor Wan Chai pool unlocked early morning and noon training, making it possible for busy professionals to swim year-round without sun exposure. Along the way, we revisit highlights from World Championships in Singapore, relay thrills in Nagoya and Guangzhou, and the lessons that come from balancing a full coaching load with personal goals after injury.

We also zoom out to the broader scene: why Hong Kong’s masters community is surging, how open water groups at Repulse Bay and Stanley pull 20 to 30 swimmers every weekend, and why six local meets a year keep squads motivated with team points and friendly rivalries. Dominic explains the two-track model that works for adults—development for technique and training for competition—and hints at plans to add structured dryland by partnering with a nearby gym. It’s a candid look at what motivates adults to show up, what great coaching feels like, and how a clear goal on the calendar can turn effort into habit.

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You can connect with Torpedo Swimtalk:
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Torpedo Swimtalk is sponsored by AMANZI SWIMWEAR

#swim #swimmer #swimming #mastersswimmer #mastersswimmers #mastersswimming #openwaterswimmer #openwaterswimmers #openwaterswimming #swimminglover #swimmingpodcast #mastersswimmingpodcast #torpedoswimtalkpodcast #torpedoswimtalk #tstquicksplashpodcast #podcast #podcaster #podcastersofinstagram #swimmersofinstagram #swimlife #swimfit #ageisjustanumber #health #notdoneyet