From Fear to Open Water Success: Interview with Ahmed Nawar

“Having a good coach makes a big difference so I was lucky to work with Christina because she was very experienced and genuinely cared about my success.” – Ahmed Nawar

Ahmed Nawar recently completed the Cal Tri Newport Dunes, a sprint triathlon, which was his first triathlon. After receiving the following message, we reached out to Ahmed to learn more about his experience.

“I completed my race yesterday! The swim was smooth and I controlled my breathing and rhythm for the entire distance. Time for the 400 yards was 12:27. While we only had 2 lessons, they were critical. I was nervous but confident in my ability to finish the distance and adapt to the cold water because of the lessons. I got the blueseventy neoprene hood that you shared last time which I think helped.

Thank you so much for the coaching and support. Hope to see you next year.”

When asked why he signed up for private lessons with Odyssey, Ahmed says, “I signed up for the race to force myself to learn how to swim.” Before the race, Ahmed scheduled two lessons with Odyssey’s Coach Christina. “The first was about getting familiar with the open water environment, safety, and tips on proper technique,” says Ahmed. “The second was swimming the race distance a couple of times as a litmus test on whether I was ready for the race (it was a week before the actual race).”

Ahmed says the lessons helped reduce his fears of swimming in the ocean and gave him confidence that he could do it. “Christina knew exactly what I needed because of her experience, which allowed us to focus on what's important since I had limited time,” says Ahmed.

Ahmed recommends others get lessons when they are wanting to swim in the open water and are already comfortably swimming 200-300 meters in a pool. When asked for tips for fellow athletes who are considering swimming in the open or are approaching a race that has a swim element, Ahmed shares three tips:

1.       “Go out to the ocean a few times with a coach or someone experienced that you trust before the race.

2.       Focus on breathing. Rapid breathing due to race anxiety and/or putting your face in the cold water will elevate your heart rate and it will make the swim much more difficult.

3.       If you are new to swimming, know and practice what you should do if you panic to stay safe.”

Thanks Ahmed, and congratulations!

Learn more about private lessons and private swims with Odyssey Open Water Swimming Coaches here!