Gold medals at the World Masters Championships don’t happen by accident. UK based Martin Bennell, a Masters world champion in his late 40s, joins Torpedo Swimtalk Podcast walks us through the exact blueprint that turned a six-month promise—break 30 in the 50 breaststroke—into British records, lifetime bests, and three golds. We get into the gritty details: how he trains solo three times a week, why visualisation cues beat complicated routines, and the strength program that pushed power without sacrificing streamline.
We talk race craft for real-world conditions—heat, humidity, jet lag—and how to keep your head quiet in top heats. Martin breaks down his best and toughest swims in Singapore, from an unexpected 100 free record to a hard-fought 100 breast with a blazing first 50. He shares the practical checklist he used in the call room, the technique tweaks that paid off and the smarter ways to travel, rest, and say no when the schedule gets noisy.
The conversation widens to the booming UK Masters scene: deep fields, packed nationals, and relay rivalries that raise everyone’s game. Martin sets public targets for next season, including mixed 200 relays and a stronger second 50 in the 100 breast, and even throws a friendly challenge toward former world champion James Gibson. Along the way, we explore how discipline beats motivation, why marginal gains compound—nutrition, sleep, video feedback, cycling commutes—and how to balance family, work, and the grind without losing joy.
If you’re chasing faster times on limited hours, this one’s a playbook. Hit follow, share it with your lane mates, and leave a quick review so more swimmers can find the show. What’s the one change you’ll commit to this week?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Danielle Spurling (00:08):
Hello, swimmers, and welcome to Torpedo
Swim talk, the podcastcelebrating swimmers at every
stage, from Masters legends toOlympic champions.
I'm your host, DanielleSpurling.
And each week we dive intoinspiring conversations from
around the world aboutperformance, resilience, and the
pure love of swimming.
Masters World Champion MartinBennell is our guest on the
(00:31):
podcast today.
We talked about swimming,lifetime PBs, his preparation
for big competitions like therecent worlds in Singapore, and
his passion for continuing tochallenge himself.
I loved this chat.
Let's hear from Martin now.
Hi Martin, welcome to thepodcast.
Martin Bennell (00:54):
Good.
Well, good morning for me.
Hi, hi Danielle.
And really thanks for havingme.
Um great to have you back.
I'm uh I'm a listener, I'm anavid listener, normally on my uh
commutes in the car.
And so it's great to actuallybe on here with you.
And yeah, thanks forrestarting.
Danielle Spurling (01:09):
I'm really pleased, and thanks for joining
us.
It's been great.
I wanted to start the chat withum a bit about your performance
in Singapore.
You had a phenomenal campaign,multiple British records,
lifetime bests, and gold medals.
When you think back on it now,what stands out to you the most
about that competition?
Martin Bennell (01:27):
Yeah, the whole thing for me was it became
pretty surreal.
Um, I put more focus on anevent than I normally would as a
master swimmer.
Um, and I guess everything camegood at the right time.
So I I trained, and you mayhave seen on my social media a
few people had in February, Iwas in Singapore, so I had an
office over there, and I decidedit happened exactly six months
(01:50):
prior to the meet, and I decidedto put it out there in public
and really give it a focus andset myself a goal of breaking 30
seconds for 50 breaststroke uhin my 45-year-old age group.
Um, and then I put six monthsof hard training in.
I really focused on it uh alongthe way, lots of twists and
turns and the usual breaststrokeinjuries.
(02:11):
But overall, you know, whenwhen and we can go into more
detail, but Singapore for me wasa fantastic uh 10 days.
Obviously, I've been workingthere, so I knew a lot of people
there, so it's quite social forme as well.
Um, and I think maybe because Iwas relaxed, I knew the
environment, I knew the pool.
I trained, well, not the newpool, but I I I trained in the
old pool uh quite a few times,and uh yeah, it really did come
(02:34):
good with yeah, as you say,lifetime best British records
and three gold medals.
Danielle Spurling (02:40):
Yes.
Did you end did you do fiveindividual events?
Martin Bennell (02:43):
I did, yeah.
I did um yeah, day one, um, andI actually changed just two
days before the the deadline.
I changed what I was going todo.
So day one for me was thehundred freestyle and the
hundred breaststroke.
Now, my freestyle's never beenactually as good as it as it as
has been.
And in June, things felt goodin training.
And um, I've done a bit of workon my technique, and and long
(03:07):
and short of it, I broke theBritish record in the 100
freestyle, which most peopleknow me as a breaststroker.
So it was a bit of a shocker.
Um, and it was an old record,it was it was a supersuit record
for from many, many years ago.
So so lots of people have triedand failed, and then I I broke
it in the UK nationals.
So then I thought I've reallygot to do that.
I've really got to do that inSingapore, but I've got to do
(03:27):
the two 100s.
So yeah, day one was the 100freestyle.
Um, and as as you now know, Ibroke the record again, went
even quicker, quicker and won.
And so then I was buzzing.
So then the Hunter breaststrokebecame um almost for fun.
And I was I was top of theworld, and uh no one was gonna
beat me.
I went out so fast.
Uh, I went out almost a PB forthe first 50, which is which is
(03:50):
a mistake potentially, but Iheld on.
I held on and I actually wonthe race.
They were coming at me on thesecond 50, and it was a massive
PB and a massive British record.
So I have no regrets, eventhough I swam it in a really
tough way.
Uh, I wouldn't mind trying itagain and going out a little bit
steadier and you know, bringingit home.
So, so yeah, that was day one.
(04:12):
Uh, and then I put the the 50breaststroke was the last day,
so and that was my main event.
So I just filled the two in themiddle with a hundred butterfly
and the 50 butterfly, uh, andgot two fourths.
Um yeah, and actually goodswims.
And and my highlight, and oneof the highlights of the week uh
outside of winning was the 50fly, because I got to race uh
(04:33):
Jeff Hugel, um, one of yourcountrymen, and and there was
two, maybe three Olympians inthe race, and plus me.
And actually, I messed up mystart and finish on a 50 and
came fourth and PB'd.
Uh and so it's oh, if only I'dhave got that right.
I was so close on that one touh being on the podium with
them.
But I yeah, and I reallyenjoyed it.
(04:54):
For me, that was my fun race,and uh it was good to swim with
those guys, even though it wasonly 20, 25, 26 seconds.
Danielle Spurling (05:02):
Yes, I mean yeah, I saw I saw the the sort
of the last 15 metres of thatrace, and I thought, um, yeah,
it was it was pretty close, butJeff looked pretty good, didn't
he?
Martin Bennell (05:12):
Yeah, outside lane, and and we'd been in the
in the call room together, andI'm sure I don't know if he
listens, but yeah, he was funnybecause he he was gonna wear
speedos and wait, and thensomeone lent him a race suit.
No, I think he you know heripped his race suit beforehand,
so then he was gonna do it inhis warm-up suit.
So then someone lent him, sothen he was late and he was
rushing around and squeezinginto his race suit, and he was
(05:33):
over on the outside.
So I knew he was there, and uh,as I say, I I didn't execute
the right race.
Unfortunately, I didn't executeit right.
And um, I wouldn't mind anothercrack at that one.
But uh, but but yeah, nocomplaints.
Danielle Spurling (05:46):
Still got time to do it again next time.
Martin Bennell (05:48):
I have, I have, and then we ended obviously,
yeah.
Then the final day, I had a dayoff, and then the final day was
the 50 breaststroke.
Uh, and as happy as I was goingin and relaxed because I'd
already won two gold medals.
Um, that was the one I'd putout there.
That's the one I'd told people,you know.
Luckily, I'd broken the Britishrecord.
So I did it in June.
I'd done the 29-7, you know,I'd broken 30 seconds.
(06:09):
Uh, and so I went in quiterelaxed, but you still, you
know, you're you're inSingapore, you know what it was
like.
It's still a big deal, topheats.
And um, yeah, I I did win it,but it was very tight again.
And and I actually went 30.00on the day.
So I I am glad I beat therecord before I went.
Um, but yeah, job done and gotthe three goals.
Danielle Spurling (06:30):
Yeah.
Look, I think what what youwhat you sort of outlined there
is what we all need to thinkabout is that when you get to a
you know something like theworlds, it's all about the
racing.
It's great that you did thetimes before you got there.
But as you know, things canhappen.
The heat, the humidity, all ofthose kind of things sort of go
into the race and and nerves aswell.
(06:50):
So it's great that you came outwith that gold medal after the
50 breasts.
Martin Bennell (06:55):
Yes, yeah, and it was great.
You know, and a lot of people,especially from our side of the
world, you know, we it was along way to go.
And you you've got to deal withjet lag, you've got the
humidity.
Uh, I think there was an awfullot of people wanting to see the
city or the country.
Um, and luckily I can I've beenmany times.
So when they, oh, do you wantto come sightseeing?
And I was able, you know,actually, no, I'm good, I'm
(07:15):
gonna rest up today, you know.
So uh, and I could see, yeah,it is hot and it is different,
and and yeah, the call room, allthose, all those factors come
into play.
And it's not always the besttime to swim your best times, is
it?
Danielle Spurling (07:28):
No, exactly.
But I think it makes you, youknow, it's it's you you race,
you race hard and you you sortof race ready.
So I think that that's that'sthe the joy of it.
Martin Bennell (07:37):
Yeah, and I love it.
And I I know a lot of peopleover here, especially in the UK,
who know me well.
I I love racing, and and Idon't really do nerves,
particularly, you know, I don'treally get nervous about it.
Uh enjoy competition, enjoybeing pushed along.
And uh so for me, yes, youknow, there's always that that
anticipation for it, but uh no,I loved it.
Yeah, I loved it.
Danielle Spurling (07:57):
Do you do much visual visualization before
you race?
Martin Bennell (08:01):
Um I guess I I certainly think, yes, and and
I've been through, yeah, I I doconsider what I'm going to do,
and I think about um I try andthink about the technique
because you've done thetraining, you know, and and I do
try and you know, if it's thebreaststroke, you know, make
sure I finish my armpole here,make sure I'm doing this bit
right, make sure my hands arehigh.
(08:22):
I had um and actually a shoutout for um uh Ian Holm, who you
may know.
Ian uh Ian was the head coachat Loughborough, and then he's
just taken a job over in Perth.
And I made a note.
Yeah, he's the head coach ofthe Western Australian Institute
of Sport in Perth.
Uh just started.
But anyway, Ian was doing somecoaching work here, so I took a
(08:43):
few hours with him, and he justgave me a few tidbits, and and I
wrote them down on my phone andI read them in the call room.
And it's just those, oh yeah,must do this, must, you know,
the breasttra arm position mustbe here.
And and so visualizing, yeah,just trying to get it all right
and uh thinking about the actualswim without visualising the
finish and the training andeverything that goes with it.
(09:04):
You know, just try and thinkabout each each bit, hit the
start right, hit the turn right.
You know.
Danielle Spurling (09:10):
Do you count strokes when you swim a 50
breast?
Martin Bennell (09:13):
I don't.
No, I don't.
Now I'm good friends with twobreaststrokers who would kill me
for this.
So uh, and you I think you knowthem both.
So Chris Jones and Jeff Wells.
Um, I think they've both beenon.
So we had a free-way chat forthe last few years.
They can't believe that I don'tcount strokes.
You know, that they areabsolute advocates.
So I I can see both sides.
Um, but no, to this, and I'venot watched the races back.
(09:36):
I couldn't tell you how manystrokes I did, and uh, I guess I
should.
Don't know.
No, no, just swim.
Danielle Spurling (09:44):
Just swim.
So tell us a little bit aboutyour training because I I read
that you use um My Swim Pro AItraining plans.
So you do you do that byyourself or are you still with
the squad?
How does that all work?
Martin Bennell (09:56):
No, I'm uh I guess, and a lot of people have
have been amazed.
I guess I have more disciplinethan most.
And and and at work, I I dotalk about motivation versus
discipline a lot.
And um my discipline isprobably off the scale because I
literally train solo.
Um I yeah, I I hey, I was aswimmer most of my life.
I had many years off um in my20s, but I've been doing masters
(10:19):
and I trained with a few clubs,but up to COVID, our in COVID,
I was with Joe Corbyn, whoyou'll know, uh for Ferrum.
And we broke a world relayworld record um 2017.
But in 2020, the club um prettymuch came to an end from a
master's point of view, and Ihad to make a few decisions.
And I had teenage childrenmyself, uh, one was swimming,
(10:40):
uh, had a job which includes alot of travel, and I just didn't
fit any other sessions.
There was there was no clubthat that almost fitted around
my life and would work for me.
So joined a local leisure umfacility with a 25-meter pool,
and I've trained on my own nowfor five years.
Um yeah, mentally it'ssometimes hard.
(11:00):
I uh um and that discipline tokeep going.
And now I don't train an awfullot, you know.
I I I'm a three times a week,you know, so I'm a three hours a
week swimmer, and I've had afew sessions set for me and I've
tried different ways.
But last year I was using theMySwim Pro for free.
I was just using the the appjust to track.
And then um I actually metFarris and and and yeah, yeah,
(11:23):
he upsold uh the owner of ofMySwim Pro.
Uh and actually, fair play,they they have um an AI tool
now, which is it writes thesessions for you.
So you can put the sessions inthere, but actually, uh and I
and I did, I used it.
I I I put it six months out andI put when the race was, what
the race was I was focusing, youknow, 50 breaststroke on this
(11:45):
date.
Um, this is how many times aweek I swim.
It knows my PVs, it knows whatwhat times I should be doing,
and it and it churned out athree times a week uh program
for me.
And when you're solo, it madesuch a good difference.
And and I actually wanted to doit.
You know, it's like a ticklist, and and and I wanted to
get it done.
And um, some of the sessionswere really quite hard, you
(12:06):
know.
But um, and then there'sdoubts, you know, is AI working?
What am I trusting here?
You know, this is all verymodern, but but hey, I I I'm now
an advocate and um I yeah, Ithink uh I've I've PB'd in
everything.
The last two years I've donePBs in every event, so I am an
advocate this summer,especially.
Yeah, no complaints at all.
Danielle Spurling (12:27):
Absolutely.
And I think what you say isreally interesting because it
it's the discipline, because weall lose motivation.
We all lose motivation, even ifyou're swimming with a squad,
but it's having the routine andthe discipline to go and do it,
which is really the cornerstoneof success, isn't it?
Martin Bennell (12:43):
Yes, yeah.
And as I say, I I I well, it'sanother story, but I actually
lost my job on the build-up toSingapore.
But I I was with a business fora long, long time and in a
senior role, so hiring lots ofjuniors, lots of trainees, um,
and I've done a lot of trainingand mentoring and coaching.
So yeah, discipline, disciplineis really important.
And uh I I do I do harp on abit a bit about that.
(13:05):
Um, but yeah, and I have tolead the way myself.
Danielle Spurling (13:09):
Yes, yes.
Well, I'm sorry to hear aboutyour job, and uh you're just
having a bit of an enforced restat the moment, are you?
Martin Bennell (13:15):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, maybe maybe that helped.
So uh the people in Singaporewho who knew were quite uh it's
the least you could do, Martin.
You're you're a professionalswimmer right now, you're you're
not working.
Um, and it was nice to go toSingapore this time, and I did
meet my old colleagues, so we wewent out for a Guinness during
the week, but it was nice to goand not have to work, and I
(13:35):
think that really helped my jetlag.
Uh, I had a good friend who, uha British guy who's actually
living on Sentoso Island.
So I went a week early and Istayed with him.
So it was absolutely lovely.
You know, it was amillionaires' row, and it was a
fantastic, you know, I was inhis spare room, but but still I
got to deal with my jet lag umover in a lovely place and not
have to get up for work in themorning, which I would normally
(13:55):
do on my travels.
So um it was, yeah, it there'sstill, you know, I I do need a
job.
I I am still in my 40s, and I'mcertainly not in a position to
retire.
And uh there's always thatniggle, but yes, I was more
relaxed, probably physicallythan normal, and and I was able
to give it a bit more focus, youknow.
And as as they all said, yeah,no excuse.
(14:16):
Yeah, it's the least I coulddo.
Danielle Spurling (14:18):
So and when when you are working and
training and fitting everythingelse in with your life and your
family, how do you make it work?
Martin Bennell (14:28):
Oh, again, I guess we don't want to go on too
much about the discipline, butyou you have to, you know, and
there's different times in life.
I I'm not really your your yourum pro swimmer that you you
would often talk to, I don'tthink.
I'm I'm a pretty rounded guy,and I've never really regarded
myself as a swimmer.
As I say, two, three times aweek, one hour swims.
That's that's really my whatI've done all of my swimming
(14:51):
career.
Um, you have different focuses.
So, so you you there are timeswhen you have to focus on work.
Like at the moment, I amfocused on on getting a job or
making money and setting up aconsultancy business.
So, you know, right nowswimming is probably number two
again.
Um, but but what happened overthe last few years is um I guess
(15:11):
my my kids are now teenagers,my eldest have just gone to
university, so big changes, andand and you you you get more
time.
So in your 30s and early 40s,you're taking them to dance
class and and and ballet and andswimming, and and you're a
bullside dad, and and you'recoaching, and so you can't focus
so much on yourself.
And over time, the the kidshave got a bit older, you you
(15:34):
get more time.
Um, maybe like the dancesessions now, they're maybe two
and a half hours of an evening.
So I can now take the youngestto dance, and then I can go for
my swim and then collect her,and it actually all fits.
Um, and then the elder one, andwell, even last night, the
younger one, they come to thegym with me.
So I go for a swim and they goin the gym.
So now you know you're being agood dad, and actually you're
(15:55):
achieving your swim.
So whilst whilst being a gooddad.
So I've definitely in the lastfew years upped, you know, up
the focus.
Um, and you're right though,when they when you travel, it's
hard.
And again, I've just tried tomake sure, you know, hotel with
a gym, hotel with a pool if Ican, find a local pool.
You know, when I was inSingapore a lot, we had an
office there, so I was theretwo, three, four times a year,
(16:18):
and and I would just use a pool.
I would go of an evening andand and and and you have to find
that window, you know, you haveto prioritize it.
And it is hard, but um,sometimes you know, I'd go for a
swim and then go out for aclient meal, you know, just fit
it in.
Yeah, yeah, get it done, and umor get up early and go to the
(16:39):
gym before work, you know, allthose good things in hotels.
Um but yeah, and and so it doescome back to discipline again,
doesn't it?
Danielle Spurling (16:45):
So yeah, oh absolutely.
Martin Bennell (16:47):
And it makes a difference.
Danielle Spurling (16:48):
Oh, I it definitely does, yeah.
And what about your strengthprogram?
How often do you hit the gymeach week and what kind of
things do you do?
Martin Bennell (16:57):
Yes, so that's you know, we talk about the
things I've done differentlywith the swimming and the MySwim
Pro.
The gym side of things isprobably the biggest change.
Um, I'm branded today, we can'tquite see.
Um, so my wife is um a PT.
And so I think I'm her best andworst client because she always
says I don't listen to her.
And I've currently got a badback, and I definitely she was
(17:18):
with me when I did it in the gymand was telling me not to lift
such a heavy weight.
She actually she was rightthere saying, Why are you doing
that?
And then I did it, and then Ihurt my back.
So you can imagine.
Um, but no, so she we sat downand and I've always been gym in
one or two times a week, youknow, just just enough, you
(17:38):
know, and again with thisbuildup and the focus, I've
always been an all-rounder.
I can do all distances and allstrokes, but we say, hang on,
I'm focused on 50 breaststroke.
You know, let's focus on 50breaststroke, let's actually put
six months in.
So we she set me a six-monthprogram which was really, really
strength focused.
Um, so I upped it to threetimes a week.
(17:59):
And so I was doing somethingnearly every day, swim or or
gym.
And yeah, that instead of uh,you know, yeah, three sets of 10
reps or whatever, I went toreally heavy and quite good fun.
You know, it was um one rep maxor two or three rep max, and
and then a lot of sittingaround.
I think they say it's two tothree minutes for your muscles
to recover.
So I'm that guy in the gym nowwho sits around and you know,
(18:22):
one or two reps and uh um yeah,I do that.
So I was worried about thefitness side, but the swimming
has has done well there.
I was cycling to work, so I wascycling the whole year, even in
the winter here.
I was cycling to work, andthat's about half an hour each
way.
So I was putting an hour ofaerobic in on the bike.
I was swimming three or fourtimes to keep that going, and
(18:42):
then I was doing the heavyweights in the gym, and I
definitely got stronger, andthat definitely made a
difference.
And I know there's a fewstrength coaches around, and
yeah, I'm a huge advocate of uh,you know, I endorse you know
the weight training side ofthings now, and again, I think
it's um it's uh marginal gains,isn't it?
It's not my own, you know, it'sthe cycling analogy, but I I
(19:06):
think this year, you know, I'vedone the swimming's improved,
the gym has improved, thefitness improved, um, nutrition
improved, all sorts of thingshave you know, and I've just
done little things along the wayto get those marginal gains.
Danielle Spurling (19:19):
I mean, I think it's been a big revolution
across master swimming.
You know, when I when I startedmaster swimming maybe 12, 13
years ago, not many people didgym.
Now everyone's doing it.
And I think the sort of mindsetaround it is that you know,
you're starting to lift a lotheavier.
Martin Bennell (19:35):
Yeah, I think it's strength.
You know, I've read a few bitsand bobs, and and and you
ultimately you're trying to pullthrough the water, aren't you?
And and and um if you'restrong, the logic is you're
stronger.
Now there's definitely a youknow, we won't go into the
enhanced games conversations,but that was a good, you know,
it it was something to watch onthe YouTube.
I did watch it, and and and mymy my opinion's pretty strong on
(19:58):
it, but not in a good way.
But um, but you can see ifyou're too big.
It was a good example of beingtoo big, and that didn't work.
So so it's those in swimming, Ithink you've got to find you've
got to find that fine line thatfine line strength.
Yeah, yeah, and keep yourstreamline and keep the the
technique.
And again, I think I didn'tmention it on the on the
(20:19):
marginal gains, but thattechnique improvement this year.
You know, I'm 48 years old thisyear, and I finally got some
coaching on my own technique.
And um, it actually didn't takelong, it was a few hours of
work and some underwater camera,and there were some really
obvious tweaks.
Oh, oh, that's how I swim.
Oh, I thought I thought itlooked like this, and and and so
(20:39):
I made those tweaks.
Um and yeah, when you add thestrength to it, you've got that
power in the water, and uh yeah,it's all it's all working.
Yeah, I'm I'm endorsingeverything right now, aren't I?
I'm positive.
Danielle Spurling (20:53):
You're the poster boy for master swimming.
Martin Bennell (20:56):
Oh, well, I had um, it was tough in the core
room.
We had uh Stefan uh was uh flyswimmer, a Romanian, um two or
three Olympics.
Sorry, I should know the otherum and on by the final fly
swimming, he's even taking theMickey at me.
And I'm trying to focus on theswim.
You know, I'm in the call roomand he said, Martin, what on
earth is going on?
I've got slower every year for17 years, and you're getting
(21:20):
quicker every year.
So yeah, um, I'm a I'm a very,very late developer.
So I I I definitely yeah, missthe window, I'm afraid.
Yeah, I missed the I missed itat the right moment, but yeah,
48, 47, 48 is a good time topeak.
Danielle Spurling (21:36):
Yeah.
How long have you been masterswimming?
Martin Bennell (21:40):
Um got back uh early 30s.
So uh I had hip surgery, so I'dI'd quit at 23.
So I was as a junior, I I wentto Olympic trials in the UK.
Um and I stopped at 23, whichback then I was quite old, you
know, and and I was um yeah, Iwas ready to stop.
(22:01):
And I and I top 10 in the UK,you know, I was never I was
never amazing.
I was good and um and thenyeah, did a marathon, did a lot
of running events, played a lotof squash, and actually that was
worse for my body thanswimming.
So um had my first hip surgery,I think I was 29, and then um
had my second hip surgery in2019, so just before COVID.
(22:24):
So both hips have now uh beenbeen repaired for me.
Uh they're both my own hipsstill, but I have been warned if
I if I carry on too muchbreaststroke, they they they
won't be my hips, but right nowthey are my hips.
Um, but they're not good,they're not great, and they're
the first thing to go.
And I uh you know, groinstrains are regular for me and
hip problems and lower backproblems.
But yeah, so I've been doing itnow, yeah, it's probably nearly
(22:46):
20 years, 15 years, just neverquite at this level.
You know, I've got betterliterally every every year, I'll
put more focus in to now.
Danielle Spurling (22:54):
Yeah, I was I was so um amazed and and happy
for all the British swimmers inSingapore because there was a
huge amount there and they wereall so successful.
What's happening on the Britishscene that's making you all so
fast?
Martin Bennell (23:07):
Well, I don't know, yeah.
I can't talk about everyone.
Uh the South Coast, I'm uh I'mon the south coast of the UK,
central south, so about an hourand a half uh south of London.
But yeah, up the road is JoeCorbyn, who you know, and the
Trojan team.
Um, and then I swim for BasingStoke Bluefins, uh, who I joined
after COVID when I had no club,and and they were really good
to me.
Um, and I think I think theyappreciate me in the relays.
(23:30):
And we have, we know it's beenfive years now, so it's been
great.
Um, lots of lots of relayrecords, but they push each
other.
So I can talk, you know, fromthe Hampshire region where we
are, you know, we really do pusheach other up, you know, and it
it's it's such a positiveenvironment.
We're all pushing each other togreater things.
As you say, a lot more peopleare doing the land work now, a
(23:51):
lot more people are puttingfocus in.
Um, you know, the BritishNationals for us is next week.
And again, it's I think it'salmost a sellout.
Um, there will be recordsgalore, you know, and short
course.
Um, we've got a guy in the UK,Ben, who who's beating me um on
the 100 breath.
So so we were like we wereranked one and two in the 50 and
the 100, I think, in the worldlast year.
(24:12):
Um, but we're you know, we getwe go head to head in the
British champs, you know.
So we've got some of the bestin the world uh um racing each
other.
So no, we're we're pushing eachother up, and um, and that's a
good thing.
But yeah, master swimming inthe UK is is is really hot.
Danielle Spurling (24:26):
Yeah, yeah, it's really vibrant, like
there's a lot happening there,and a lot of people racing, not
obviously not all those peoplethat are in your top 10 have
gone to the worlds, butobviously it's a very strong
competition.
And when I see people sayingthat they haven't been able to
enter your nationals, that'samazing to me.
Martin Bennell (24:44):
Yeah, and it happens, and there's always a
big fallout.
There's a there's always andnow they do a first tier and a
second tier, and and there'sthat they're trying to work it
out.
And the organizers, and I knowthem well, and and and good
luck, and I'll always supportthem.
And I know they're trying theirbest, but there's always a lot
of moaning and there's always alot of issues.
Um, and in fact, this week umthey've been good.
It's it's fair to say I I'vealways supported them.
(25:05):
And this week I've just pulledout of my individual races
because of my lower back issue.
Um, I don't think I I it'sgonna be just too soon, and I'm
hoping to get back for therelays.
And I think I'm in five or sixrelays, and they're I think
that's five or six recordattempts.
So I think that's more thanenough uh for me this time.
But they were good as gold withit, and I know there's so much
to do and there's so much goingon, but um Hey Swim Talkers.
Danielle Spurling (25:31):
If you love the show, consider becoming a
Torpedo Swim Talk supporter.
You'll get exclusive workouts,early episode drops, and a shout
out on the pod.
Join the Swim Talkerscommunity.
The links are in the shownotes.
Martin Bennell (25:47):
And one of the things I wanted to mention was
um uh we we've had some uhthere's been a little we we push
each other up, and it's goodbravado, but um I met James
Gibson um at the Adam Petey meetearlier this summer, and uh he
wasn't in great shape.
And ever since then he he'sbeen in the gym and he's posting
a lot, and and there's beensome other people mentioning
that he might get back in.
(26:07):
Now, he was the last person Iever raced.
So my last the Olympic trialsemi-final when they used to do
them, he was in the lane next tome.
And I and he won't remember andhe doesn't, but it didn't
matter to him.
But I always said, Oh, that wasmy last race.
Yeah, I raced uh a future worldworld champ, and uh yeah, he
looks good in the gym, he'sworking out, so I figured I'd
call him out in public.
(26:28):
I think I figured you you know,you have a lot of uh listeners
and viewers, and uh yeah, sonext June we have the UK long
course uh nationals, which willbe in Scotland, up in Aberdeen,
which is a great pool.
And uh yeah, I'd love to callhim out and uh I'd love to race
him again.
And and how you know how goodis he all those years later, 20
years later, and and uh yeah, Ilove I love the challenge, I
(26:50):
love the competition.
So I I'd love him to actuallycome back in and do a 50 breast.
Danielle Spurling (26:54):
Yes, yeah, that'd be good.
Is he your age?
Martin Bennell (26:56):
He is, yeah.
But I'm 49 next year, and thenhe's a bit younger, so uh it has
to be next year, or we'd haveto wait.
I I think he's two or threeyears younger.
So yeah, uh yeah, I'm callinghim out for 2026.
And and he's now traveling theworld.
I keep saying his posts, youknow, he's working for World
Aquatics, so he's all around theworld right now.
Um, so yeah, whether he is eveninterested, who knows?
(27:17):
But uh, but it's been quitegood fun.
And my teammates have beentaking the Mickey that I'll be
losing my records.
So and maybe, but that's fine,you know.
Yeah, yeah, maybe.
Danielle Spurling (27:29):
But that's that's what records are for to
be broken.
Martin Bennell (27:32):
Yeah, no, no, yeah, no problem with that.
I I lost one uh a while ago andI lost it within a week.
In fact, the first record Iever got was a relay record in
the uh now uh very famousEuropean 2016 uh event in
London, which was oversubscribedand has a lot of bad press.
But we broke uh our so it wasmy first ever British record.
We did it in a relay, and uhthe heat afterwards broke it
(27:56):
again.
And uh they still sent thecertificate and I thought that's
nice because we did actuallybreak it.
And we so yeah, I held my firstrecord for about two minutes.
Danielle Spurling (28:07):
I love the fact that you have a short
course and a long coursenationals.
Uh we don't have that inAustralia, we just have one
nationals a year, and it rotatesbetween short course and long
course.
So next year is short course,but this year we had long
course, but it gives you such anopportunity to race.
Martin Bennell (28:24):
Uh yes, and and what and I guess that's where
we're now.
So the short course has alwaysbeen the big one, over
subscribed.
That's always in Sheffield, andit's always the last full
weekend of October.
So you know, you know, I cantell you when it is now.
You can book hotels, you canbook my time off work, you know.
There's almost no excuses, youknow exactly when that's going
to be.
And they always change theorder of events, but you know,
(28:45):
it's a Friday, Saturday, Sundayin October.
And then last year they've justagreed to do a very similar
thing with the long course, andit's the second weekend of June.
So again, now you you knowyou'll you'll know exactly when,
and yeah, second weekend ofwhenever that is next year, but
it's second weekend of June inAberdeen, uh, and it will be in
future years.
And they split the venue, theythey move it between Scotland,
(29:07):
England, Wales, England,Scotland, you know, so they move
the venue uh for the longcourse.
But now, yeah, now you canfocus and you know when it is,
you know, and you can build yourholiday, you can build your
holidays around it, and it'sdepending on how keen you are.
So that's really good.
I can't believe you only havethe one.
Danielle Spurling (29:24):
We just have the one.
Martin Bennell (29:26):
And you will have to travel so far, I guess.
Danielle Spurling (29:29):
Yeah, that's right.
But we have a lot of there's alot of state meets, so there's
ones close by, and then everytwo years we have a um the Pan
Pack Masters Games on the GoldCoast.
That's always on the Gold Coastin November, I think it is.
Um, so that's always something.
But yeah, it's a pity that wedon't have a short course and a
(29:49):
long course every year, 'causelike you and the US as well do.
Martin Bennell (29:54):
Yes, yeah, they do.
And some of my team.
So this year well, we found itit was disappointing on the the
The diary clash, but we had umclash the American, yeah.
The American was the same.
So so some of my Bluefin's teamcouldn't make the Singapore
trip, but they could quit ashorter trip to America was
possible.
So actually, uh whilst I wasthe only uh representative this
time in in Singapore, they wereover in America breaking records
(30:18):
and and and winning someAmerican uh titles.
Amazing.
Actually, I don't know if thatcounted.
Actually, I'm not sure if areBritish people allowed American
titles.
I'm sure someone will correctme, but uh they certainly won
their races races.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
They won their races and theythey enjoyed that trip.
So but it was a shame it wasthe same time.
Danielle Spurling (30:35):
Yeah, yeah.
I I I don't know why they saidit at the same time because
those world aquatics dates areuh set miles out.
Martin Bennell (30:43):
Yeah, yeah.
And still, hey, we hit westill, I think most of the the
top Americans I got to race,obviously Jeff Wells, who you
know, and and I had the Jeff sothere was uh various Jeffs and
uh Jeff Cummings uh who I I'dnever raced Jeff Cummings, but I
knew who he was, and uh he'sthe age above, so he's 50.
And um yeah, he yeah, it was anhonor, really.
(31:04):
I had a photo with him, and itwas great to you know warm
downpour with him.
I think he had just broken thewas the 50 record or the 100
record.
Um yeah, no, the 58.
Marco won the 100 in the 50.
And actually that the the 50plus is now harder than the 45.
Yeah, when I when I age up,it's gonna be tougher racing
those guys.
Danielle Spurling (31:23):
Yeah.
unknown (31:24):
Yeah.
Danielle Spurling (31:25):
Yeah.
I mean, look, it's it's justgetting stronger and stronger
all the time.
I mean, more people are comingback.
Susie O'Neal, obviously, ourone of our golden smithers from
Australia, she came back andmade a bit of a um an
appearance.
You probably know.
I think she was against um ohgosh, I've forgotten her name.
Michelle.
She raced Michelle Ware.
Yeah, she raised Michelle Ware,that's right.
(31:46):
Just beat her.
But she just came back for that50 fly.
Now she's stopped again.
But yeah, she's still so fitand so strong, and it'd be
lovely to have that techniquebehind you.
Martin Bennell (31:57):
Yeah.
And again, we're all smilingabout it because it's great for
the sport.
Danielle Spurling (32:00):
Yeah, great for the sport.
Martin Bennell (32:02):
Which is what yeah, which is why, you know, if
James Gibson wants to return,you know, a former World 50
breaststroke champion, we're allin, aren't we?
Danielle Spurling (32:09):
Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, that's why I thought itwas great that Jeff Hugel and
Bobby Hurley both raced in umSingapore.
And um, you you obviouslymentioned the guy from Romania.
I wasn't sure of him, but yeah,there was a lot of people
across the board who are pastOlympians.
Martin Bennell (32:27):
Yes, yeah.
And I think maybe in their 40s,that's the time, you know, you
you get the itch again, or youknow, you're intrigued, maybe,
or or again, like me, maybeyou've got a bit more time and
you you can refocus.
Not too many Olympians, Ithink, need to return.
You know, I think they'veachieved it.
They've achieved it at theright time.
As I say, I I am doingamazingly well, but I admit I am
well 30 years late, don't I?
(32:49):
So yeah, I think I'd haverather peek then.
Danielle Spurling (32:53):
Well, you're probably I'm putting words in
your mouth, but you're probablyreally able to enjoy it more at
this stage in your life becauseit means so much to you.
Martin Bennell (33:02):
Yeah, it's yeah, and it's it's fine lines, isn't
it?
Because I I also know and I'mI'm grounded enough to know it's
just master sport.
So it's it's this is notprofessional, you know, and it's
it's not paying the bills, asI've learned this year.
But um, but it does, I think, Ithink the the number of
messages I've received about howinspiring I'm being is amazing,
(33:25):
you know.
And I was that's not why I didit, you know, in a way I was a
bit selfish.
Yeah, I was a bit selfish.
You know, I want to break 30seconds, I want to break the
record.
You know, I had my own goals,but then on the build-up, that
the yeah, I've had so many nicemessages um on social media, and
then people you haven't seenfor 20, 30 years or so, and
their messaging and what aninspiration I've been.
And and yeah, I guess I hopeI'm showing people it's possible
(33:48):
in your 40s to keep gettingquicker.
And you know, yeah, howevergood or you know, whatever
effort you're putting in, youyou can still get quicker and
you can still be faster.
And and who knows, at somepoint I will obviously slow
down.
There they will have to thatwill happen, but um, I'm not
sure how I'll take it.
Danielle Spurling (34:05):
So yeah, well, someone said to me, You
it's a good way of thinkingabout it to have a PB in that
then the age group that you'rein.
Try not to compare it to theage group before.
So obviously we're in five-yearblocks, but it is hard when you
start aging up and you knowyou're 10 years down the track
(34:26):
to be back at that PB that youdid in your early 40s.
Martin Bennell (34:30):
I know, and so I don't know why I'm you know the
Benjamin button of the sportright now, but but for some
reason it's working.
The the funny one was I was uha shout out to James Wardle, who
who became my wingman over inSingapore, because he was there
on his own too, another Britishswimmer.
But I hadn't realized he he dida great 100 freestyle the same
day as me.
And uh I think it was a 55-0.
(34:51):
And he he said, Oh, I've justmissed the British record.
And I said, Oh, you know, andI'd just done my record, but we
realized that I'm swimmingfaster than I did in my 40s to
44.
So I've just my record in the45 to 49 is now quicker than the
40 to 44.
So so I've yeah, I I'm nowyeah, I I couldn't go that fast
(35:13):
eight years ago.
So it is a yeah, my my my timesare very strange.
So the British record is now uhyeah, quicker in the 45s, so
they're not gonna like aging up.
Danielle Spurling (35:23):
No, exactly.
And do you ever like afterSingapore, did you um sort of
feel any sort of like let downor or sort of burnout after that
sort of big high?
Martin Bennell (35:37):
Yeah, you definitely I don't as I say I'm
pretty rounded and so no, nomajor uh burnout as such, but um
it was a I always describe itas the bubble, and and and and
all my friends listening willgo, yeah, the swimming bubble.
And and when you're away for along weekend or you're away
especially for a week, you arein this bubble.
You and it's not real lifebecause you're talking about
(35:58):
swimming, you're having dinnerwith swimmers, you're talking,
you know, you're training,you're swimming, it's not real.
And all of a sudden, when youespecially Singapore, you've
really, you know, you've reallygot in there, and then you come
home and ooh, real life, youknow, oh bills to pay, you know,
houses to clean, you know,you've still got to do the
hoovering, you've still got todo the dishwasher, you know.
Oh yeah.
You know, so um no, definitelyum, but no, I I'm good.
(36:23):
I did I took a few weeks umout.
I I hardly swam and and andtook a bit of a break and then
got back in in September.
Um, and actually it was goingreally well until uh until I put
my back out, which is uh foolfoolish of me.
And I will recover.
I've had some physio andosteopath.
I I'm on the road to recovery,but it was foolish of me.
Danielle Spurling (36:43):
But yeah, well, when you get over this
back injury and you're back inand you're taking care of your
back, what's what's sort of yournext goal on the horizon, like
your big goal?
Martin Bennell (36:54):
Oh, next goal is, and it really wasn't this
year anyway, now, so it is nextyear.
I've still got a few niggles,things I think I can do better.
So the hundred breaststroke, asI said, I I did a um uh a one
and a half second PB.
So that's pretty amazing, butit was still a 107.5, and and
(37:15):
then I've been a 105.0 shortcourse, and I just think I can
go a bit quicker if I if I getthe first, if I get the the
timing right.
And maybe so 100 breaststrokelong, and I know the second
length, I need to be stronger onthe second length, so I need to
work on the second length.
Um, but next year for us thebig goal, and I'm gonna and
again, I like to do these thingsin public.
(37:36):
Let's go let's go uh let's putit this one out there, but it's
all about the relays for me nextyear, and we've done a lot of
records this year, but next yearwe've got a mixed team at
Basing Stoke Bluefins that agesto 200.
We were unfortunately we were199 this year, and Woking, which
is Michelle Ware and MikeHodgson and my you know very,
very good friend Dean Blackman,have had a team which is 200
(37:58):
this year, and they've brokennearly every record, they've
done nearly every relay, andthey broke the world record two
weeks ago in the 4x100, butthey're also doing the four by
50s and all of the events.
And and our team, we believeour team is stronger.
We do it in a different orderfor the medleys, and so we'll
we'll we'll find out.
And they've now set us allthese times, and so yeah, I I
(38:21):
we're gonna have a big relayfocus, and and they've yeah, we
we know what we need to do, anduh gonna try and get as many
records uh from a good friend asI can.
Danielle Spurling (38:31):
So that's a that's really good.
Martin Bennell (38:35):
Yeah, it includes the four by 200 as
well, which as everyone, youknow, if you think of me as a 50
breaststroker, that 200freestyle long course is that's
a challenge, and and I do needto adapt my training somewhat
for that.
Danielle Spurling (38:46):
So that's the British, they're the British
records, are they?
Martin Bennell (38:51):
Um they broke a they broke a world record.
I think it was the first one, Ithink they've got one world,
and definitely a few Europeans,uh, and mostly British.
So yeah, yeah, and and my team,yeah.
So shout out to uh Lizzie,Fleur, and Spencer and I.
Yeah, next year we'll we'll betrying to uh to break them.
(39:13):
But we'll see.
Danielle Spurling (39:15):
So, Martin, every time I get someone on the
pod, I love to ask them the deepdive five.
So I just gonna ask you fivequick questions.
Tell me the first thing thatpops into your mind.
Favorite pool that you've everswum at?
Martin Bennell (39:29):
Singapore.
Danielle Spurling (39:32):
Singapore, the the portable one or the
OCBC?
Martin Bennell (39:36):
Oh, I've got such good memories now.
It it's gonna be the portable.
It used to be the OCBC becauseI loved it, but uh and I love
the outdoor feel, but no, I Idid my best swims and I got
yeah, no, I I I got the threegolds in the other pool.
Yeah, it was it was thetemporary one, which I guess
will never be there again.
That's a shame.
Danielle Spurling (39:55):
No, that's it was a beautiful pool.
It was just so deep and sonon-turbulent and oh so blue.
I love it.
Martin Bennell (40:03):
Yeah, yeah, so blue.
I'll have great memories.
I love the setup with the warmdown pool nearby, and that was
amazing as well.
It was amazing, wasn't it?
Yeah, no, that that yeah, andyou hesitate because I've
obviously I've got London, whichI get to swim in a fair bit,
two or three times a year, andthat's amazing too.
That was the hesitation, butno, Singapore will have will
(40:24):
definitely have the bestmemories.
Danielle Spurling (40:25):
Yes, yes.
And you are AM or PM trainer?
What do you prefer?
I'm a PM.
PM.
Martin Bennell (40:32):
Yeah, yeah.
I I went through the AM lifeand and then with the kids, but
actually now they they like tocome to the gym with me, don't
they?
So uh we do it after college oror it was after, yeah, in the
evening.
So I've become an evening, andobviously I also train solo, so
you have to find a lane withoutpublic.
So I'm now I I'm a 9 p.m.
I'm quite late on my own,making sure everyone's gone.
(40:53):
Yeah, so I have a lane tomyself, so 9 till 10 p.m.
quite regularly.
Danielle Spurling (40:57):
Oh, how do you get to sleep after that?
Martin Bennell (41:00):
Yeah, you then come home and you eat too much,
and yeah, it does, yeah, yeah.
It's you it's it's a routineand a habit you get better at,
but no, you're you're you'rewired for a while.
Danielle Spurling (41:10):
For a little while, of course.
What's your favoritebreaststroke drill?
Martin Bennell (41:14):
Oh, um, I don't do much breaststroke because of
my gories.
I literally just race it.
But when I do, uh my favoritedraw is probably the three kicks
one pull.
It used to be two kicks to onepull, and that's what I did.
And then it was only maybe ayear or two ago someone
recommended it because you'rehaving to hold that that that
streamline longer and hold yourbreath, which um is really
(41:35):
important.
And so, yeah, the three kicksto one pull, probably.
Danielle Spurling (41:40):
Nice.
And how about your favorite uhmain training set?
Martin Bennell (41:44):
Now I remember you doing these before, so I I
did give this one some thought,and um I and because of the AI,
the last six months, it's been adifferent session every time.
There's no repeats, but when Ilook back, and the one the one I
go back to is I used to love itas a as in my 20s when I was uh
on it, and it was a lactatetolerance, I think they called
(42:06):
it, and it was the 3050s off 90.
So you've got a minute 30, andit was so in my 20s, I remember
they were all max, 30 max from adive, you know.
And actually, I if I recall, Ithink I did pretty well, and and
I quite like the pain of it,you know.
The uh and and try and, youknow, it now these days I have
tried to do it as a masterswimmer.
(42:28):
Now I can't dive, so again, mypool, there's no blocks, you're
not allowed to dive in, sothere's no diving, which is
probably a good thing.
And I definitely break it intotens and sometimes fives, and
and and and they maybe not allmax.
Yeah, I see.
But but the the principle of itI still love.
I love that trying to hang inthere as long as you can.
(42:48):
But I think at our age 30 is isis a few too many.
But but yeah, 10 freestyle, 10breaststroke, 10 freestyle,
something like that.
Or you do build up five, youknow.
But yeah, those that's a fineone.
It's 3050s.
But yeah, I wouldn'tnecessarily highly recommend it,
but it's it certainly sorts thelactate out.
Danielle Spurling (43:08):
Yes.
How how much rest are youtaking?
Martin Bennell (43:11):
Well, yeah, so swimming on 30 seconds, so
you're getting a minute.
Um, so it's off yeah, off the90.
I know, and as a sprinter, thethe uh the enjoyable ones are
the 50s or five minutes, youknow.
They're the they're the they'rethe really, you know, they're
the nicer, different kind ofpain, isn't it?
But uh very much, yeah.
But yeah, and I've always Iguess I came I I I I don't do
(43:32):
the too uh short a session.
So actually a lot of mysessions are 3k ish.
So and I know a lot ofsprinters are only doing one to
two K and really focused on onthe short stuff, but I still
like to be able to do a 200freestyle.
I still like to be able to helpthe relays out, and I still
like to mix up my races.
I actually did an 800 this yearfor the first time ever.
Oh, really?
(43:53):
It wasn't it wasn't great, butum, I do like to mix it up, so I
do like to keep the trainingdistance in there and um so
yeah, 3050s off 90 seconds ashard as you can.
Danielle Spurling (44:05):
Yes, that's a good one.
I like that.
And how about the the theswimmer that you admire the
most?
Martin Bennell (44:12):
Um hey, it might and it's gonna sound uh
potentially a bit cheesy rightnow, but Adam Petey's um who
I've met now many times, andI've done his meets and we've
raced each other, um, and he'snow making his comeback.
So I guess in in a few years'time, ask me again, but right
now the fact he's making thecomeback is good.
Adam ultimately is the worldrecord holder on the breast.
(44:35):
I've now set British recordsand I'm 20 years older, exactly
20 years older than him.
So when I have seen him, it'slike, there you go, I've set you
your mark for 20 years' time.
So these are the times you needto keep doing.
So whether he carries on, butbut ultimately he's he's he has
more world records in one strokethan anyone else.
You know, he's he's still gothis hundred breaststroke, no
(44:55):
one, no one's no one's gotclose.
And so yeah, it has yeah, ithas to be the British
breaststroker, doesn't it?
I have to back my man.
And I was racing in his hat.
I had a I had an AP hat, so Idid the AP meeting and I had a
AP race hat.
So uh I'm all in AP.
Danielle Spurling (45:12):
Yeah, I saw I saw his racing over at the
World Cups in uh in the US.
So yeah, on the on the comebacktrail.
Of course, yeah, yeah.
Martin Bennell (45:20):
So I think it'll be next year for him, it'll be
really, really exciting.
And we've got a young lad who'sfrom Hampshire, one of the
Jersey, an island near us,Philippe, who won the World
Juniors, uh, who's also abreaststroker.
So watch out.
I think because Philippe willbe in the Commonwealth for
Jersey, he'll be representingJersey.
Um and then Adam will be therefor England, and plus the odd
(45:41):
he's never went out.
So I think yeah, he's he's gothis work cut out, Adam.
Just you know, just stay in theBritish number one, let alone
world.
So uh yeah, it should be a goodyear next year.
Danielle Spurling (45:50):
Yeah, because we've got a breaststroker from
Melbourne, Sam Williamson.
He won the worlds last year,but then um hurt his knee, so he
was out this current year.
But yeah, um I think he's onthe comeback trail as well.
So that'll be interesting if hemakes it back in time for the
Common Off Games next year.
Martin Bennell (46:07):
Yeah, I hope so.
Yeah, I love it.
We all love just watching goodcompetition, don't we?
So yeah.
Danielle Spurling (46:14):
Well, Martin, thank you so much for joining
us on the podcast today.
It's been lovely getting tohear all about your swimming and
um wishing you every successheading forward.
And I hope that back heals upfor you quickly.
Martin Bennell (46:24):
Yes, I hope I can do the relays.
I guess I'll post about it youknow uh on the social media if
if I can if I can even be in therelay team.
I might get dropped.
But yeah, thanks.
And and yeah, yeah, keep up thepodcast, and I look forward to
listening on my commutes when Istart working again.
Yes.
Danielle Spurling (46:45):
Okay, take care.
Bye.
Thanks for tuning in to TorpedoSwim Talk, the podcast
celebrating swimmers at everystage from Masters Legends to
Olympic champions.
If you enjoyed this episode,please follow or subscribe on
your favorite podcast platformand leave a review to help more
(47:05):
swimmers find the show.
You can also catch pastepisodes, guest highlights, and
swimming stories from around theworld at Torpedoswimtalk.com.
Until next time, happy swimmingand bye for now.
Hello, swimmers, and welcome to Torpedo
Swim talk, the podcastcelebrating swimmers at every
stage, from Masters legends toOlympic champions.
I'm your host, DanielleSpurling.
And each week we dive intoinspiring conversations from
around the world aboutperformance, resilience, and the
pure love of swimming.
Masters World Champion MartinBennell is our guest on the
(00:31):
podcast today.
We talked about swimming,lifetime PBs, his preparation
for big competitions like therecent worlds in Singapore, and
his passion for continuing tochallenge himself.
I loved this chat.
Let's hear from Martin now.
Hi Martin, welcome to thepodcast.
Martin Bennell (00:54):
Good.
Well, good morning for me.
Hi, hi Danielle.
And really thanks for havingme.
Um great to have you back.
I'm uh I'm a listener, I'm anavid listener, normally on my uh
commutes in the car.
And so it's great to actuallybe on here with you.
And yeah, thanks forrestarting.
Danielle Spurling (01:09):
I'm really pleased, and thanks for joining
us.
It's been great.
I wanted to start the chat withum a bit about your performance
in Singapore.
You had a phenomenal campaign,multiple British records,
lifetime bests, and gold medals.
When you think back on it now,what stands out to you the most
about that competition?
Martin Bennell (01:27):
Yeah, the whole thing for me was it became
pretty surreal.
Um, I put more focus on anevent than I normally would as a
master swimmer.
Um, and I guess everything camegood at the right time.
So I I trained, and you mayhave seen on my social media a
few people had in February, Iwas in Singapore, so I had an
office over there, and I decidedit happened exactly six months
(01:50):
prior to the meet, and I decidedto put it out there in public
and really give it a focus andset myself a goal of breaking 30
seconds for 50 breaststroke uhin my 45-year-old age group.
Um, and then I put six monthsof hard training in.
I really focused on it uh alongthe way, lots of twists and
turns and the usual breaststrokeinjuries.
(02:11):
But overall, you know, whenwhen and we can go into more
detail, but Singapore for me wasa fantastic uh 10 days.
Obviously, I've been workingthere, so I knew a lot of people
there, so it's quite social forme as well.
Um, and I think maybe because Iwas relaxed, I knew the
environment, I knew the pool.
I trained, well, not the newpool, but I I I trained in the
old pool uh quite a few times,and uh yeah, it really did come
(02:34):
good with yeah, as you say,lifetime best British records
and three gold medals.
Danielle Spurling (02:40):
Yes.
Did you end did you do fiveindividual events?
Martin Bennell (02:43):
I did, yeah.
I did um yeah, day one, um, andI actually changed just two
days before the the deadline.
I changed what I was going todo.
So day one for me was thehundred freestyle and the
hundred breaststroke.
Now, my freestyle's never beenactually as good as it as it as
has been.
And in June, things felt goodin training.
And um, I've done a bit of workon my technique, and and long
(03:07):
and short of it, I broke theBritish record in the 100
freestyle, which most peopleknow me as a breaststroker.
So it was a bit of a shocker.
Um, and it was an old record,it was it was a supersuit record
for from many, many years ago.
So so lots of people have triedand failed, and then I I broke
it in the UK nationals.
So then I thought I've reallygot to do that.
I've really got to do that inSingapore, but I've got to do
(03:27):
the two 100s.
So yeah, day one was the 100freestyle.
Um, and as as you now know, Ibroke the record again, went
even quicker, quicker and won.
And so then I was buzzing.
So then the Hunter breaststrokebecame um almost for fun.
And I was I was top of theworld, and uh no one was gonna
beat me.
I went out so fast.
Uh, I went out almost a PB forthe first 50, which is which is
(03:50):
a mistake potentially, but Iheld on.
I held on and I actually wonthe race.
They were coming at me on thesecond 50, and it was a massive
PB and a massive British record.
So I have no regrets, eventhough I swam it in a really
tough way.
Uh, I wouldn't mind trying itagain and going out a little bit
steadier and you know, bringingit home.
So, so yeah, that was day one.
(04:12):
Uh, and then I put the the 50breaststroke was the last day,
so and that was my main event.
So I just filled the two in themiddle with a hundred butterfly
and the 50 butterfly, uh, andgot two fourths.
Um yeah, and actually goodswims.
And and my highlight, and oneof the highlights of the week uh
outside of winning was the 50fly, because I got to race uh
(04:33):
Jeff Hugel, um, one of yourcountrymen, and and there was
two, maybe three Olympians inthe race, and plus me.
And actually, I messed up mystart and finish on a 50 and
came fourth and PB'd.
Uh and so it's oh, if only I'dhave got that right.
I was so close on that one touh being on the podium with
them.
But I yeah, and I reallyenjoyed it.
(04:54):
For me, that was my fun race,and uh it was good to swim with
those guys, even though it wasonly 20, 25, 26 seconds.
Danielle Spurling (05:02):
Yes, I mean yeah, I saw I saw the the sort
of the last 15 metres of thatrace, and I thought, um, yeah,
it was it was pretty close, butJeff looked pretty good, didn't
he?
Martin Bennell (05:12):
Yeah, outside lane, and and we'd been in the
in the call room together, andI'm sure I don't know if he
listens, but yeah, he was funnybecause he he was gonna wear
speedos and wait, and thensomeone lent him a race suit.
No, I think he you know heripped his race suit beforehand,
so then he was gonna do it inhis warm-up suit.
So then someone lent him, sothen he was late and he was
rushing around and squeezinginto his race suit, and he was
(05:33):
over on the outside.
So I knew he was there, and uh,as I say, I I didn't execute
the right race.
Unfortunately, I didn't executeit right.
And um, I wouldn't mind anothercrack at that one.
But uh, but but yeah, nocomplaints.
Danielle Spurling (05:46):
Still got time to do it again next time.
Martin Bennell (05:48):
I have, I have, and then we ended obviously,
yeah.
Then the final day, I had a dayoff, and then the final day was
the 50 breaststroke.
Uh, and as happy as I was goingin and relaxed because I'd
already won two gold medals.
Um, that was the one I'd putout there.
That's the one I'd told people,you know.
Luckily, I'd broken the Britishrecord.
So I did it in June.
I'd done the 29-7, you know,I'd broken 30 seconds.
(06:09):
Uh, and so I went in quiterelaxed, but you still, you
know, you're you're inSingapore, you know what it was
like.
It's still a big deal, topheats.
And um, yeah, I I did win it,but it was very tight again.
And and I actually went 30.00on the day.
So I I am glad I beat therecord before I went.
Um, but yeah, job done and gotthe three goals.
Danielle Spurling (06:30):
Yeah.
Look, I think what what youwhat you sort of outlined there
is what we all need to thinkabout is that when you get to a
you know something like theworlds, it's all about the
racing.
It's great that you did thetimes before you got there.
But as you know, things canhappen.
The heat, the humidity, all ofthose kind of things sort of go
into the race and and nerves aswell.
(06:50):
So it's great that you came outwith that gold medal after the
50 breasts.
Martin Bennell (06:55):
Yes, yeah, and it was great.
You know, and a lot of people,especially from our side of the
world, you know, we it was along way to go.
And you you've got to deal withjet lag, you've got the
humidity.
Uh, I think there was an awfullot of people wanting to see the
city or the country.
Um, and luckily I can I've beenmany times.
So when they, oh, do you wantto come sightseeing?
And I was able, you know,actually, no, I'm good, I'm
(07:15):
gonna rest up today, you know.
So uh, and I could see, yeah,it is hot and it is different,
and and yeah, the call room, allthose, all those factors come
into play.
And it's not always the besttime to swim your best times, is
it?
Danielle Spurling (07:28):
No, exactly.
But I think it makes you, youknow, it's it's you you race,
you race hard and you you sortof race ready.
So I think that that's that'sthe the joy of it.
Martin Bennell (07:37):
Yeah, and I love it.
And I I know a lot of peopleover here, especially in the UK,
who know me well.
I I love racing, and and Idon't really do nerves,
particularly, you know, I don'treally get nervous about it.
Uh enjoy competition, enjoybeing pushed along.
And uh so for me, yes, youknow, there's always that that
anticipation for it, but uh no,I loved it.
Yeah, I loved it.
Danielle Spurling (07:57):
Do you do much visual visualization before
you race?
Martin Bennell (08:01):
Um I guess I I certainly think, yes, and and
I've been through, yeah, I I doconsider what I'm going to do,
and I think about um I try andthink about the technique
because you've done thetraining, you know, and and I do
try and you know, if it's thebreaststroke, you know, make
sure I finish my armpole here,make sure I'm doing this bit
right, make sure my hands arehigh.
(08:22):
I had um and actually a shoutout for um uh Ian Holm, who you
may know.
Ian uh Ian was the head coachat Loughborough, and then he's
just taken a job over in Perth.
And I made a note.
Yeah, he's the head coach ofthe Western Australian Institute
of Sport in Perth.
Uh just started.
But anyway, Ian was doing somecoaching work here, so I took a
(08:43):
few hours with him, and he justgave me a few tidbits, and and I
wrote them down on my phone andI read them in the call room.
And it's just those, oh yeah,must do this, must, you know,
the breasttra arm position mustbe here.
And and so visualizing, yeah,just trying to get it all right
and uh thinking about the actualswim without visualising the
finish and the training andeverything that goes with it.
(09:04):
You know, just try and thinkabout each each bit, hit the
start right, hit the turn right.
You know.
Danielle Spurling (09:10):
Do you count strokes when you swim a 50
breast?
Martin Bennell (09:13):
I don't.
No, I don't.
Now I'm good friends with twobreaststrokers who would kill me
for this.
So uh, and you I think you knowthem both.
So Chris Jones and Jeff Wells.
Um, I think they've both beenon.
So we had a free-way chat forthe last few years.
They can't believe that I don'tcount strokes.
You know, that they areabsolute advocates.
So I I can see both sides.
Um, but no, to this, and I'venot watched the races back.
(09:36):
I couldn't tell you how manystrokes I did, and uh, I guess I
should.
Don't know.
No, no, just swim.
Danielle Spurling (09:44):
Just swim.
So tell us a little bit aboutyour training because I I read
that you use um My Swim Pro AItraining plans.
So you do you do that byyourself or are you still with
the squad?
How does that all work?
Martin Bennell (09:56):
No, I'm uh I guess, and a lot of people have
have been amazed.
I guess I have more disciplinethan most.
And and and at work, I I dotalk about motivation versus
discipline a lot.
And um my discipline isprobably off the scale because I
literally train solo.
Um I yeah, I I hey, I was aswimmer most of my life.
I had many years off um in my20s, but I've been doing masters
(10:19):
and I trained with a few clubs,but up to COVID, our in COVID,
I was with Joe Corbyn, whoyou'll know, uh for Ferrum.
And we broke a world relayworld record um 2017.
But in 2020, the club um prettymuch came to an end from a
master's point of view, and Ihad to make a few decisions.
And I had teenage childrenmyself, uh, one was swimming,
(10:40):
uh, had a job which includes alot of travel, and I just didn't
fit any other sessions.
There was there was no clubthat that almost fitted around
my life and would work for me.
So joined a local leisure umfacility with a 25-meter pool,
and I've trained on my own nowfor five years.
Um yeah, mentally it'ssometimes hard.
(11:00):
I uh um and that discipline tokeep going.
And now I don't train an awfullot, you know.
I I I'm a three times a week,you know, so I'm a three hours a
week swimmer, and I've had afew sessions set for me and I've
tried different ways.
But last year I was using theMySwim Pro for free.
I was just using the the appjust to track.
And then um I actually metFarris and and and yeah, yeah,
(11:23):
he upsold uh the owner of ofMySwim Pro.
Uh and actually, fair play,they they have um an AI tool
now, which is it writes thesessions for you.
So you can put the sessions inthere, but actually, uh and I
and I did, I used it.
I I I put it six months out andI put when the race was, what
the race was I was focusing, youknow, 50 breaststroke on this
(11:45):
date.
Um, this is how many times aweek I swim.
It knows my PVs, it knows whatwhat times I should be doing,
and it and it churned out athree times a week uh program
for me.
And when you're solo, it madesuch a good difference.
And and I actually wanted to doit.
You know, it's like a ticklist, and and and I wanted to
get it done.
And um, some of the sessionswere really quite hard, you
(12:06):
know.
But um, and then there'sdoubts, you know, is AI working?
What am I trusting here?
You know, this is all verymodern, but but hey, I I I'm now
an advocate and um I yeah, Ithink uh I've I've PB'd in
everything.
The last two years I've donePBs in every event, so I am an
advocate this summer,especially.
Yeah, no complaints at all.
Danielle Spurling (12:27):
Absolutely.
And I think what you say isreally interesting because it
it's the discipline, because weall lose motivation.
We all lose motivation, even ifyou're swimming with a squad,
but it's having the routine andthe discipline to go and do it,
which is really the cornerstoneof success, isn't it?
Martin Bennell (12:43):
Yes, yeah.
And as I say, I I I well, it'sanother story, but I actually
lost my job on the build-up toSingapore.
But I I was with a business fora long, long time and in a
senior role, so hiring lots ofjuniors, lots of trainees, um,
and I've done a lot of trainingand mentoring and coaching.
So yeah, discipline, disciplineis really important.
And uh I I do I do harp on abit a bit about that.
(13:05):
Um, but yeah, and I have tolead the way myself.
Danielle Spurling (13:09):
Yes, yes.
Well, I'm sorry to hear aboutyour job, and uh you're just
having a bit of an enforced restat the moment, are you?
Martin Bennell (13:15):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, maybe maybe that helped.
So uh the people in Singaporewho who knew were quite uh it's
the least you could do, Martin.
You're you're a professionalswimmer right now, you're you're
not working.
Um, and it was nice to go toSingapore this time, and I did
meet my old colleagues, so we wewent out for a Guinness during
the week, but it was nice to goand not have to work, and I
(13:35):
think that really helped my jetlag.
Uh, I had a good friend who, uha British guy who's actually
living on Sentoso Island.
So I went a week early and Istayed with him.
So it was absolutely lovely.
You know, it was amillionaires' row, and it was a
fantastic, you know, I was inhis spare room, but but still I
got to deal with my jet lag umover in a lovely place and not
have to get up for work in themorning, which I would normally
(13:55):
do on my travels.
So um it was, yeah, it there'sstill, you know, I I do need a
job.
I I am still in my 40s, and I'mcertainly not in a position to
retire.
And uh there's always thatniggle, but yes, I was more
relaxed, probably physicallythan normal, and and I was able
to give it a bit more focus, youknow.
And as as they all said, yeah,no excuse.
(14:16):
Yeah, it's the least I coulddo.
Danielle Spurling (14:18):
So and when when you are working and
training and fitting everythingelse in with your life and your
family, how do you make it work?
Martin Bennell (14:28):
Oh, again, I guess we don't want to go on too
much about the discipline, butyou you have to, you know, and
there's different times in life.
I I'm not really your your yourum pro swimmer that you you
would often talk to, I don'tthink.
I'm I'm a pretty rounded guy,and I've never really regarded
myself as a swimmer.
As I say, two, three times aweek, one hour swims.
That's that's really my whatI've done all of my swimming
(14:51):
career.
Um, you have different focuses.
So, so you you there are timeswhen you have to focus on work.
Like at the moment, I amfocused on on getting a job or
making money and setting up aconsultancy business.
So, you know, right nowswimming is probably number two
again.
Um, but but what happened overthe last few years is um I guess
(15:11):
my my kids are now teenagers,my eldest have just gone to
university, so big changes, andand and you you you get more
time.
So in your 30s and early 40s,you're taking them to dance
class and and and ballet and andswimming, and and you're a
bullside dad, and and you'recoaching, and so you can't focus
so much on yourself.
And over time, the the kidshave got a bit older, you you
(15:34):
get more time.
Um, maybe like the dancesessions now, they're maybe two
and a half hours of an evening.
So I can now take the youngestto dance, and then I can go for
my swim and then collect her,and it actually all fits.
Um, and then the elder one, andwell, even last night, the
younger one, they come to thegym with me.
So I go for a swim and they goin the gym.
So now you know you're being agood dad, and actually you're
(15:55):
achieving your swim.
So whilst whilst being a gooddad.
So I've definitely in the lastfew years upped, you know, up
the focus.
Um, and you're right though,when they when you travel, it's
hard.
And again, I've just tried tomake sure, you know, hotel with
a gym, hotel with a pool if Ican, find a local pool.
You know, when I was inSingapore a lot, we had an
office there, so I was theretwo, three, four times a year,
(16:18):
and and I would just use a pool.
I would go of an evening andand and and and you have to find
that window, you know, you haveto prioritize it.
And it is hard, but um,sometimes you know, I'd go for a
swim and then go out for aclient meal, you know, just fit
it in.
Yeah, yeah, get it done, and umor get up early and go to the
(16:39):
gym before work, you know, allthose good things in hotels.
Um but yeah, and and so it doescome back to discipline again,
doesn't it?
Danielle Spurling (16:45):
So yeah, oh absolutely.
Martin Bennell (16:47):
And it makes a difference.
Danielle Spurling (16:48):
Oh, I it definitely does, yeah.
And what about your strengthprogram?
How often do you hit the gymeach week and what kind of
things do you do?
Martin Bennell (16:57):
Yes, so that's you know, we talk about the
things I've done differentlywith the swimming and the MySwim
Pro.
The gym side of things isprobably the biggest change.
Um, I'm branded today, we can'tquite see.
Um, so my wife is um a PT.
And so I think I'm her best andworst client because she always
says I don't listen to her.
And I've currently got a badback, and I definitely she was
(17:18):
with me when I did it in the gymand was telling me not to lift
such a heavy weight.
She actually she was rightthere saying, Why are you doing
that?
And then I did it, and then Ihurt my back.
So you can imagine.
Um, but no, so she we sat downand and I've always been gym in
one or two times a week, youknow, just just enough, you
(17:38):
know, and again with thisbuildup and the focus, I've
always been an all-rounder.
I can do all distances and allstrokes, but we say, hang on,
I'm focused on 50 breaststroke.
You know, let's focus on 50breaststroke, let's actually put
six months in.
So we she set me a six-monthprogram which was really, really
strength focused.
Um, so I upped it to threetimes a week.
(17:59):
And so I was doing somethingnearly every day, swim or or
gym.
And yeah, that instead of uh,you know, yeah, three sets of 10
reps or whatever, I went toreally heavy and quite good fun.
You know, it was um one rep maxor two or three rep max, and
and then a lot of sittingaround.
I think they say it's two tothree minutes for your muscles
to recover.
So I'm that guy in the gym nowwho sits around and you know,
(18:22):
one or two reps and uh um yeah,I do that.
So I was worried about thefitness side, but the swimming
has has done well there.
I was cycling to work, so I wascycling the whole year, even in
the winter here.
I was cycling to work, andthat's about half an hour each
way.
So I was putting an hour ofaerobic in on the bike.
I was swimming three or fourtimes to keep that going, and
(18:42):
then I was doing the heavyweights in the gym, and I
definitely got stronger, andthat definitely made a
difference.
And I know there's a fewstrength coaches around, and
yeah, I'm a huge advocate of uh,you know, I endorse you know
the weight training side ofthings now, and again, I think
it's um it's uh marginal gains,isn't it?
It's not my own, you know, it'sthe cycling analogy, but I I
(19:06):
think this year, you know, I'vedone the swimming's improved,
the gym has improved, thefitness improved, um, nutrition
improved, all sorts of thingshave you know, and I've just
done little things along the wayto get those marginal gains.
Danielle Spurling (19:19):
I mean, I think it's been a big revolution
across master swimming.
You know, when I when I startedmaster swimming maybe 12, 13
years ago, not many people didgym.
Now everyone's doing it.
And I think the sort of mindsetaround it is that you know,
you're starting to lift a lotheavier.
Martin Bennell (19:35):
Yeah, I think it's strength.
You know, I've read a few bitsand bobs, and and and you
ultimately you're trying to pullthrough the water, aren't you?
And and and um if you'restrong, the logic is you're
stronger.
Now there's definitely a youknow, we won't go into the
enhanced games conversations,but that was a good, you know,
it it was something to watch onthe YouTube.
I did watch it, and and and mymy my opinion's pretty strong on
(19:58):
it, but not in a good way.
But um, but you can see ifyou're too big.
It was a good example of beingtoo big, and that didn't work.
So so it's those in swimming, Ithink you've got to find you've
got to find that fine line thatfine line strength.
Yeah, yeah, and keep yourstreamline and keep the the
technique.
And again, I think I didn'tmention it on the on the
(20:19):
marginal gains, but thattechnique improvement this year.
You know, I'm 48 years old thisyear, and I finally got some
coaching on my own technique.
And um, it actually didn't takelong, it was a few hours of
work and some underwater camera,and there were some really
obvious tweaks.
Oh, oh, that's how I swim.
Oh, I thought I thought itlooked like this, and and and so
(20:39):
I made those tweaks.
Um and yeah, when you add thestrength to it, you've got that
power in the water, and uh yeah,it's all it's all working.
Yeah, I'm I'm endorsingeverything right now, aren't I?
I'm positive.
Danielle Spurling (20:53):
You're the poster boy for master swimming.
Martin Bennell (20:56):
Oh, well, I had um, it was tough in the core
room.
We had uh Stefan uh was uh flyswimmer, a Romanian, um two or
three Olympics.
Sorry, I should know the otherum and on by the final fly
swimming, he's even taking theMickey at me.
And I'm trying to focus on theswim.
You know, I'm in the call roomand he said, Martin, what on
earth is going on?
I've got slower every year for17 years, and you're getting
(21:20):
quicker every year.
So yeah, um, I'm a I'm a very,very late developer.
So I I I definitely yeah, missthe window, I'm afraid.
Yeah, I missed the I missed itat the right moment, but yeah,
48, 47, 48 is a good time topeak.
Danielle Spurling (21:36):
Yeah.
How long have you been masterswimming?
Martin Bennell (21:40):
Um got back uh early 30s.
So uh I had hip surgery, so I'dI'd quit at 23.
So I was as a junior, I I wentto Olympic trials in the UK.
Um and I stopped at 23, whichback then I was quite old, you
know, and and I was um yeah, Iwas ready to stop.
(22:01):
And I and I top 10 in the UK,you know, I was never I was
never amazing.
I was good and um and thenyeah, did a marathon, did a lot
of running events, played a lotof squash, and actually that was
worse for my body thanswimming.
So um had my first hip surgery,I think I was 29, and then um
had my second hip surgery in2019, so just before COVID.
(22:24):
So both hips have now uh beenbeen repaired for me.
Uh they're both my own hipsstill, but I have been warned if
I if I carry on too muchbreaststroke, they they they
won't be my hips, but right nowthey are my hips.
Um, but they're not good,they're not great, and they're
the first thing to go.
And I uh you know, groinstrains are regular for me and
hip problems and lower backproblems.
But yeah, so I've been doing itnow, yeah, it's probably nearly
(22:46):
20 years, 15 years, just neverquite at this level.
You know, I've got betterliterally every every year, I'll
put more focus in to now.
Danielle Spurling (22:54):
Yeah, I was I was so um amazed and and happy
for all the British swimmers inSingapore because there was a
huge amount there and they wereall so successful.
What's happening on the Britishscene that's making you all so
fast?
Martin Bennell (23:07):
Well, I don't know, yeah.
I can't talk about everyone.
Uh the South Coast, I'm uh I'mon the south coast of the UK,
central south, so about an hourand a half uh south of London.
But yeah, up the road is JoeCorbyn, who you know, and the
Trojan team.
Um, and then I swim for BasingStoke Bluefins, uh, who I joined
after COVID when I had no club,and and they were really good
to me.
Um, and I think I think theyappreciate me in the relays.
(23:30):
And we have, we know it's beenfive years now, so it's been
great.
Um, lots of lots of relayrecords, but they push each
other.
So I can talk, you know, fromthe Hampshire region where we
are, you know, we really do pusheach other up, you know, and it
it's it's such a positiveenvironment.
We're all pushing each other togreater things.
As you say, a lot more peopleare doing the land work now, a
(23:51):
lot more people are puttingfocus in.
Um, you know, the BritishNationals for us is next week.
And again, it's I think it'salmost a sellout.
Um, there will be recordsgalore, you know, and short
course.
Um, we've got a guy in the UK,Ben, who who's beating me um on
the 100 breath.
So so we were like we wereranked one and two in the 50 and
the 100, I think, in the worldlast year.
(24:12):
Um, but we're you know, we getwe go head to head in the
British champs, you know.
So we've got some of the bestin the world uh um racing each
other.
So no, we're we're pushing eachother up, and um, and that's a
good thing.
But yeah, master swimming inthe UK is is is really hot.
Danielle Spurling (24:26):
Yeah, yeah, it's really vibrant, like
there's a lot happening there,and a lot of people racing, not
obviously not all those peoplethat are in your top 10 have
gone to the worlds, butobviously it's a very strong
competition.
And when I see people sayingthat they haven't been able to
enter your nationals, that'samazing to me.
Martin Bennell (24:44):
Yeah, and it happens, and there's always a
big fallout.
There's a there's always andnow they do a first tier and a
second tier, and and there'sthat they're trying to work it
out.
And the organizers, and I knowthem well, and and and good
luck, and I'll always supportthem.
And I know they're trying theirbest, but there's always a lot
of moaning and there's always alot of issues.
Um, and in fact, this week umthey've been good.
It's it's fair to say I I'vealways supported them.
(25:05):
And this week I've just pulledout of my individual races
because of my lower back issue.
Um, I don't think I I it'sgonna be just too soon, and I'm
hoping to get back for therelays.
And I think I'm in five or sixrelays, and they're I think
that's five or six recordattempts.
So I think that's more thanenough uh for me this time.
But they were good as gold withit, and I know there's so much
to do and there's so much goingon, but um Hey Swim Talkers.
Danielle Spurling (25:31):
If you love the show, consider becoming a
Torpedo Swim Talk supporter.
You'll get exclusive workouts,early episode drops, and a shout
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Join the Swim Talkerscommunity.
The links are in the shownotes.
Martin Bennell (25:47):
And one of the things I wanted to mention was
um uh we we've had some uhthere's been a little we we push
each other up, and it's goodbravado, but um I met James
Gibson um at the Adam Petey meetearlier this summer, and uh he
wasn't in great shape.
And ever since then he he'sbeen in the gym and he's posting
a lot, and and there's beensome other people mentioning
that he might get back in.
(26:07):
Now, he was the last person Iever raced.
So my last the Olympic trialsemi-final when they used to do
them, he was in the lane next tome.
And I and he won't remember andhe doesn't, but it didn't
matter to him.
But I always said, Oh, that wasmy last race.
Yeah, I raced uh a future worldworld champ, and uh yeah, he
looks good in the gym, he'sworking out, so I figured I'd
call him out in public.
(26:28):
I think I figured you you know,you have a lot of uh listeners
and viewers, and uh yeah, sonext June we have the UK long
course uh nationals, which willbe in Scotland, up in Aberdeen,
which is a great pool.
And uh yeah, I'd love to callhim out and uh I'd love to race
him again.
And and how you know how goodis he all those years later, 20
years later, and and uh yeah, Ilove I love the challenge, I
(26:50):
love the competition.
So I I'd love him to actuallycome back in and do a 50 breast.
Danielle Spurling (26:54):
Yes, yeah, that'd be good.
Is he your age?
Martin Bennell (26:56):
He is, yeah.
But I'm 49 next year, and thenhe's a bit younger, so uh it has
to be next year, or we'd haveto wait.
I I think he's two or threeyears younger.
So yeah, uh yeah, I'm callinghim out for 2026.
And and he's now traveling theworld.
I keep saying his posts, youknow, he's working for World
Aquatics, so he's all around theworld right now.
Um, so yeah, whether he is eveninterested, who knows?
(27:17):
But uh, but it's been quitegood fun.
And my teammates have beentaking the Mickey that I'll be
losing my records.
So and maybe, but that's fine,you know.
Yeah, yeah, maybe.
Danielle Spurling (27:29):
But that's that's what records are for to
be broken.
Martin Bennell (27:32):
Yeah, no, no, yeah, no problem with that.
I I lost one uh a while ago andI lost it within a week.
In fact, the first record Iever got was a relay record in
the uh now uh very famousEuropean 2016 uh event in
London, which was oversubscribedand has a lot of bad press.
But we broke uh our so it wasmy first ever British record.
We did it in a relay, and uhthe heat afterwards broke it
(27:56):
again.
And uh they still sent thecertificate and I thought that's
nice because we did actuallybreak it.
And we so yeah, I held my firstrecord for about two minutes.
Danielle Spurling (28:07):
I love the fact that you have a short
course and a long coursenationals.
Uh we don't have that inAustralia, we just have one
nationals a year, and it rotatesbetween short course and long
course.
So next year is short course,but this year we had long
course, but it gives you such anopportunity to race.
Martin Bennell (28:24):
Uh yes, and and what and I guess that's where
we're now.
So the short course has alwaysbeen the big one, over
subscribed.
That's always in Sheffield, andit's always the last full
weekend of October.
So you know, you know, I cantell you when it is now.
You can book hotels, you canbook my time off work, you know.
There's almost no excuses, youknow exactly when that's going
to be.
And they always change theorder of events, but you know,
(28:45):
it's a Friday, Saturday, Sundayin October.
And then last year they've justagreed to do a very similar
thing with the long course, andit's the second weekend of June.
So again, now you you knowyou'll you'll know exactly when,
and yeah, second weekend ofwhenever that is next year, but
it's second weekend of June inAberdeen, uh, and it will be in
future years.
And they split the venue, theythey move it between Scotland,
(29:07):
England, Wales, England,Scotland, you know, so they move
the venue uh for the longcourse.
But now, yeah, now you canfocus and you know when it is,
you know, and you can build yourholiday, you can build your
holidays around it, and it'sdepending on how keen you are.
So that's really good.
I can't believe you only havethe one.
Danielle Spurling (29:24):
We just have the one.
Martin Bennell (29:26):
And you will have to travel so far, I guess.
Danielle Spurling (29:29):
Yeah, that's right.
But we have a lot of there's alot of state meets, so there's
ones close by, and then everytwo years we have a um the Pan
Pack Masters Games on the GoldCoast.
That's always on the Gold Coastin November, I think it is.
Um, so that's always something.
But yeah, it's a pity that wedon't have a short course and a
(29:49):
long course every year, 'causelike you and the US as well do.
Martin Bennell (29:54):
Yes, yeah, they do.
And some of my team.
So this year well, we found itit was disappointing on the the
The diary clash, but we had umclash the American, yeah.
The American was the same.
So so some of my Bluefin's teamcouldn't make the Singapore
trip, but they could quit ashorter trip to America was
possible.
So actually, uh whilst I wasthe only uh representative this
time in in Singapore, they wereover in America breaking records
(30:18):
and and and winning someAmerican uh titles.
Amazing.
Actually, I don't know if thatcounted.
Actually, I'm not sure if areBritish people allowed American
titles.
I'm sure someone will correctme, but uh they certainly won
their races races.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
They won their races and theythey enjoyed that trip.
So but it was a shame it wasthe same time.
Danielle Spurling (30:35):
Yeah, yeah.
I I I don't know why they saidit at the same time because
those world aquatics dates areuh set miles out.
Martin Bennell (30:43):
Yeah, yeah.
And still, hey, we hit westill, I think most of the the
top Americans I got to race,obviously Jeff Wells, who you
know, and and I had the Jeff sothere was uh various Jeffs and
uh Jeff Cummings uh who I I'dnever raced Jeff Cummings, but I
knew who he was, and uh he'sthe age above, so he's 50.
And um yeah, he yeah, it was anhonor, really.
(31:04):
I had a photo with him, and itwas great to you know warm
downpour with him.
I think he had just broken thewas the 50 record or the 100
record.
Um yeah, no, the 58.
Marco won the 100 in the 50.
And actually that the the 50plus is now harder than the 45.
Yeah, when I when I age up,it's gonna be tougher racing
those guys.
Danielle Spurling (31:23):
Yeah.
unknown (31:24):
Yeah.
Danielle Spurling (31:25):
Yeah.
I mean, look, it's it's justgetting stronger and stronger
all the time.
I mean, more people are comingback.
Susie O'Neal, obviously, ourone of our golden smithers from
Australia, she came back andmade a bit of a um an
appearance.
You probably know.
I think she was against um ohgosh, I've forgotten her name.
Michelle.
She raced Michelle Ware.
Yeah, she raised Michelle Ware,that's right.
(31:46):
Just beat her.
But she just came back for that50 fly.
Now she's stopped again.
But yeah, she's still so fitand so strong, and it'd be
lovely to have that techniquebehind you.
Martin Bennell (31:57):
Yeah.
And again, we're all smilingabout it because it's great for
the sport.
Danielle Spurling (32:00):
Yeah, great for the sport.
Martin Bennell (32:02):
Which is what yeah, which is why, you know, if
James Gibson wants to return,you know, a former World 50
breaststroke champion, we're allin, aren't we?
Danielle Spurling (32:09):
Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, that's why I thought itwas great that Jeff Hugel and
Bobby Hurley both raced in umSingapore.
And um, you you obviouslymentioned the guy from Romania.
I wasn't sure of him, but yeah,there was a lot of people
across the board who are pastOlympians.
Martin Bennell (32:27):
Yes, yeah.
And I think maybe in their 40s,that's the time, you know, you
you get the itch again, or youknow, you're intrigued, maybe,
or or again, like me, maybeyou've got a bit more time and
you you can refocus.
Not too many Olympians, Ithink, need to return.
You know, I think they'veachieved it.
They've achieved it at theright time.
As I say, I I am doingamazingly well, but I admit I am
well 30 years late, don't I?
(32:49):
So yeah, I think I'd haverather peek then.
Danielle Spurling (32:53):
Well, you're probably I'm putting words in
your mouth, but you're probablyreally able to enjoy it more at
this stage in your life becauseit means so much to you.
Martin Bennell (33:02):
Yeah, it's yeah, and it's it's fine lines, isn't
it?
Because I I also know and I'mI'm grounded enough to know it's
just master sport.
So it's it's this is notprofessional, you know, and it's
it's not paying the bills, asI've learned this year.
But um, but it does, I think, Ithink the the number of
messages I've received about howinspiring I'm being is amazing,
(33:25):
you know.
And I was that's not why I didit, you know, in a way I was a
bit selfish.
Yeah, I was a bit selfish.
You know, I want to break 30seconds, I want to break the
record.
You know, I had my own goals,but then on the build-up, that
the yeah, I've had so many nicemessages um on social media, and
then people you haven't seenfor 20, 30 years or so, and
their messaging and what aninspiration I've been.
And and yeah, I guess I hopeI'm showing people it's possible
(33:48):
in your 40s to keep gettingquicker.
And you know, yeah, howevergood or you know, whatever
effort you're putting in, youyou can still get quicker and
you can still be faster.
And and who knows, at somepoint I will obviously slow
down.
There they will have to thatwill happen, but um, I'm not
sure how I'll take it.
Danielle Spurling (34:05):
So yeah, well, someone said to me, You
it's a good way of thinkingabout it to have a PB in that
then the age group that you'rein.
Try not to compare it to theage group before.
So obviously we're in five-yearblocks, but it is hard when you
start aging up and you knowyou're 10 years down the track
(34:26):
to be back at that PB that youdid in your early 40s.
Martin Bennell (34:30):
I know, and so I don't know why I'm you know the
Benjamin button of the sportright now, but but for some
reason it's working.
The the funny one was I was uha shout out to James Wardle, who
who became my wingman over inSingapore, because he was there
on his own too, another Britishswimmer.
But I hadn't realized he he dida great 100 freestyle the same
day as me.
And uh I think it was a 55-0.
(34:51):
And he he said, Oh, I've justmissed the British record.
And I said, Oh, you know, andI'd just done my record, but we
realized that I'm swimmingfaster than I did in my 40s to
44.
So I've just my record in the45 to 49 is now quicker than the
40 to 44.
So so I've yeah, I I'm nowyeah, I I couldn't go that fast
(35:13):
eight years ago.
So it is a yeah, my my my timesare very strange.
So the British record is now uhyeah, quicker in the 45s, so
they're not gonna like aging up.
Danielle Spurling (35:23):
No, exactly.
And do you ever like afterSingapore, did you um sort of
feel any sort of like let downor or sort of burnout after that
sort of big high?
Martin Bennell (35:37):
Yeah, you definitely I don't as I say I'm
pretty rounded and so no, nomajor uh burnout as such, but um
it was a I always describe itas the bubble, and and and and
all my friends listening willgo, yeah, the swimming bubble.
And and when you're away for along weekend or you're away
especially for a week, you arein this bubble.
You and it's not real lifebecause you're talking about
(35:58):
swimming, you're having dinnerwith swimmers, you're talking,
you know, you're training,you're swimming, it's not real.
And all of a sudden, when youespecially Singapore, you've
really, you know, you've reallygot in there, and then you come
home and ooh, real life, youknow, oh bills to pay, you know,
houses to clean, you know,you've still got to do the
hoovering, you've still got todo the dishwasher, you know.
Oh yeah.
You know, so um no, definitelyum, but no, I I'm good.
(36:23):
I did I took a few weeks umout.
I I hardly swam and and andtook a bit of a break and then
got back in in September.
Um, and actually it was goingreally well until uh until I put
my back out, which is uh foolfoolish of me.
And I will recover.
I've had some physio andosteopath.
I I'm on the road to recovery,but it was foolish of me.
Danielle Spurling (36:43):
But yeah, well, when you get over this
back injury and you're back inand you're taking care of your
back, what's what's sort of yournext goal on the horizon, like
your big goal?
Martin Bennell (36:54):
Oh, next goal is, and it really wasn't this
year anyway, now, so it is nextyear.
I've still got a few niggles,things I think I can do better.
So the hundred breaststroke, asI said, I I did a um uh a one
and a half second PB.
So that's pretty amazing, butit was still a 107.5, and and
(37:15):
then I've been a 105.0 shortcourse, and I just think I can
go a bit quicker if I if I getthe first, if I get the the
timing right.
And maybe so 100 breaststrokelong, and I know the second
length, I need to be stronger onthe second length, so I need to
work on the second length.
Um, but next year for us thebig goal, and I'm gonna and
again, I like to do these thingsin public.
(37:36):
Let's go let's go uh let's putit this one out there, but it's
all about the relays for me nextyear, and we've done a lot of
records this year, but next yearwe've got a mixed team at
Basing Stoke Bluefins that agesto 200.
We were unfortunately we were199 this year, and Woking, which
is Michelle Ware and MikeHodgson and my you know very,
very good friend Dean Blackman,have had a team which is 200
(37:58):
this year, and they've brokennearly every record, they've
done nearly every relay, andthey broke the world record two
weeks ago in the 4x100, butthey're also doing the four by
50s and all of the events.
And and our team, we believeour team is stronger.
We do it in a different orderfor the medleys, and so we'll
we'll we'll find out.
And they've now set us allthese times, and so yeah, I I
(38:21):
we're gonna have a big relayfocus, and and they've yeah, we
we know what we need to do, anduh gonna try and get as many
records uh from a good friend asI can.
Danielle Spurling (38:31):
So that's a that's really good.
Martin Bennell (38:35):
Yeah, it includes the four by 200 as
well, which as everyone, youknow, if you think of me as a 50
breaststroker, that 200freestyle long course is that's
a challenge, and and I do needto adapt my training somewhat
for that.
Danielle Spurling (38:46):
So that's the British, they're the British
records, are they?
Martin Bennell (38:51):
Um they broke a they broke a world record.
I think it was the first one, Ithink they've got one world,
and definitely a few Europeans,uh, and mostly British.
So yeah, yeah, and and my team,yeah.
So shout out to uh Lizzie,Fleur, and Spencer and I.
Yeah, next year we'll we'll betrying to uh to break them.
(39:13):
But we'll see.
Danielle Spurling (39:15):
So, Martin, every time I get someone on the
pod, I love to ask them the deepdive five.
So I just gonna ask you fivequick questions.
Tell me the first thing thatpops into your mind.
Favorite pool that you've everswum at?
Martin Bennell (39:29):
Singapore.
Danielle Spurling (39:32):
Singapore, the the portable one or the
OCBC?
Martin Bennell (39:36):
Oh, I've got such good memories now.
It it's gonna be the portable.
It used to be the OCBC becauseI loved it, but uh and I love
the outdoor feel, but no, I Idid my best swims and I got
yeah, no, I I I got the threegolds in the other pool.
Yeah, it was it was thetemporary one, which I guess
will never be there again.
That's a shame.
Danielle Spurling (39:55):
No, that's it was a beautiful pool.
It was just so deep and sonon-turbulent and oh so blue.
I love it.
Martin Bennell (40:03):
Yeah, yeah, so blue.
I'll have great memories.
I love the setup with the warmdown pool nearby, and that was
amazing as well.
It was amazing, wasn't it?
Yeah, no, that that yeah, andyou hesitate because I've
obviously I've got London, whichI get to swim in a fair bit,
two or three times a year, andthat's amazing too.
That was the hesitation, butno, Singapore will have will
(40:24):
definitely have the bestmemories.
Danielle Spurling (40:25):
Yes, yes.
And you are AM or PM trainer?
What do you prefer?
I'm a PM.
PM.
Martin Bennell (40:32):
Yeah, yeah.
I I went through the AM lifeand and then with the kids, but
actually now they they like tocome to the gym with me, don't
they?
So uh we do it after college oror it was after, yeah, in the
evening.
So I've become an evening, andobviously I also train solo, so
you have to find a lane withoutpublic.
So I'm now I I'm a 9 p.m.
I'm quite late on my own,making sure everyone's gone.
(40:53):
Yeah, so I have a lane tomyself, so 9 till 10 p.m.
quite regularly.
Danielle Spurling (40:57):
Oh, how do you get to sleep after that?
Martin Bennell (41:00):
Yeah, you then come home and you eat too much,
and yeah, it does, yeah, yeah.
It's you it's it's a routineand a habit you get better at,
but no, you're you're you'rewired for a while.
Danielle Spurling (41:10):
For a little while, of course.
What's your favoritebreaststroke drill?
Martin Bennell (41:14):
Oh, um, I don't do much breaststroke because of
my gories.
I literally just race it.
But when I do, uh my favoritedraw is probably the three kicks
one pull.
It used to be two kicks to onepull, and that's what I did.
And then it was only maybe ayear or two ago someone
recommended it because you'rehaving to hold that that that
streamline longer and hold yourbreath, which um is really
(41:35):
important.
And so, yeah, the three kicksto one pull, probably.
Danielle Spurling (41:40):
Nice.
And how about your favorite uhmain training set?
Martin Bennell (41:44):
Now I remember you doing these before, so I I
did give this one some thought,and um I and because of the AI,
the last six months, it's been adifferent session every time.
There's no repeats, but when Ilook back, and the one the one I
go back to is I used to love itas a as in my 20s when I was uh
on it, and it was a lactatetolerance, I think they called
(42:06):
it, and it was the 3050s off 90.
So you've got a minute 30, andit was so in my 20s, I remember
they were all max, 30 max from adive, you know.
And actually, I if I recall, Ithink I did pretty well, and and
I quite like the pain of it,you know.
The uh and and try and, youknow, it now these days I have
tried to do it as a masterswimmer.
(42:28):
Now I can't dive, so again, mypool, there's no blocks, you're
not allowed to dive in, sothere's no diving, which is
probably a good thing.
And I definitely break it intotens and sometimes fives, and
and and and they maybe not allmax.
Yeah, I see.
But but the the principle of itI still love.
I love that trying to hang inthere as long as you can.
(42:48):
But I think at our age 30 is isis a few too many.
But but yeah, 10 freestyle, 10breaststroke, 10 freestyle,
something like that.
Or you do build up five, youknow.
But yeah, those that's a fineone.
It's 3050s.
But yeah, I wouldn'tnecessarily highly recommend it,
but it's it certainly sorts thelactate out.
Danielle Spurling (43:08):
Yes.
How how much rest are youtaking?
Martin Bennell (43:11):
Well, yeah, so swimming on 30 seconds, so
you're getting a minute.
Um, so it's off yeah, off the90.
I know, and as a sprinter, thethe uh the enjoyable ones are
the 50s or five minutes, youknow.
They're the they're the they'rethe really, you know, they're
the nicer, different kind ofpain, isn't it?
But uh very much, yeah.
But yeah, and I've always Iguess I came I I I I don't do
(43:32):
the too uh short a session.
So actually a lot of mysessions are 3k ish.
So and I know a lot ofsprinters are only doing one to
two K and really focused on onthe short stuff, but I still
like to be able to do a 200freestyle.
I still like to be able to helpthe relays out, and I still
like to mix up my races.
I actually did an 800 this yearfor the first time ever.
Oh, really?
(43:53):
It wasn't it wasn't great, butum, I do like to mix it up, so I
do like to keep the trainingdistance in there and um so
yeah, 3050s off 90 seconds ashard as you can.
Danielle Spurling (44:05):
Yes, that's a good one.
I like that.
And how about the the theswimmer that you admire the
most?
Martin Bennell (44:12):
Um hey, it might and it's gonna sound uh
potentially a bit cheesy rightnow, but Adam Petey's um who
I've met now many times, andI've done his meets and we've
raced each other, um, and he'snow making his comeback.
So I guess in in a few years'time, ask me again, but right
now the fact he's making thecomeback is good.
Adam ultimately is the worldrecord holder on the breast.
(44:35):
I've now set British recordsand I'm 20 years older, exactly
20 years older than him.
So when I have seen him, it'slike, there you go, I've set you
your mark for 20 years' time.
So these are the times you needto keep doing.
So whether he carries on, butbut ultimately he's he's he has
more world records in one strokethan anyone else.
You know, he's he's still gothis hundred breaststroke, no
(44:55):
one, no one's no one's gotclose.
And so yeah, it has yeah, ithas to be the British
breaststroker, doesn't it?
I have to back my man.
And I was racing in his hat.
I had a I had an AP hat, so Idid the AP meeting and I had a
AP race hat.
So uh I'm all in AP.
Danielle Spurling (45:12):
Yeah, I saw I saw his racing over at the
World Cups in uh in the US.
So yeah, on the on the comebacktrail.
Of course, yeah, yeah.
Martin Bennell (45:20):
So I think it'll be next year for him, it'll be
really, really exciting.
And we've got a young lad who'sfrom Hampshire, one of the
Jersey, an island near us,Philippe, who won the World
Juniors, uh, who's also abreaststroker.
So watch out.
I think because Philippe willbe in the Commonwealth for
Jersey, he'll be representingJersey.
Um and then Adam will be therefor England, and plus the odd
(45:41):
he's never went out.
So I think yeah, he's he's gothis work cut out, Adam.
Just you know, just stay in theBritish number one, let alone
world.
So uh yeah, it should be a goodyear next year.
Danielle Spurling (45:50):
Yeah, because we've got a breaststroker from
Melbourne, Sam Williamson.
He won the worlds last year,but then um hurt his knee, so he
was out this current year.
But yeah, um I think he's onthe comeback trail as well.
So that'll be interesting if hemakes it back in time for the
Common Off Games next year.
Martin Bennell (46:07):
Yeah, I hope so.
Yeah, I love it.
We all love just watching goodcompetition, don't we?
So yeah.
Danielle Spurling (46:14):
Well, Martin, thank you so much for joining
us on the podcast today.
It's been lovely getting tohear all about your swimming and
um wishing you every successheading forward.
And I hope that back heals upfor you quickly.
Martin Bennell (46:24):
Yes, I hope I can do the relays.
I guess I'll post about it youknow uh on the social media if
if I can if I can even be in therelay team.
I might get dropped.
But yeah, thanks.
And and yeah, yeah, keep up thepodcast, and I look forward to
listening on my commutes when Istart working again.
Yes.
Danielle Spurling (46:45):
Okay, take care.
Bye.
Thanks for tuning in to TorpedoSwim Talk, the podcast
celebrating swimmers at everystage from Masters Legends to
Olympic champions.
If you enjoyed this episode,please follow or subscribe on
your favorite podcast platformand leave a review to help more
(47:05):
swimmers find the show.
You can also catch pastepisodes, guest highlights, and
swimming stories from around theworld at Torpedoswimtalk.com.
Until next time, happy swimmingand bye for now.
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