About me

Hello, I'm Rowan

Swimming outdoors has always been part of my life. Our family holidays were in and around water, and I swam in the sea, lakes, streams and rivers in the UK from early childhood.

In 2015, I swam in my first open water swimming event and then started swimming through the winter. In 2018, I qualified as an open water swimming coach and in 2020 as a health and wellbeing coach.

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I talk openly about using cold water swimming to manage anxiety and body image issues. Swimming for better mental health and wellbeing underpins everything I do, and I'm passionate about helping people discover the benefits of being outdoors and active regardless of age, background or physical ability. That includes everything from making front crawl smoother and easier for a more relaxed, meditative swim or training for a swim challenge, to supporting mental health treatment with cold water therapy, helping people recover from physical injury, adapting swimming style to a physical disability or helping people stay active with chronic illness.

I'm warm, calm and welcoming. Recognising that everyone is different, I work with the people I coach to find what motivates them and then adapt to their different learning styles and needs. Bringing years of experience as a swimming teacher, open water swimming coach, health and wellbeing coach and year-round outdoor swimmer, my coaching style makes people feel safe, relaxed and happy as they explore swimming outdoors.

chair of trustees for MARLENS, the charity that looks after Clevedon Marine Lake

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Affiliated coach at Clevedon Marine Lake

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Member of the South West Seals winter swimmers