How to sight and breathe in open water

1. Keep your head low to remain as streamlined as possible through the water. As you bring your arm through to complete the stroke, keep that as low as you can, too.

2. Look up to sight as your arm is going back in to the water. Lift your head just enough to focus on the buoy or other focus point ahead, and keep your arm and elbow as low as possible to again remain streamlined.

3. After you’ve located the buoy, in one complete movement turn to the side to breathe. Remember to only breathe in when you turn to the side. Breathe out under the water.

Extended sight

1. If you’re struggling to locate the buoy or focus point, do a water-polo stroke whereby you look ahead for one complete arm stroke.

5. Do not do this often, though, as it wastes energy and can hurt your back.

Watch Keri-anne demonstrating the perfect technique below

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Keri-anne Payne Olympic 10k swim silver medallist and swim coach

About

Keri-anne Payne is a South African-born British swimmer, specialising in marathon open-water swimming, and long-distance freestyle swimming in the pool. She's a two-time 10km open-water world champion, and an Olympic 10km open-water swim silver medallist. Keri-anne now passes on her passion for open-water swimming through tutoring coaches. The coaching technique she’s developed with her husband, triple Olympian David Carry, is all about empowering the swimmer to do it for themselves. Together they run Triscape, which hosts bespoke swimming retreats for swimmers of any level or ability.