Ben Roberts: Participation, Progression and the Growth of Open Water Swimming in WA

Open water swimming in Western Australia continues to grow, attracting everyone from first-time ocean swimmers to elite athletes competing on the world stage.

In this episode, I speak with Ben Roberts, Manager of Events and Partnerships at Swimming WA, about the evolution of the Swimming WA Open Water Series, now entering its twentieth season. We discuss the factors driving participation growth, how the series caters for swimmers of all ages and abilities, and the role open water swimming can play in building confidence, community and lifelong involvement in the sport.

Ben also shares his own journey from elite pool swimmer to managing Australia's largest open water swimming series, along with his perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing open water swimming in Western Australia.

In this episode we discuss:

• Ben's swimming journey and transition into sports administration
• The history and growth of the Swimming WA Open Water Series
• Why open water swimming is becoming increasingly popular in WA
• Participation trends across different age groups
• Creating opportunities for beginners through to elite athletes
• The importance of offering a range of event distances
• Open water swimming as a tool for retention and lifelong participation
• Regional events and expanding opportunities beyond Perth
• The pathway from pool swimming to high-performance open water competition
• The impact of hosting Australian Open Water Championships in WA
• The upcoming 3 km Knockout format and future innovations
• What the future of open water swimming in Western Australia might look like

Mentioned in this episode

Swimming WA Open Water Series https://www.openwaterswimming.com.au/

Swimming WA https://wa.swimming.org.au/

Swimming WA Open Water Series Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OWSSeries

Swimming WA Open Water Series Instagram https://www.instagram.com/owsseries/

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This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.