Jimmy Willin is no stranger to endurance sports. As a former professional cyclist, he spent years mastering the art of pedaling with power and efficiency. But when he decided to shift his focus to professional triathlon, one area of weakness became clear—his swimming. Cycling miles don't directly translate to smooth strokes in open water, and Jimmy had to start refining his technique from the ground up.

🔄 The Swimming Struggle: Areas of Improvement

Transitioning from cycling to triathlon is no easy feat, and swimming often presents the biggest learning curve for athletes coming from a land-based endurance background. While Jimmy's aerobic fitness was exceptional, his technique in the water needed some fine-tuning. Three key areas were identified as limiting his swimming efficiency:

1️⃣ Head Position While Breathing

It's a common mistake among inexperienced swimmers—turning the head too far while breathing, which disrupts body alignment. Jimmy habitually looked slightly behind instead of directly to the side when taking a breath. This subtle misalignment caused his legs to splay out, adding unnecessary drag. The Fix: Keep the head aligned by looking directly to the side rather than backward while breathing. This helps maintain a straight body line, reduces resistance, and leads to a more streamlined stroke.

2️⃣ Leg Movement and Kick Mechanics

Despite his powerful cycling background, Jimmy’s leg movement in the water was working against him. His knees and hips were flexing too much, leading to an exaggerated, inefficient kick that created extra drag instead of propulsion. The Fix: Narrow the kick and keep it in line with the body. A controlled, compact flutter kick reduces drag and complements the upper body’s movement rather than hindering it.

3️⃣ Catch and Pull Efficiency

In swimming, the catch phase—the moment when the swimmer grabs hold of the water before pulling—is critical for propulsion. Jimmy's forearm was pushing downward instead of backward, leading to wasted energy and reduced forward momentum. The Fix: Keep the hands aligned with the shoulders and focus on a stronger, high-elbow pull. This creates more resistance against the water in the right direction—backward, not downward—leading to a more effective and powerful stroke.

🏁 The Results: A Strong Triathlon Debut

In his first professional triathlon, Jimmy demonstrated that his hard work in the pool was paying off:

• Swim: 28:48 (1:31/100m pace)
• Bike: 2 hours (averaging 44 km/h)
• Run: 1:11:40 (3:24/km pace)

These numbers suggest that Jimmy is quickly closing the gap between himself and top-tier professional triathletes. His swim time shows solid progress, and combined with his dominant cycling and strong run, he’s proving to be a serious contender.

⏩ The Road Ahead

Triathlon is a sport of constant refinement, and Jimmy’s progress exemplifies how proper technique—rather than just raw fitness—can make all the difference. With continued focus on body alignment, kick efficiency, and an optimized catch, his swimming will only get better in the coming months.

Jimmy’s journey serves as proof that no matter how experienced you are in one endurance sport, transitioning to another requires patience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. And for those athletes struggling with their swim—rest assured, progress comes with focused effort.

🚀 Stay tuned as Willin continues his rise in professional triathlon!