#174: From Sequins to Swimscape

Mel Bardsley has never just “gone for a swim.” From representing her country in artistic swimming to winning BUCS university water polo championships and competing in National League Division 1, she’s spent a lifetime pushing limits in the water.

She’s swum the English Channel in a relay, claimed Masters surf lifesaving titles, and now coaches open water swimmers from her base in Bude, North Cornwall after leaving school teaching to launch Swimscape Cornwall. In this fun episode, we dive into the training behind elite artistic swimming, what pool swimmers can learn from it, her tips on cold water acclimatisation, and why she’ll choose the sea over a pool every time.

It’s a conversation about longevity, variety, and always finding your next challenge.

Visit Swimcape Cornwall here: https://swimscapecornwall.co.uk