David Davies - Training Zone

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, British fans watched on intently as David Davies attempted to become the first man ever to win the men’s open water marathon. The Welsh swimmer had only attempted the 10 kilometre distance twice before but managed to claim a silver medal as he was narrowly beaten by Maarten van der Weijden of the Netherlands.

The swim had lasted almost two hours and the strain on the body was immediate. Davies was rushed off for medical attention and admitted that during the final lap he was almost delirious such was the stress on the body and the mind.

“Doing that 10k was extremely tough as by the end you are running on empty,” explains Davies. “Your muscles are exhausted from constantly pulling yourself through the water so it’s incredibly hard. I think I hit the wall at the end as it was all a bit of a blur.”

With the Olympic games in London just over two years away, Davies is firmly focused on improving and trying to capture the elusive gold medal. As well as his natural ability in the 10k he also hopes to improve on his 6th place finish in the 1500m.

“I train specifically for the 1500m and the 10k as they are my main events but it’s important to have a bit of speed as well. Even in the 10k you have a sprint finish at the end so it’s important to have that speed element which is why having a good 400m is so important.

“The fact that I tend to do long distances means that I can’t get too bulky so I have to be strong and lean. This means that my training generally consists of ten swim sessions a week, averaging around 35,000 metres. I also do two gym sessions a week which is generally weights and two land circuits which helps the core strength and power.”

�It is this dedication that has led to Davies being one of the best 10k freestyle swimmers in the world. Capturing an Olympic medal after only trying the distance twice before points to an athlete with a natural gift. Yet, the man from Barry in Wales does not believe he was born to swim.

“I like to think that it’s total dedication as I have been doing it for a lot of years. You make a lot of sacrifices and you put in a lot of effort so it’s really tough, but when you go to the Olympics and if you succeed then it makes it all worthwhile. I wouldn’t say I am a freak who is naturally able to swim. I have just loved the sport and have really wanted to succeed. I have always had that drive.”

This ambition and will to win has been with Davies from a very young age. At just eight he competed in local galas and by twelve was part of a junior team travelling across the country. By the tender age of 17 he was competing against top athletes at the Commonwealth Games.

Unlike other teenagers who would be out in bars and pubs at the weekends, Davies was training hard and always had the sole intention of being the best. “It’s a very regimented routine that us swimmers have, but you soon get used to it and you run on auto pilot. My day pretty much consists of eating, training and going to bed early.

It might not sound the most exciting routine for a man in his twenties but the hard work is all worth it in Davies’ eyes, especially when he has the chance to compete in a home Olympics.

“There isn’t a day that goes by where we don’t think about it. The massive golden carrot that is being dangled in front of us really helps keep us going. I can’t even sum up how massive it is for Britain. It is such an historical event and we probably won’t see it again in our lifetime so I just desperately want to be there. It is certainly what all the training is focused towards.”

So what does the future hold for the talented long distance swimmer? “There are still lots of events taking place before the Olympics but of course everything is building towards that moment. I really think that the 10k could be one of the focal points of the whole Olympics as it is right in the centre of London. Hyde Park is a fantastic venue with great surroundings so I think there will be massive support.”

It will certainly be a fantastic spectacle as Davies fights for position along the Serpentine. He just hopes that when the time comes he will be physically and mentally prepared.

“It is a daunting task but preparation is essential. I know that when the time comes I will be in great shape so it will all come down to the mental side of things. If I can get into a good rhythm then it will actually go pretty quick.”

Davies is certainly in a confident mood now that he has plenty of experience under his belt and his advice for any budding long distance swimmer is quite simple. “Do as much training as possible and develop a good technique. Rhythm is definitely the key.”


David Davies will be competing at this year’s British Gas Great Swim Series, the UK’s largest open water swimming event, on 19th June in Suffolk and 3rd July in London. For more information visit: www.greatswim.org