The Team
Steve Bailey
Over 30 years Triathlon and Open Water swim coaching experience
British Triathlon Level 2 coach
British Triathlon Level 2 Diploma
Certified Swim Smooth Coach
STA Level 2 Swimming Teacher
RLSS Open Water Lifeguard
Following extensive training and swim coaching experience with the Swim Smooth team based in Australia, I have a very keen eye for detail during stroke analysis & correction. I enjoy coaching swimmers of all abilities, and have worked with complete beginners to elite athletes, European & World Champions.
Sam Aplin
Coach
MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology
BA (Hons) Sport Coaching & Sport Development
British Triathlon Level 2 Diploma
STA Level 2 Open Water Swimming Coach
Certified Advanced Aquaphobia Coach
STA Level 2 Swimming Teacher
Swim Smooth Coach Education Course
RLSS Open Water Lifeguard
I am an experienced swimming teacher and coach, teaching both adults and children in the pool from complete beginner to advanced, and coaching front crawl for triathlon in the pool and open water.
I love to work with swimmers on a 1:1 and small-group basis,
and particularly enjoy supporting beginners and those who are nervous or fearful in and around water.
Studying for my MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology gave me the opportunity to further my interest in the relationship between a person's emotions and their bodies' physical response. My interest in the bodies' psychological stress response, and how this can affect athletic performance and make an athlete more susceptible to injury and illness, stems from personal experience and my wish to understand 'why'. My final project, "From World Champion to long-term Injury and chronic illness: an Autoethnography of an international duathlete's journey", provided me with an in-depth understanding of how non-sport-related psychological stress can impact upon an athlete's physical performance and well-being.
Steve Bailey
Want to know about my athletic achievements?
As a competitive open water swimmer, duathlete, and triathlete, I have represented my age-group for Team GB at the World Championships, competed at all distances from Sprint to Ironman Triathlon, with a best place of 4th overall in 10k swim races, and placing 2nd out of the water in my first ironman.
One of my more crazy escapades was to complete all 7 of the (then) RaceNewForest Triathlons in a week for charity. Along with RaceNewForest Owner/Director Richard Ilses and 2 other intrepid triathletes, I started with the renowned Half Ironman, with the other 6 race distances ranging from supersprint, standard, half and long course, to the famous Forestman Iron distance race on the final day, coming home in a time of 11:20 with a sub-1-hour 3.8k swim.
Sam Aplin
Want to know about my athletic achievements?
My drive for self-improvement and love of pushing my limits has fuelled my performance in endurance racing. I particularly enjoy the longer distances and have celebrated successes in duathlon, triathlon, and open water swimming events.
Here are some of my proudest achievements.
World Duathlon Champion (AG 25-29) - Standard Distance.
3 x Silver medallist - World Duathlon Championships - Standard Distance.
National Duathlon Champion (AG 25-29)
English Cross-Duathlon Champion (AG 20-24)
Xterra European Champion (AG 25-29)
2 x Series Champion - Human Race Off-road Duathlon
Ironman 70.3 World Championships (AG 25-29) - competitor
4th female - first marathon (Wales Long Course Weekend)
6th female - Wales Long Course Weekend (full distance)
