Swim Chats

Dougal Dunlop is one of Wellington's swim legends and has been swimming and coaching for over 50 years. Now in his 70s, he continues to coach at Freyberg Pool and swims at Oriental Bay all year round – most mornings he'll be in the water at 6:46am (ish).
A back injury led to Dougal swimming regularly in the ocean and he founded the Washing Machines, a hardy group of open water enthusiasts including ultramarathoners and ice swimmers. Dougal updates the group (of over 200 members) via WhatsApp every day with the local swim conditions and water temperature.
We recorded this chat at AYE! Cafe in Oriental Bay so there's a bit of background noise sometimes – it's still a good listen for Dougal's stories and knowledge!
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Bryn Williams is a Wellington ocean swimmer and is a great person to swim with. He helps nervous newbies (like me, a few years ago) and encourages us to have fun in the water whether it's jumping off the pontoons or doing handstands in the shallows. He's full of fun and lifts everyone's spirits just by showing up.
Bryn moved to NZ from Wales in the late 1970s, at the age of 14. When Bryn was young his uncle Tommy, who was in the Navy during WW2 and witnessed multiple drownings, taught his dozens of nephews and nieces to swim in the fresh, choppy Irish Sea. Bryn learned to navigate the waves and the jelllies. and as an adult he finds peace and joy in the sea, calling it his "Prozac". No wetsuit, no goggles, and sometimes accompanied by his golden retriever Ruby, a competitive harbour swimmer.
Bryn and I recorded this episode at his house and it's a great chat, so grab a cuppa and enjoy!
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Support the Swim Chats podcast ($5 per month) via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/SwimChats⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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At the time of recording this podcast (Feb 9, 2026), Danielle Falconer was preparing to swim the length of Lake Taupō (40.2km) in late February to raise awareness and support for those affected by dementia. Through her swim she is fundraising for Dementia NZ – visit her Givealittle page for more details.
In this episode we talk about:
Danielle’s personal reasons for wanting to grow awareness and support around dementia and fundraise for Dementia NZ. We talk about the impact of dementia on the tens of thousands of Kiwis affected by it, as well as on their families, caregivers, and community.

The nuts and bolts of planning and training for an ultramarathon swim: having a swim programme, nutrition, support crew, and a feeding plan.

The need for flexibility and adaptability in the lead-up to a big swim: once the training is done, having to accept things (like weather!) that are out of our control.

Working with ultramarathon swim coach and world record holder Phil Rush (who has his own episode of Swim Chats).

The crucial support and encouragement of family and friends, and training around other life commitments (work, kids, life admin … ).

Swimming in Wellington: the community, the locations, the pool squads, and the fresh and choppy open water.

Follow Danielle on Instagram (@swim_taupo) or via her Swim Taupō website for updates on her swim

Visit Danielle's Givealittle page to donate to Dementia NZ (make a one-off donation, pledge an amount per hour or km of Danielle's swim, or complete a free ‘brain booster' activity)

Visit the Dementia NZ website to learn more about dementia and find support

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Support the Swim Chats podcast ($5 per month) via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/SwimChats⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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Laura Quilter is a Masters and Ice Swimming world record holder, a competitive sprint swimmer, and runs a strength and swim coaching business called Aura Move.
Laura retired from competitive swimming (butterfly and freestyle) in 2016, in her mid-20s. Eight years later she discovered that she was faster than ever and qualified for her first World Aquatics Championships. Unusually for a competitive swimmer, she coaches herself. Laura's how-to videos on Instagram have inspired a following of 70K and led to her offering virtual and in-person strength and swim coaching via Aura Move.
In this episode we talk about returning to competitive swimming in her 30s, her strength training, her experiences at the NZ Ice Swimming Champs (breaking four world records in 2024), coaching her dad in his first competitive swim event, and approaching swimming with a spirit of curiosity, adventure, and fun.
Visit Laura's Aura Move website
Follow Laura @Auramovenz on Instagram
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Support the podcast via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/SwimChats⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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The Z Manu World Champs is now in its third year and is making a splash as a fun water sports event that brings people together. A 'manu' is a v-shaped dive bomb. It has Māori / Pasifika origins and can be performed off a bridge, wharf, diving board, jetty – even off a horse – into any body of deep water, as long as it's done safely.
There are qualifying events being held around Aotearoa NZ (and on the Gold Coast) over the summer and the Grand Finals will be held in Auckland in March.
Manu World Champs founder Scott Rice came on the podcast to discuss what inspired him to create this event, how they judge the best manu (splash height is important but there's an art to a good manu), and how it celebrates people, communities, and the water.
Scott is a former competitive swimmer who also founded the NZ Ocean Swim Series and now runs Ocean Swim Fiji, a 'swimcation' offering three swims across five days (and zero worries).
Visit the Z Manu World Champs website
Follow the Manu World Champs on Instagram
Check out Ocean Swim Fiji
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Support the podcast via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/SwimChats⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Swim Chats on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Hit 'Follow' so you don't miss an episode.
Thanks for listening! :-)