I Swim Because I Live; I Live Because I Swim!

Our AQUA SPEED Open Water Series is returning to Elbląg once again!

This is your chance to swim in open water, have a great time, and meet a renowned figure in the world of winter and open water swimming – Marcin Trudnowski, a water sports instructor, creator of "Przystań Wodna" (Water Harbor), and advocate of the "culture of being by the water." In our AQUA SPEED Magazine, we discuss swimming, health, the relationships that water helps build, and even the business opportunities it offers.

Water Sports – Which Are Worth Trying? What is your team at Grupa Wodna doing to fully utilize the potential of water?

Marcin Trudnowski: I've been involved in water sports since childhood. I believe swimming is a sort of master key – a gateway to safely being on the water, in it, and under it, which encompasses much more than just swimming in a pool. Our swimming school serves as a "doorway" or "passport" to engaging in activities on and beneath the water.

Diving, windsurfing, sailing, powerboating, and kayaking are the core activities on which we base our camps and programs for children and youth. Additionally, in the heart of Elbląg's Old Town, we've been developing the "Przystań Wodna" (Water Harbor) project for several years. This includes a floating equipment rental service and a sailing school as part of a broader network initiative called "In the Land of the Snail." This season, we also launched a sauna facility combined with winter swimming and ice swimming.

Tying all these initiatives together is the concept of the "culture of being by the water" – encompassing safety, recreation, sports, tourism, and ethics.

You are an experienced swimmer, a water rescue instructor, a swimming teacher, and an organizer of many water-related events... How would you expand on the idea that "swimming is health"?

Swimming is one of the best forms of physical activity when it comes to health benefits. It proportionally develops virtually all systems – the circulatory, respiratory, skeletal, joint, and muscular systems. I think almost everyone knows this, or at least I hope so. [smile]

But that’s not all. Physical effort plays a crucial role in coping with stress. In today’s turbulent times, having good and effective strategies to manage stress is essential for maintaining balance – both mental and physical.

Joy, a sense of accomplishment, fascination – the emotions you experience while swimming for kilometers in the water are indescribable. Then there’s the trance state, during which the limitless possibilities of our brain are activated… A long time ago, I coined a phrase: "I swim because I live; I live because I swim."

You work with children and their parents... How does "water" and water-based activity influence building relationships?

On one hand, swimming is an incredibly individual sport. Let’s be honest: you can’t chat with a friend in the next lane while swimming. [smile]

However, I believe swimming – or rather, sharing a common passion – brings people closer together. This is particularly evident in ice swimming. It’s a phenomenon that unites both professional swimmers and amateurs. I love seeing the scene after a challenging ice race, where both the fastest and much slower swimmers recover together in a hot tub. Everyone shivers in the same way – and that really connects people. [smile]

I primarily focus on teaching and improving swimming skills. I started from the idea that everyone has the right to master this skill – not just those who are naturally talented or train in a club. That’s why 20 years ago, I came up with the idea to start one of the first private swimming schools in Poland.

From the beginning, the key focus was building relationships, creating a positive atmosphere, and offering support and motivation without judgment. It’s no coincidence that the first part of our name is "Group." Spending a week on a yacht with friends strengthens relationships. In a small, confined space, you get to know each other much more deeply – it’s not just fleeting "small talk." Diving is another strong community that thrives on teamwork, and the same applies to kayaking trips. Even paddleboarding often involves groups of people, for many reasons. Yes, I can confidently say: water brings people together.

How to Start Your Swimming Journey and Turn It into a Lifelong Passion?

There’s no single, ready-made recipe. I know people who have loved swimming and been committed to it since childhood, but there are also many swimmers who "discovered" swimming later in life, even as seniors. I firmly believe that to enjoy swimming and reap its health benefits in the long run, you need to focus primarily on improving your technique. Swimming is an entirely technical sport. Unfortunately, the vast majority of beginners make a critical mistake: they jump straight into interval, endurance, or volume training as quickly as possible, neglecting technique.

They assume that their technique will naturally improve over time. Nothing could be further from the truth. Personally, I dedicate at least 20-25% of every training session to refining technique. I also organize workshops where most of the time is spent on shaping movement patterns, building self-awareness, and providing participants with self-monitoring tools. The results are astonishing – at least for the participants, of course. [smile]

Are Water Sports Only for the Wealthy? Swimming gear like goggles, swimsuits, and equipment for learning to swim is certainly the responsibility of parents. However, the rest of the equipment tied to your activities is a different story...

Every activity comes with expenses. Whether something is expensive or affordable is a highly individual matter. If we don’t see a deeper purpose in an activity, even spending small amounts can feel wasteful. And that’s the catch.

Before spending money on personal boards, sails, tanks, or other breathing equipment, it’s worth trying to see if you’re even into it. That’s where our idea for Water Camps comes in. These camps give children and teenagers the opportunity to try various activities under the guidance of experienced instructors. We provide participants with everything they need, including wetsuits, goggles, and helmets. Aside from the camp fee, parents don’t incur any additional costs.

What does water, swimming, and broadly defined physical activity in water teach young people – and adults – and how can/should it be applied in everyday life?

A sailor, diver, windsurfer, or kayaker with advanced swimming skills significantly enhances their abilities in their chosen discipline. And I’m not just talking about physical advantages. For example, a skilled sailor in a regatta can quickly return to the boat after capsizing and continue the race. A skipper leading a voyage, in case of a vessel malfunction or a tangled anchor in an old port, can dive effectively to prevent major issues.

A windsurfer can execute a water start much faster, and a proficient diver is better equipped to handle emergencies underwater and assist others. Not to mention water rescue professionals, for whom constant improvement of their skills and capabilities in water is a fundamental part of their job.

Broadly understood water sports significantly develop skills such as foresight, responsibility, pragmatism, decision-making, a sense of agency, respect for nature's forces, and the ability to be present in the moment.

Moreover, water sports foster teamwork, the ability to overcome personal limitations, flexibility, sensitivity, and empathy. The benefits of engaging in water sports are countless. Those listed above, in particular, have a profound impact on effective and efficient functioning on land, including in everyday life.

Interview by: Maciej Mazerant / Managing Editor of AQUA SPEED Magazine
Photo: Courtesy of Marcin Trudnowski / Grupa Wodna