Masters Swimming: Passion and Adventure
Our motto, "from the pool to open water," takes on a new dimension thanks to people like Przemek Lis-Piwowarski, who discovered himself through swimming and made a name for himself among others. He shares with us why he swims in the pool and open water, as well as what he felt when he swam from Asia to Europe.
How do you perceive water – as a place of relaxation, a challenge, a remedy, or something else entirely?
Water as a Wonderful Experience
I'll give an original answer: it depends. Every response would be correct because water has the ability to provide exactly what I need in a given moment.
I like to talk about water as a teacher, especially when I’m swimming alone in the sea, riding a gentle, "meditative" wave. The repetitive movements, steady breathing, and the realization that I am powerless against Neptune’s whims… It’s a profound and wonderful experience that teaches me that being aware of my weaknesses is not the same as being weak—and that sometimes, knowing when to let go is just as important.
But there are many other reasons why I swim. With a sense of admiration, I watch older competitors at races and think… I want to be like them in 20, 30, or even more years.
By participating in swim competitions, I also want to show my kids how amazing sports can be—especially those that bring together passionate, like-minded people while promoting health and well-being. Additionally, for me and my family, racing gives us the opportunity to travel to places in Poland and around the world that we might never have visited otherwise.
Water as a Therapeutic Tool
You are a swimming group leader. How did it start, and what’s happening now?
You’re a bit ahead of yourself with this question—it’s still in the "plans to be realized" folder. But since you asked, I’ll say this: I’ve personally experienced how incredible and effective swimming and water can be as therapeutic tools. Other self-care practices like sauna sessions and cold-water immersion also deserve attention. I highly recommend cold plunges, especially as a free and natural way to recharge your endorphin power bank. These are the areas where I want to deepen my knowledge and share it with both young and older people. I hope to inspire those struggling with addiction at various stages of recovery. This project carries a huge responsibility, so we’ll launch it when we’re fully prepared. But one thing is certain—you’ll hear about us when the time comes!
Swim Training, Work, and Hobbies
Do your training sessions interfere with your professional work? How do you balance your hobby with family life and work?
It’s not easy… Finding time for long and regular training sessions while being a father, husband, business owner, sauna master, board member of a swimming club, and recently even an amateur tattoo artist is quite the challenge. Honestly, I manage thanks to my wonderful wife, grandparents, and a well-planned schedule. Somehow, I carve out small time slots for training. Sometimes, plans shift, and suddenly I have a few free hours—so I always keep my swim bag packed in the car, just in case an opportunity pops up.
I’m trying to be more structured, though, because things got serious in August when I was called up to the Polish national team for the World Championships in Winter Swimming. The thought of competing with the eagle emblem on my chest gives me an extra boost of motivation—so I’m stepping up my game to make sure I don’t let anyone down, including myself. Wish me luck!
Swimming Adventures – How to Prepare for Them?
You're looking for swimming adventures… Tell us about it.
BOSPHORUS – this experience was so incredible on many levels that it deserves a separate story. I gifted it to myself for my 40th birthday, and at the same time, it was the cherry on top to celebrate my third year of sobriety. The race itself was the grand finale of a week spent exploring Istanbul with my loved ones. What’s funny is that just a few years ago, I wouldn’t have even considered this as a dream—it seemed completely unattainable, unbelievable, impossible to achieve. And yet… You have to dream.
From a sporting perspective, it was a masterpiece: a 6.5 km swim, flawless organization, a whole athletes’ park, deposit areas, designated photo spots, a shared training session, music, DJs, nearly 3,000 swimmers plus their companions… When I talk about it, I can still see it all in my mind.
But what will stay with me the longest is something else—the incredible sense of unity with swimmers from all over the world. Russians, Indians, Arabs, Chinese… The list goes on, but in swimwear and goggles, we were just swimmers united by a single goal. It’s also worth highlighting that we were literally connecting two continents, swimming from Asia to Europe. Three thousand people managed to halt one of the busiest trade routes for half a day! It was an incredibly moving experience.
It makes you think—if 3,000 people can do this, what could 30,000 achieve? Or 300,000? All gathered around beautiful, peaceful ideals. As a citizen of the world, I felt this was one of the most significant moments of my life, giving me both a sense of agency and responsibility for the fate of humanity. STOP WAR – GET WET. Emotional, beautiful moments…
How Do You Prepare for Such an Event?
Since the 6.5 km distance with a 2-hour time limit made me quite nervous—and even though I knew that in Turkey, the water current would mostly be an ally—I was still unsure if I could make it. Fortunately, I’ve been spending my summers with scouts by the Baltic Sea for years, and this time, I went to camp with a strong determination: this would be my small but mighty training camp. And that’s exactly what it turned into. Every day, I trained on land: push-ups, mobility exercises, yoga, core twists on a mat, lots of walking, and a disciplined diet. Whenever possible, I swam in the sea. I must say, it was time well spent—especially since I was surrounded by people who also embraced a sporty approach to their vacation.
Swimming Has a Future
What Are Your Plans Now?
At the moment, I’m fully immersed in the winter season and the championships in Italy (already completed). In the future, I’d love to return to Turkey and take on the Bosphorus once again. I also dream of swimming under Manhattan’s bridges and crossing the English Channel, but I hold a special sentimental attachment to Lake Złotnickie as well. My wife and son have started learning to swim, so maybe next year, we’ll manage to participate in a family competition together. At the event in Łódź, I organized an initiative combining Polish records with a fundraiser for the Gajusz Foundation, which turned out to be a great success. I already have another idea for supporting charity through swimming.
In ten years, I see myself running a therapeutic center incorporating water in all three physical states. I hope I won’t lose my passion for it, and that my loved ones will have the patience—because, in many ways, I do this for them, but also thanks to them.
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Interview by: Maciej Mazerant / Editor-in-Chief of AQUA SPEED Magazine
Photos: Private archive of Przemysław Lis-Piwowarski | Cover photo: IMAGE W. Rożnowska