From fear of the water to swim coaching, with Benoit Lavigne

<p>Benoit (Ben) Lavigne is a Wellington swim coach. Through his company, <a href="https://outpaceswimming.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Outpace Swimming</a>, he offers private coaching, swim squads, video analysis, clinics, open water training, and swim camps. Ben is also the Head Coach at Tawa Swim Club and was selected as a coach for Swimming New Zealand&#39;s Under 19 Team at the 2026 Tri Series in Western Australia.</p><p>In this episode, Ben talks about his coaching method, offers technique advice, and shares his own swim journey – from a small child in France who was terrified of the water, to becoming a national-level swimmer and then a coach.</p><p>Ben has continued to learn, adapt, and innovate over his decades-long coaching career. His enjoyment and fascination with swimming remains strong, he is a caring and dedicated coach, and is a valued part of Wellington’s swim community. </p><p><br>Visit <a href="https://stokednz.co.nz/SWIMCHATS" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠StokedNZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> for your towelies and get 15% off with the discount code SWIMCHATS </p><p>Enjoy the podcast? Buy me a coffee via <a href="https://ko-fi.com/swimchats" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/swimchats⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Become a Swim Buddy via ⁠⁠<a href="https://patreon.com/SwimChats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/SwimChats⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/swimchats" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Swim Chats on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Contact me at swimchatswithshona at gmail dot com</p><p>Hit &#39;Follow&#39; so you don&#39;t miss an episode. </p><p>Thanks for listening! :-)</p>