Meet our coaches, Mike and Fiona
“My coaching philosophy is always to believe in the amazing things people can do with just the right degree of challenge, expert care and encouragement.
At Swim45 we are developing Sensational Swimming as a distinct approach to swim coaching, focused on feel: attuning swimmers of all abilities to their sense of form, effort and movement.
The results are amazing!”
— Mike Porteous
Mike Porteous is a Level 3 British Triathlon Coach (the highest award in triathlon coaching), a Coach Mentor and a Level 2 Swim England Teacher. He is also the Outdoor Swimming Society’s Swim Coach In Residence, former Head Coach at Brighton Tri Club leading a team of 25 coaches and a Mental Health Swims co-host.
Mike runs a private endurance sports coaching business, ZigZag Alive and has worked with swimmers from novices to GB squad members.
He is the founder of a network of coaches from across all sports putting confidence at the centre of great coaching practice, Confidence Centred Coaching.
In addition Mike teaches children with disabilities through the charity Level Water.
“I am truly at my best as a coach when motivating a swimmer to carry on. It is hard… and mentally demanding, but it is definitely the most rewarding thing I do as a coach.
Encouraging a swimmer to finish what they started is euphoric, and a truly humbling journey. ”
— Fiona Southwell
Fiona is an award winning and highly renowned coach to Channel and other ultra swimmers.
She was Head of the Sea Section at Brighton Swimming Club for many years, a long term swim coach at Swim Trek Distance Training Camps and has coached no less than three World Record breaking distance swimmers. She has deep expertise in all things endurance: distance training, nutrition, cold, jellyfish… and much more.
A lifelong swimmer, she swam for England at the age of 16 and some years later held the British record for the oldest woman to swim the Channel. She has also completed several other prestigious marathon swims.
