04/02/2026
From a top athlete, keep moving, but with care
It started with a sore shoulder - and ended with one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever been given.
A few years ago, I began to feel pain in my shoulder. It got bad enough that I couldn’t sleep properly. I knew I needed proper guidance.
I went to see Dr Rod Jaques, who had looked after the British Olympic team for 20 years. He examined me, listened carefully, and then shared some advice that changed how I train.
He said: “If you want to keep swimming at a top level, remember this number - 51.”
“Train every day for 51 weeks of the year,” he said. “Then take one full week off to rest.”
But the real wisdom was in how to train. He explained that it didn’t have to look the same every day. One day might be swimming. The next could be a run, a row, a weights session or even a long walk in the mountains.
I took his advice seriously. For the past two years, I’ve trained almost every day - not by pushing harder, but by training more wisely.
My shoulder pain is gone. I feel strong. And I’m grateful to still be doing the work I love.
The lesson is simple: if you want to keep moving, you have to keep moving - and you have to do it with care.
Thank you, Dr Rod Jaques.
