In the city of Miami, FL, Christine Coppola has rekindled her passion for swimming, a journey that spans from childhood competitions to adult aspirations of conquering some of the world’s most challenging open waters. Christine shares her experiences and insights into her training routines, the support of her family, and the therapeutic nature of swimming.
How did you first get into swimming?
I started swimming when I was about 9 years old and continued through college. My parents encouraged me to try different sports until I found something I loved, and swimming was it. I swam at UMASS but eventually got burned out and took a decade off before diving back in.
What inspired you to return to swimming after such a long break?
After college, I needed a break from the competitive grind to enjoy a social life. I didn’t engage in sports for 10 years. After that, I tried marathons and eventually got into Ironman triathlons.
Then after I had my son, I just had so much trouble getting back to it. I tried and did a few more 70.3s and just with work and family couldn’t really find the time for all three. I was pretty frustrated, then my mom suggested I just start with one and then if I could manage to add another. She suggested swimming because I loved it so much. I decided to give it a try and fell back in love during the pandemic.
Around that time, my dad ended up getting sick and passing away and I really doubled down on the journey back into open water swimming – it was not just a form of getting exercise in and working out, but also like therapy. My dad was pretty instrumental in my life and especially sports and I always felt a bit closer to him in the ocean after he passed away. After his passing, I set my eyes on just going longer, and decided to do the 20 Bridges 28.5 swim around Manhattan in 2023, then did Catalina Channel this past summer.
What are you currently training for?
I’m training for the English Channel swim. My window to swim is from September 14-21, 2025. The captain monitors conditions and you basically wait to go when it is the safest. It’s part of achieving the Triple Crown of open water swimming. The English Channel is about 21 miles and can be as cold as 45 degrees.
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What are some challenges you’ve faced with training for the English Channel Swim?
Living in Miami and training for the English Channel is logistically challenging due to the temperature differences. It never gets cold here – the coldest I’ve seen the water is 74-ish, and I need to train around 58 degrees water temp or less for English Channel. You also need to do a 6-hour qualifier swim in 58-degree water temp or less. This year, I will have to travel a bit to get cold water swims in – San Diego, San Francisco, northeast, etc.
Can you describe your typical training week?
My training is organized into four-week blocks, culminating in a bulk week where I swim 50,000-60,000 yards over 4-5 sessions. It requires precise scheduling around my son’s activities, and my family’s support is crucial.
I strength train 2-3 times a week, usually on my swimming off days. General yardage is about 5-6k each swim during the week, and then on my long weeks on the weekend, my longer swims can be around 8 hours. If the ocean is sketchy with things like the man o’ war jellyfish or bad weather, I’ve done longer swims in the pool. I think my longest swim in the pool was 17k.
How do you fuel when swimming?
For Catalina, I had to secure 2 kayakers and a support crew (I had 2). You start at night so need a changing of the guard. My support crew was in charge of organizing my nutrition and the kayaker threw my feeds from the kayak on a rope.
For the English Channel, you do not have kayakers so need to feed off the boat. They throw your food on a rope but it is more challenging since it’s a boat vs kayaker. My husband has been my crew chief and he is amazing, but he has an Ironman around the time of my English Channel window so cannot come. I am still working out my logistics but hopefully will be able to put together a good crew.
What does your support system look like?
My family’s support is phenomenal, especially my husband. He has been my crew chief for past events, though he won’t be able to join me for the English Channel due to his own Ironman commitments.
My training group in Miami, whom I affectionately call my ‘pod,’ also plays a significant role. I don’t swim with a masters team, but we have a small group of people that come from all walks of life and span a vast array of ages. Some are predominantly pool swimmers but most of us do both.
What advice would you give to someone looking to get into open water swimming?
Find a group to swim with. It helps you acclimate to open water and provides safety and social support. These are vital when you’re spending hours in the ocean.
How do you balance life and training?
Balancing training with life involves a lot of organization and early mornings. I also have to be flexible and ready to adjust my plans based on my son’s schedule and weather conditions. For instance, if the ocean conditions aren’t favorable, I might have to switch to a long pool session.
Looking forward, what are some goals you have outside of the English Channel?
I’d love to complete the Oceans 7 challenge. I’m also drawn to swims in extreme conditions, like in the Arctic. There is also the 36K swim from Capri to Napoli because of my family roots in that part of Italy.
Conclusion
Christine Coppola’s open water swimming journey through the waters of life and sport is an excellent example of the support of loved ones. As she prepares for the English Channel and future swims, Christine continues to find strength in the memories of her father and the companionship of her “pod.”
You can find Christine on instagram.
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