#174: From Sequins to Swimscape

#174: From Sequins to Swimscape

February 23, 2026 · 46 min

About this episode

Mel Bardsley shares her journey from competitive artistic swimming to coaching open water swimmers.

Mel Bardsley has never just “gone for a swim.” From representing her country in artistic swimming to winning BUCS university water polo championships and competing in National League Division 1, she’s spent a lifetime pushing limits in the water. She’s swum the English Channel in a relay, claimed Masters surf lifesaving titles, and now coaches open water swimmers from her base in Bude, North Cornwall after leaving school teaching to launch Swimscape Cornwall. In this fun episode, we div...

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