Tackling doubt one stroke at a time

Nicola Shepherd has a natural affinity for breaststroke swimming, but often feels like the world is dominated by front crawl swimmers – here she tells us her story and takes part in the Oceanman Lago d’Orta

I’ve often wrestled with a quiet inferiority complex about being a breaststroker in a world dominated by front crawlers –especially in open water. My choice of stroke is deliberate: a longstanding shoulder injury, a natural affinity for breaststroke, and a love of seeing the world around me as I swim. Still, there are moments I’ve questioned whether I truly belong out there.

So when my longtime school friend Claire messaged in January saying she’d signed up for Oceanman Lago d’Orta, my interest was piqued. She was taking on the full 14km, and I saw there was a Half Oceanman distance of 5.5km. I’d previously completed the 4.5km Big Bala Swim, so this felt achievable – but doubts quickly crept in.

The name Oceanman sounded elite, even intimidating. A race, with cut-off times? At 2 hours and 30 minutes, that wasn’t a generous window for a breaststroker. Would I be fast enough? Would I be the only one not doing front crawl? Would I be last?

I nearly didn’t sign up.

But the next day, I had a moment of clarity. I reminded myself that I swim regularly. I’ve got a brilliant coach who’s helped me refine my stroke to a level where people regularly comment on its quality. I swim all year round, even in waters as cold as 4°C. The only thing holding me back was self-doubt.
So, I pulled up my metaphorical (and literal) big-girl swimsuit and registered.

From then on, I was all in. Between January and March, I kept up my weekly swims at Test Valley Open Water Swimming and squeezed in pool sessions when I could. In April, I increased my lake distance from 800m to 2.5km, then transitioned to the larger Ellingham Lake, gradually pushing myself past 4km. By May, I knew I was ready.

The weekend of the race was a whirlwind of emotions – nerves, excitement, anticipation. I only knew one other person in the group, my school friend, but the shared love of swimming brought us all together instantly. We arrived at the beautiful Lago d’Orta and were impressed by how smoothly everything was organised – from buses to registration.

Race day dawned bright and calm. I wasn’t racing the full 14km like some in our group, so I had a more leisurely morning with Sandra, a new friend I’d only met the day before. After breakfast at the stunning Hotel Bocciolo (which, conveniently, runs a shuttle to the Lido), we caught the coach to the start on the lake’s west side. It was idyllic – shaded, scenic, and buzzing with camaraderie.

Most competitors wore wetsuits, but Sandra and I opted for swimsuits only as the lake was a warm 23°C. After checking our bags, we entered the water for a mass start – the first of my life. It was electric! The countdown began, and then we were off.

Breaststroke swimmers, as anyone will know, require a bit of space, so I did wonder how popular I was in that initial surge. But the crowd quickly spread out and I found my rhythm. The course was well marked with buoys and had excellent safety coverage. I did have a brief dip in morale near the end when I mistook another bay for the finish line – but a quick stop for some jelly babies did the trick and I kicked on.

I finally crossed the finish line in 2 hours and 46 minutes. To my surprise, I wasn’t last – far from it. Around 40 swimmers finished after me, most of them front crawlers. It was a massive personal triumph.
Looking back, all the anxiety and doubt I felt in January melted away the moment I stepped into that water. I trained hard, swam strong, made new friends, and experienced one of the most stunning lakes in the world – all in breaststroke, in skins.

So next time you hesitate to sign up for something that challenges you, ask yourself: Is it that I can’t do it, or that I can’t do it yet? Then book it. Train. Show up. And embrace the journey.