A Year of Hard Work and Success: My Swimming Triumph
Witold Musial looks back on a year of open water success: 44 km in 24 hours, the Puck-Chalupy x4 crossing, and a Baltic Challenge Extreme award.
Yesterday, October 5th, 2024, turned into one of those days I will carry with me for a long time. It marked exactly one year since I received the trophy for swimming the 18 km from Gdynia to Hel, an honor that still feels surreal. This year I was invited back to the Baltic Oscars gala in Warsaw, and the evening proved even more memorable than the last.
The past twelve months have been generous with me. I lined up at several prestigious events and came away with two third-place finishes at the Otyliady, first in Chrzanów in November 2023, then in Miechów in March 2024. The achievement I am proudest of, though, is winning the 24-hour race in Kazimierza Wielka, where I covered 44 km and 100 m.
The real highlight, the moment that crowned the whole season, was my open water challenge: Puck-Chalupy four times over, a straight-line distance of 28 km. That swim turned out to be the longest distance completed within this year's Baltic Challenge Extreme, and the organizers honored it with a special distinction. Last year I was simply one of many faces in the crowd. This year I stood at the top.
A year of hard work paid off, and the lesson behind it is simple. Success is never built in three days of effort. It is built across 365 days of steady training and quiet dedication. I owe a heartfelt thank you to my students, the swimmers who train alongside me in the pool and in open water, and who left so many warm reviews on the Total Immersion Polska website.
I also want to thank my partner and swimming assistant, Mariusz Smenżyk, for helping me build our group from the ground up. Big thanks as well to Mikołaj Wincełowicz from Swim-Sport for our shared training sessions, and to Anna, Ola, and Magda Musiał for their patience every time the water called me away from home.
This year was full of challenges and rewards alike, yet it feels less like a finish line and more like a starting block.
Chasing your own open water goals? Reserve yours and help shape a swim metronome built to keep your rhythm steady, hour after hour.
Swim to a Better Rhythm
Be among the first to train with Vimo.
Vital Flow: Swimming, Mountains, and Passion. An Interview with Kamil Łęczycki
Kamil Łęczycki, founder of Vital Flow in Nowy Sącz, on swimming, nutrition, and chasing the Seven Summits after standing on top of Kilimanjaro.
Mastering Your Swim Pace: A Guide to Tempo Trainers for Swimmers
Learn how tempo trainers help swimmers improve pacing, endurance, and stroke efficiency. Tips, workout ideas, and integration guide.