Triathlon Swimming Q&A: Choking on Water in an Open-Water Race

January 19, 2010

Q: I gulp down lots of water when I swim, and find myself choking. I seem to be fine in the pool, but do it all the time during an open-water race. What’s going on?

A: Whenever you are choking in the swim, it means that water has somehow gone down the windpipe. There are many reasons why you are more likely to choke in the open water versus in a pool. Here are some things you can do to avoid it altogether:

1. Don’t breathe while sighting. When you tilt your head straight up to sight, it is very important to keep your mouth closed. If it’s open, then any water that gets into your mouth has a direct route to your lungs. And your chances are pretty good of sticking your head up just as you hit a wave from another swimmer. Always breathe to the side, no matter how tempting it is to breathe whenever your head is out of the water.
2. When the weather is very choppy, turn your head further up when you breathe to the side. This way, you can be sure that your mouth will clear the waterline and you are breathing air and not water.
3. If you do get hit by someone (by accident hopefully) at the start of the race, make an effort to hold your breath for a few moments. The act of someone swimming over-top of you often gets you out of your game plan, forcing the instinct to stick your head up and breathe. You will often swallow water in the resulting panic, which can go down the windpipe. Always wait a few seconds until you are sure the coast is clear before breathing.

View previous triathlon swimming tips.