Sports
Ocean-Only Swim Training: Can You Excel in Big Races?
Renato Ribeiro dispels the pool myth, showing how Posto 6 develops everyone from beginners to ultramarathon swimmers.
The belief that swimmers must spend years in a pool to improve is merely a myth. Renato Ribeiro explains how athletes can learn, structure precise workouts, and even cross the English Channel while training almost exclusively in open water.
There is a deep-seated belief in aquatic sports that an athlete can only excel in open water if they have a solid foundation in competitive pool swimming. However, for Renato Ribeiro, coach and founder of Equipe Navegantes, this obstacle is nothing more than a myth. It is entirely possible to learn how to swim, refine technique, and tackle ultramarathons by training almost exclusively in the ocean.
Although open water requires greater awareness than a pool lane with fixed walls and a visible bottom, choosing the right location makes beginner instruction fully viable. A prime example is Posto 6 at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. This protected bay functions much like a natural swimming pool, welcoming around 2,500 swimmers daily between coaching squads and solo athletes.
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The Posto 6 Triangle and Workout Precision
Open-water training does not mean merely jumping into the ocean and swimming in a straight line without purpose. At Posto 6, swim clubs use a structured triangular course with a 300-meter perimeter, featuring 100 meters between the main buoys and an intermediate 50-meter buoy.
This geometric setup allows coaches to execute any traditional swimming workout plan with precision. Whether doing 50-meter sprint repeats back and forth or 100-meter interval blocks around the circuit, athletes can hit their prescribed volume and intensity just as effectively as they would in a controlled pool environment.
From Overcoming Limitations to the English Channel
Real-world results validate the effectiveness of this methodology. One of the most notable cases led by Renato Ribeiro was that of Dona Estela, who came to him at age 72 after surviving two strokes that left her with motor impairments on her right side. Completing all her preparation in the ocean over two years, she successfully finished the 16 km BISA race.
The methodology also holds up for the pinnacle of international marathon swims. Swimmer Léo Natal completed roughly 99% of his training in the waters of Posto 6 before successfully crossing the English Channel. This experience proves that with proper coaching and respect for natural conditions, the ocean provides all the tools needed to develop swimmers from beginners to ultramarathoners.
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