Swim Squad Awards 2025: The Most Inspirational Athlete

Swim Squad Awards 2025: The Most Inspirational Athlete

An Example To Us All

Some nominations celebrate speed, others celebrate breakthroughs – but this category celebrates something deeper.

It honours the people who lift the entire Squad just by being who they are. The athletes whose attitude, resilience, humour, kindness or courage make the rest of us stand a little taller.

This year, the nominations poured in – heartfelt, emotional, detailed.

You could feel the admiration in every single one.

Here are the athletes who inspired the most nominations in 2025.

Lisa

She made people swim in the dark. In cold water. That’s the level of inspiration we’re talking about!

Despite a personally difficult year, Lisa kept showing up – end-to-end swims, freezing lakes, early mornings, lots of sessions – rebuilding her running, adding triathlon into the mix, and dragging others along with her courage.

Comfort zones were left miles behind.

One nomination made their feelings about Lisa’s impact very clear …

“What a woman!”

Mel

If Mel tells you she isn’t a cyclist, don’t listen. She conquered the Fred.

If she tells you she isn’t a swimmer, don’t listen. She became one of the Squad’s cold-water mermaids.

This year was a masterclass in courage: saying yes to fear, doing it anyway, and showing others what quiet bravery really looks like.

Her attitude hasn’t just changed her own season – it’s lifted the people around her.

Jan

Jan’s superpower? Saying yes.

New sport? Yes.

New challenge? Yes.

New country? Also yes.

But beyond podiums at multiple Swimrun World Championships, adventure races, an ultra, a marathon swimrun, and enough cold-water miles to fill a small ocean – it’s her presence that inspires the most.

Lifts given. Encouragement offered. Warmth that stitches the Squad together.

As one teammate said: “Squad wouldn’t be Squad without Jan.”

Sammie

Perspective is her superpower.

Her training comes from a place of gratitude – do it now, because one day you won’t be able to.

From major surgery to a Leeds Ironman finish, navigating the unpredictability of endometriosis the whole way, Sammie embodies courage, patience and joy.

She shows up, does what she can, and inspires everyone lucky enough to train beside her.

Tenchy

He lights up a room – or a lane – the moment he arrives.

Supportive, upbeat, relentlessly positive.

And 2025 was the year the “Tenchy Point” truly became a thing… and for excellent reason.

Dan

“Be more Dan.”

That’s all you really need to know.

Focused, humble, hardworking, and endlessly curious about his own potential.

Quiet. Impressive. Always leading by example.

Matt F

A masterclass in discipline, consistency and contagious motivation.

His drive rubs off on everyone – often literally, for those he trains with shoulder-to-shoulder. One teammate wrote about Matt driving over to join rides and runs, pushing and coaching him mid-session, helping them reach 50 straight days of training.

A gem. A leader. An inspiration.

Alex

All three lakes swims in one year.

Wow indeed.

One swimmer described being in awe watching him swim, gliding like a dream – often disappearing mid-length, leaving only bubbles behind.

Inspirational in the quietest, smoothest way possible.

Sara

After an early-season injury, Sara rebuilt with patience, intelligence and absolute commitment. A 12-hour time trial, a brilliant race at Wales, and countless moments where she lifted others too.

Her season wasn’t just impressive – the belief she gave to others was equally important.

Dani

Hard-working, high-achieving, endlessly humble.

Juggling a demanding career with ambitious goals, pushing boundaries quietly and consistently, setting standards – then surpassing them.

One teammate put it best: “I think I have a girl crush to be fair. She’s amazing.”

Chris

This is what bravery looks like.

Despite almost-constant hip pain, despite training sessions filled with discomfort, Chris keeps showing up – smiling, supporting, swimming, cheering others on, and tackling challenges like her end-to-end swim with pure heart.

A hero in the truest, quietest sense (it’s no surprise she was nominated by many swimmers).

Elliot

The reason a few squad members are even here at all – and still one of the most determined athletes in the room.

Not a lifelong athlete, sometimes carrying an injury, often doubting himself… but never quitting. He keeps asking questions, keeps seeking improvement, keeps believing the Ironman dream is worth the fight.

If anyone deserves recognition, it’s him.

Kathryn

Beloved. Resilient. A true Swim Squadder.

Multiple surgeries, countless setbacks – yet never once has she let it stop her turning up, smiling, encouraging others, and swimming because she loves it.

A rock within the Squad and an inspiration throughout the year.

Ian

The wave machine. The metronome. The powerhouse.

He drives the lane, sets the tone, anchors the pacing, and brings both work and fun every single week.

The Squad would be lost without him.

Jo

As inspiring for her joy as for her results.

She celebrates everyone else’s achievements as much as her own – the very definition of a teammate who lifts the room.

(Every year I have at least one nomination that simply says “I want to be Jo when I grow up.”)

Gary

The gentleman of the Squad.

Turns up, races what he loves, smiles through the hard bits, and shows everyone how to enjoy the sport for the right reasons.

A calm, steadying, inspiring presence.

Kate G

So many injuries, so many setbacks – and yet the first thing you notice is the smile.

She brings joy to every lane she swims in, loves her Swim Family deeply, and radiates positivity even when racing isn’t possible.

Her presence makes the Squad better. Truly inspiring.

What Inspiration Really Looks Like

What makes this category so special is that none of these athletes were nominated for podiums, PBs or medals – even though many of them achieved those too.

They were nominated because of who they are, not what they’ve done.

• Because they made someone feel welcome.

• Because they lifted a teammate on a bad day.

• Because they showed courage when life was heavy.

• Because they kept turning up when it would’ve been easier not to.

• Because they reminded us that strength isn’t always loud – sometimes it’s a smile, a quiet word, or simply refusing to give in.

This category isn’t just a list of athletes.

It’s the heartbeat of the Squad.

And reading these nominations, one thing becomes clear:

the Squad is full of people worth looking up to.

Every single one of them makes this community stronger.

What an incredible group. What an incredible year.