Lionel Sanders says he’s finally ready to train like a swimmer
The Canadian star's latest video features three races with his videographer Talbot Cox

While much of his last video posted on YouTube is focused on the “Dual in the Desert” (yes, they know that’s the incorrect spelling – it’s what was written on the trophy!), Lionel Sanders’ intro to the video offers some important insight into his new approach to swimming. Sanders describes himself as a “pro YouTuber with a swim minor” who is ready to make a dramatic change in his training approach.
“Part of swimming is racing,” Sanders says. “I’ve been doing 12 years of coming to the pool, telling coaches ‘I’m a triathlete, I need threshold freestyle 24/7. I can’t be doing anything other than threshold freestyle all the time. If I do threshold freestyle all the time, with really bad form, I’m going to get better at swimming.’ I’ve told to coaches for 12 straight years. I’ve encountered a lot of great coaches over the years, and I’ve never listened to them. I’ve told them what to do.”
“So, finally, after retiring from triathlon and becoming a professional YouTuber, I feel confident enough to come to the pool and say ‘Coach, I’m a swimmer. I’m on the long term – I’ve got all the time in the world. Give me the swim program,'” Sanders continues. (We’re pretty sure he’s joking about retiring from triathlon – he’s set to race Ironman 70.3 Indian Wells-La Quinta next month.) “Why do we triathletes think that we don’t have to pay the dues that Lucy Charles (-Barclay), Alistair Brownlee, Sam Laidlow, Aaron Royle, Ben Kanute [have done] – why do we not have to pay the dues that these people paid?”
“Long story short, I’m a swimmer now,” Sanders says. “I want the kick sets. I’m over on the racks, doing sprint sets …”
So, on a weekend when the rest of the athletes in his training group were off to a swim meet, Sanders decided to take on his videographer, Talbot Cox in three races – 100 m free, 100 m IM and 50 breast stroke.
We’ll let you watch the video to see who takes the day!