World Record Holder Merle Liivand Leads Spectacular Breaststroke Bootcamp
A Day of EliteTraining with “The Eco-Mermaid”
This past Monday, swimmers gathered at the Bushwick HS Campus Pool for an extraordinary opportunity – a specialized Breaststroke Bootcamp led by Lady Merle Liivand, Estonian Champion and five-time Guinness World Record holder for monofin swimming.
The event, hosted by the Swim Strong Foundation, brought together competitive swimmers eager to learn from one of the world’s most accomplished breaststroke and open water swimmers. Merle, who began swimming due to medical challenges with her lungs, has transformed those obstacles into world-class achievements, including being the Baltic States Champion in both 100m and 200m breaststroke.
Breaking Records While Saving the Environment
What makes Merle especially unique is her dedication to environmental conservation. Known as “The Eco-Mermaid,” Merle most recently set a world record on April 15, 2023, by swimming an incredible 50 kilometers (31.13 miles) with a monofin in Biscayne Bay, Miami. During this 14-hour and 15-minute swim, she and her support team collected approximately 20 pounds of trash from the bay.
This was Merle’s fifth time breaking the monofin distance record, having previously completed swims of 10km (2019), 20.6km (2020), 30km (2021), and 42.2km (2022). During her record attempts, she collects plastic waste, having personally removed over 16,000 pounds of trash from the waters during her training swims.
Bootcamp Highlights: Expert Technique Breakdown
The two-hour intensive session began with Coach Shawn, founder of the Swim Strong Foundation, introducing Merle and her impressive accomplishments. After inspiring participants with her story, Merle wasted no time getting everyone into the water.
As shown in the event video, Merle expertly broke down the breaststroke into component parts:
- Proper Diving Technique: Merle demonstrated smart diving technique, emphasizing that when you dive, “it’s the water, and it already seems for your people’s water surfers.”
- The Frog Kick: Participants practiced the distinctive breaststroke kick, with Merle positioned in the middle of the pool demonstrating proper form.
- Back Drills: Swimmers performed exercises on their backs to perfect the frog kick while isolating the leg movement.
- Arm Positioning: Merle showed the importance of arm positioning, demonstrating “number 11” with her arms as part of proper breaststroke technique.
Swim Strong’s Coaching Excellence
What made this clinic particularly effective was the combination of Merle’s world-class expertise and the attentive Swim Strong coaches. Throughout the session, coaches positioned themselves strategically around the pool, providing individualized feedback to each participant.
The Swim Strong Foundation, which has taught over 11,600 people to swim and provided more than $1.8 million in free swim lessons, ensured that every swimmer received personal attention during the drills.
Putting Skills into Action
After learning the individual components of the breaststroke, participants had the opportunity to integrate everything into a complete stroke. The session culminated in an exciting race, designed to help swimmers apply their newly acquired techniques in a supportive competitive environment.
The enthusiastic participation demonstrated how the bootcamp was designed to enhance technique and build confidence through progressive skill development.
Video Recap
A Memorable Conclusion
The event concluded with an autograph session, where Merle proudly displayed her Guinness World Record book on the table. Young swimmers lined up eagerly, not just for autographs but also for photos with the champion. Every child who attended the event had the opportunity to meet Merle personally, receiving both her signature and the inspiration of her remarkable story.
Looking Forward
Given the enthusiastic response to this bootcamp, the Swim Strong Foundation is already planning future events with Lady Merle Liivand. Her unique combination of technical expertise, environmental advocacy, and personal resilience makes her an exceptional role model for swimmers of all ages.
Whether mastering the breaststroke or learning to overcome life’s challenges, participants left with valuable lessons both in and out of the pool. As Merle reminded everyone during her talk, “Everything is possible if you put your mind into it.”
The Swim Strong Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to reducing unintended drowning and water-based accidents. To learn more about future events, visit [website] or follow @[handle] on social media.
