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Where did the idea to swim across the Gulf of Gdańsk come from? Was it the need to test yourself, a way to promote yourself and your work, to build a personal brand, or simply an adventure?

The idea to swim across the Gulf of Gdańsk was born from my desire to test my own limits and take on a demanding open-water swimming challenge. I wanted to prove to myself that consistent preparation makes it possible to achieve things that at first glance seem very far out of reach. It was also a great opportunity to develop my personal brand, and the experience I gained is something I can now use every day in my work with clients.

How did the preparations go? When did they start, what did they involve, and what turned out to be important – and what didn’t really matter?

The preparations for swimming across the Gulf of Gdańsk took months and were very systematic. I started by building endurance in the pool, then gradually moved my training to open water to get used to the temperature. A key element turned out to be learning how to swim in a straight line in open water – something that may sound trivial but in reality causes quite a lot of trouble. I felt I lost quite a bit of time because of that.

Maintaining a steady pace and working on mental resilience were also crucial. Some things that seemed important at the beginning, like small technique tweaks in the pool, turned out in practice to matter less than consistent preparation and gaining experience in realistic conditions.

What was the hardest part of the crossing, and what was pure pleasure? How did the equipment perform, and what gear do you need to prepare?

The most difficult aspect of the crossing was definitely the conditions in the water. The cold made my whole body shiver from start to finish. Physically, it was quite a challenge, but the mental endurance required was even greater. I had to keep my stroke rhythm the whole time and not give in when my body started sending signals of fatigue.

The equipment performed flawlessly. The key is having comfortable goggles that don’t cause any additional discomfort.

Editor’s note: Kuba swam across the Gulf of Gdańsk in Vortex Mirror goggles.

Why is it worth doing the crossing under the guidance of an experienced long-distance swimmer? Does it give you a sense of safety both before and during the swim?

Doing the crossing under the guidance of an experienced open-water swimmer gives you a huge sense of security. An experienced swimmer can advise you on how to handle difficult situations and provide accurate tips. Thanks to that, you can focus on the swimming itself and draw satisfaction from it, instead of worrying about potential mistakes with nutrition or your swimming during the attempt.

Do you plan to use this experience to promote swimming and raise awareness about water safety, and what lessons from this project can help with that?

I want to use this experience to promote swimming and safety in and around the water. I want to show that you can take on challenges, but only when you are properly prepared, have the right equipment and can count on the support of experienced people.

I hope that my experience will encourage others to be active in the water and will teach them how important it is to prepare properly under the guidance of a coach.

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Interview by: Maciej Mazerant / Managing Editor of AQUA SPEED Magazine

Photos: courtesy of Baltic Sea Beast