Meet our Guides
Meet the fantastic team of guides who bring your SwimTrek experience to life.
Jess Clare
Swim History Before SwimTrek
A lifelong swimmer I competed in the pool as a teenager before transition to open water and triathlon. I've since swum the English channel and Lake Zurich as a relay and the Corsica to Sardinia crossing solo. I'm forever in awe of the sea and the magic it holds.
Most Memorable Swim Moment
Arriving on the beach in Sardinia - having swum from Corsica.
Top Swimming Tip
Relax! Always try to swim long and strong.
Interesting Fact About You
I'm a twin!
Javier Fernandez Oubina
Swim History Before SwimTrek
I have been connected to swimming since a very young age, I feel at home in the water. After discovering open water swimming, I can’t get enough of it.
Most Memorable Swim Moment
I used to swim in the bay of Cascais, near Lisbon. One day, after a long afternoon swim, we saw an amazing sunset over the ocean, full of color. I will always remember that day.
Top Swimming Tip
You should adapt your strokes to the conditions of the sea. When there are waves and currents, your strokes should be quicker for stability and momentum; in calm water, they become longer, smoother and more powerful.
Interesting Fact About You
I am a musician and a music teacher. I have played the violin professionally and also know many songs on the guitar. I am always up for a tune!
Shaun Jessop
Swim History Before SwimTrek
I grew up in Scarborough, UK learning to swim in cold ocean pools and the North Sea! I stopped swimming in my teens, teaching swimming whilst at university in Nottingham. After emigrating to Australia in my 30s, I rediscovered my passion for open water and joined surf lifesaving clubs and adult swim squads, where was surrounded by amazing people training for unbelievable events. I'm not a natural sprinter, so the longer the swim event the better for me. I’ve also just learnt to freedive so I can actually stop and take some time to see and enjoy everything else that's in the oceans with us!
Most Memorable Swim Moment
Finishing your first long distance swim is always incredible, especially as I was never 100% sure I'd make the distance, so standing up again after 6 hours was incredible.
Top Swimming Tip
Consistency in training and preparation beats everything else. Even after a break, just 3 consecutive days of short swims lifts you up!
Interesting Fact About You
I was part of the team competing in the first episode of Fort Boyard in France when Channel 5 launched!
Evelien Harrison
Swim History Before SwimTrek
I have been sea swimming since 2012 when I set myself the goal to swim from the island of Guernsey to the island of Herm, a distance of 5km with very strong tides. I managed to swim it that year with lots of breaststroke (having not done any pool training since I was small) and have since done the Herm crossing several times and much quicker! I always try and find a swim spot somewhere and love a swimming holiday!
Most Memorable Swim Moment
Swimming the arctic circle at midnight from Finland to Sweden with the sun never fully setting was very special!
Top Swimming Tip
Enjoy the moment, don’t focus too much on distance and speed!
Interesting Fact About You
I used to do synchronised swimming as a kid!
Mladen Ilic
Swim History Before SwimTrek
Lifelong open-water swimmer from Boka Bay. Triathlete since 2013, racing from sprint to Ironman distance (4 Ironman finishes). Former lifeguard and water polo player, experienced in sea safety and guiding groups in open water.
Most Memorable Swim Moment
swimming the Ironman Barcelona 2018. We faced severe weather, with strong winds and waves around 2–3 meters high, making it an unforgettable open-water experience.
Top Swimming Tip
Stay relaxed and respect the water. Focus on calm breathing, good body position, and sighting — the sea always gives back if you swim with it, not against it.
Interesting Fact About You
I grew up swimming in the Boka Bay and later completed four Ironman races — combining a lifelong love for the sea with extreme endurance challenges.
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