A lot of women don't like getting their hair wet so they swim a very gentle version of breaststroke. I call it the grandma stroke. My mum's the same - her aim is to get to the other end of the pool without getting her perm wet, but if you want to look like a pro you have to stretch as far as you can with your arms and that automatically forces your head into the water.

People think breaststroke is easy, but because the timing is so crucial it's actually one of the hardest strokes to get right, on a par with butterfly. One part of your body is always recovering while the other is working. As you kick your legs you should be reaching with your arms, as you pull back with your arms, your legs are getting back into position. Your engine's at the back, so your legs give you the initial momentum which your arms then maintain.

You can break a stroke down to improve it before your holidays. Hold a float (gripping the front so it doesn't flip up) and work on your kick, then place the float between your knees and practise your pull, you'll make slow progress but it'll even out your stroke. A very common mistake, which we're trying to train our daughter out of now, is letting your hands go past your shoulders. As soon as you do that your head is forced down in the water which in turn forces your body down rather than propelling you forward. Swimming is all about physics; you need to push the water backwards to move forwards.

A good dive's definitely the most elegant way to enter the pool. To reduce your splash you need to think of yourself entering the water like an arrow. When your hands break the water you should imagine your entire body getting through that hole.

Interview by Laura Potter