We sat down with Jordan Wilimovsky , the laid back distance ace based in California. Jordan talked us through distance training during quarantine and where he's at in the pool right now. He gets into what it's like being at a national team camp with all kinds of athletes and what he learns from sprinters, then compares that to what makes distance races seem more manageable. Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Click here to listen and...
Nov 29, 2020•37 min•Ep. 345
We sat down with Liam Tancock , the 2-time world champion and former world record holder in the 50 backstroke. Tancock takes us through his path of unorthodox training with former teammate turned coach James Gibson (now head coach of Energy Standard) as well as his taper meet ritual: a dive-and-glide that told him everything he needed to know about how he was going to swim at that meet. Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Click here ...
Nov 28, 2020•40 min•Ep. 344
We sat down with Canadian world champion and NCAA standout for the Michigan Wolverines, Maggie Macneil . Macneil took us through what her quarantine period looked like from training in London (her hometown in Canada) to Toronto to finally making her way back to Ann Arbor. Macneil also shares her experience at the 2019 World Championships, where she won the 100 fly individually and helped Canada to 2 bronze medals in the 4x100 free and medley relays. Macneil walks through managing nerves, observi...
Nov 27, 2020•36 min•Ep. 343
We sat down with ISL Champion and FINIS athlete Olivia Smoliga to get the inside scoop into the Cali Condor secret sauce. Smoliga took us through the entire ISL bubble from start to finish, including the learning curve both physically and emotionally. She also shared her hardest workouts in Budapest as well as the energy in which the condors created to be able to go undefeated throughout the entire season. Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple ...
Nov 26, 2020•37 min•Ep. 342
We sat down with Robert Howard to discuss his ISL experience with the DC Trident in the Budapest Bubble. Howard talked through what the ISL is hoping to accomplish, namely bringing a level of excitement and professionalism to swimming. Howard explains this would require change if the ISL were to become a real model for professional swimming, change like moving away from your college coach to train with your team once you've exhausted your NCAA eligibility, much like football or basketball. Now, ...
Nov 25, 2020•33 min•Ep. 341
"Blueprint" is a candid account of the extraordinary life and athletic journey of one of America's greatest athletes and a champion in every way--the remarkable two-time Olympian Katie Hoff . As a young swimmer growing up in Maryland, I was so fortunate to see first-hand the grace of Katie in and out of the pool. Her honesty and passion about her sporting and personal life shine through the pages of this well-written book, making it a must-read." November 27th you can buy Blueprint HERE , a grea...
Nov 24, 2020•34 min•Ep. 340
We sat down with Andrew Wilson , one of America's top breaststroker's to talk about... well a lot of stuff. Wilson takes us through his COVID training when he swam in an 18-yard pool all the way up to the US Open, where he threw down a couple of races that put everyone on notice. With Wilson's rapid rise to US National Team member, I forget that he went to Emory and is very intelligent. He reminded me of this when he talks about his plans for this fall: going to Oxford for grad school with the i...
Nov 23, 2020•52 min•Ep. 339
We sat down with the voice of ISL Season 2, Bernie Guenther, to talk ISL Final predictions. The bottom line is this: any of the 4 teams in the finale could end up crowned ISL champions by the end of the weekend, depending on a few very important factors. Bernie takes us through each team's strengths and weaknesses and points out what must go right for the Cali Condors, Energy Standard, London Roar, and LA Current if they are to have a shot at earning the title of ISL Champions. Click here to lis...
Nov 20, 2020•46 min•Ep. 338
I sat down with NCAA All-American from NC State Nyls Korstanje , who is currently at home training in the Netherlands. Nyls has gone a few personal bests in his last few competitions and relates to us how his training and racing are going back in the Netherlands. He also tells a story from the European Youth Olympic Festival, a meet that had a big impact on his career. Nyls said going into the meet, he did not have too many expectations but came out winning the 50 free. He said he was able to do...
Nov 19, 2020•40 min•Ep. 337
I sat down with distance savant Bobby Finke to talk about what has been going so right for him in the pool lately. We saw Finke absolutely destroy the American and US Open records last year in the 1,650, registering a mind-blowing 14:12. Well, good news for swim fans: he's only gotten better since then. Finke tells us what his quarantine period looked like and what training has been like since getting back to Gainesville, including a set of 9x1000 where he surprised even himself on the last one....
Nov 18, 2020•31 min•Ep. 336
Four-time Olympic medalist, two-time Olympic champion Cullen Jones gets raw and real in this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast. Cullen has enjoyed many highs and some tough lows. In this interview Cullen shares how Coach Bob Bowman , David Marsh and his own mother called him out in brutally honest ways during one of his lows, when, frankly, his grit for training didn't match his talent. Bowman delivered his message - his wisdom - as they watched the final Cullen missed from the stands. Click ...
Nov 17, 2020•47 min•Ep. 335
https://youtu.be/Cgc1VjFy5z4 I sat down with 3-time Olympian and World Champion Lotte Friis. Lotte was always one of my favorite swimmers outside of the pool for how gracefully she carried herself and presented herself in interviews. We started by talking about what Lotte's doing now, which is interviewing people for a living on a Danish radio station. Lotte talks about how much she loves hearing others' stories, no matter their walk of life or background. We then got into Lotte's own story with...
Nov 16, 2020•49 min•Ep. 334
I sat down with Ting Quah, 2-time Olympian for Singapore, UCLA All-American, and older sister to Zheng Quah (Cal) and Jing Quah (Texas A&M). Ting Quah explains the important perspective she gained from the ISL as an "older" swimmer as well as how the rooming with her sister at the 2019 World Championships gave them an opportunity to grow their relationship outside of the pool. Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Click here to lis...
Nov 15, 2020•57 min•Ep. 333
I sat down with Olympic champion and sprint savant Abbey Weitzeil , who is getting ready for the ISL semi-finals. Weitzeil broke down just about every aspect of living and racing in the ISL bubble, from adjusting to SCM to managing racing back-to-back meets. She shares the difference between tapering for a meet like NCAAs or Olympic Trials and "preparing" and properly resting for the ISL post-season. Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcas...
Nov 13, 2020•34 min•Ep. 332
I sat down with Olympic champion and distance machine, Mack Horton . Mack is one of the most relaxed guys I've had the pleasure of talking to, often cracking jokes and laughing throughout the interview. He's also able to laugh at himself quite a bit, admitting where he's made mistakes during his long swimming journey. We dissect and discuss and myriad of topics, including preparing for the 2016 Olympic Games (and his subsequent victory in the 400m free), his thoughts on ISL, distance training wi...
Nov 12, 2020•50 min•Ep. 330
USA Swimming COO Mike Unger drops in on the SwimSwam pod to talk about the 2020 Golden Goggles — streaming Nov 19th 8pm EST. This marks the 17th Goggles, and USA Swimming’s taking this opportunity to honor the 1980 Olympic Team. (For young swimmers who may not know—President Carter boycotted the 1980 Olympics. So, there was not an Olympics that year for Team USA, a sad chapter in the Olympic movement that hurt many of our most iconic swim stars.) Mike’s more than the USA swimming COO, he’s a bit...
Nov 11, 2020•37 min•Ep. 331
I sat down with my followed mustached Coleman, the one who swims way faster than I do, Coleman Stewart . Coleman seems to have found his rhythm in both short course meters and racing the best in the world inside the ISL bubble as we saw him take down Guilherme Guido in the 50 back last weekend and place 2nd in the 100 back. Stewart explains how he's been able to move through this transition period and learn every step of the way, especially considering this is his first season as a professional ...
Nov 11, 2020•27 min•Ep. 329
I sat down with Kennedy Noble , the #9 recruit in the class of 2022 . Noble talks about what made her fall in love with swimming... and what didn't. She actually quit for a period when she was young because she wasn't enjoying it, but later came back with a new attitude and new coach. Noble also takes us through what having a mom who was in the UFC is like. Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Click here to listen and subscribe on Pod...
Nov 10, 2020•46 min•Ep. 327
I sat down with Grace Sheble , the #3 recruit in the class of 2021 . Grace, an NC State commit along with her sister Caroline , talks about the dynamic between her and her sister and how swim affects that. Grace says they have a special bond where they can both be the leader and the follower; that both roles are played by both sisters. Check out Mat Talk with Jason Bryant here. Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Click here to listen...
Nov 09, 2020•33 min•Ep. 328
I sat down with Mat Talk 's Jason Bryant, who takes the time to track all cut and newly introduced collegiate teams in the NCAA so you don't have to. He broke down the whys and why not have any given university cutting a sports team and how the global COVID-19 pandemic has affected these rates. Bryant also gives ideas and possible solutions for what teams can do to be proactive in avoiding their teams going on the chopping block. Check out Mat Talk with Jason Bryant here. Click here to listen an...
Nov 06, 2020•42 min•Ep. 326
I sat down with New York Breakers star Michael Andrew , who got into where he's at in the ISL bubble. Andrew was raw and didn't sugar-coat his analysis: he's not where he wants to be. He's gotten better each time he's raced, but quarantine certainly had an effect on his training, especially considering racing IS a big part of his training. Michael even looks past ISL, saying he doesn't just want to be a 50 guy heading into the 2021 Olympic Trials. Andrew vows to put in a block of work come the n...
Nov 05, 2020•29 min•Ep. 325
I sat down with Energy Standard butterflier Madeline Banic . Banic has had a really interesting last few years, especially considering that she basically retired, then 3 months later decided she still wanted to keep swimming, and now is competing at the highest international level. Even just weeks ago, Banic admits she had reached out to a lot of different ISL teams but most weren't even interested. However, Energy Standard took a chance on her and it has paid off . After Sarah Sjostrom was anno...
Nov 05, 2020•30 min•Ep. 324
I sat down with a longtime friend, a coach with a wealth of knowledge who just became the first female head coach of a super-club within USA Swimming: Megan Oesting . Megan was recently announced as the head coach of SwimMAC Carolina , my old swim club. This is a big position and I think Megan's ready to take the reigns. She talks us through her coaching philosophy that she's been developing in Iowa for years, letting us know how all swimmers are connected and what they need to do in order to im...
Nov 04, 2020•44 min•Ep. 323
Five-time Olympic gold medalist, Missy Franklin , was featured in People Magazine where she was quoted: “...my shoulders are in so much pain that I can maybe hop in the pool and swim easy for 20, 30 minutes, but that’s about as much as my old broken shoulders can handle at this point.” SwimSwam picked up the story and ran a report . The deluge of traffic made me worry the site might crash. It didn't, but I couldn't figure out what the fuss was all about. Missy's shoulder problems was old news, a...
Nov 04, 2020•30 min•Ep. 322
We sat down with Energy Standard head coach James Gibson to talk about managing the best athletes in the world. James talks about finding the right fit for each athlete in his training group and how that can look very different from athlete to athlete. What isn't different, though, is that when they come to Gloria Sports Arena in Turkey to train, it's all business. Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Click here to listen and subscrib...
Nov 03, 2020•25 min•Ep. 321
We sat down with Shane Ryan , the NCAA All-American from Penn State who swims for Ireland and now the Toronto Titans. Ryan admitted that he was actually thriving during quarantine, having a lot of time to focus on his body and training. He lifted and rode a stationary bike for 3+ hours per day, noting that if he felt like pushing it more and doing extra, he wasn't shy about doing so. Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Click here to ...
Nov 03, 2020•36 min•Ep. 320
We sat down with Kasia Wasick , the woman who has been making serious waves in the ISL sprints. Most recently, yesterday she threw down a 23.30, making her the #6 performer all-time in the event . Kasia takes us through her career, including going to 3 different Olympic Games, being coached by her brother, swimming for USC, retiring, then coming back and training with UNLV and rising to spring prominence in the ISL. Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify Click here to listen and subscribe...
Nov 02, 2020•49 min•Ep. 319
We sat down with Olympic Champ Ryan Murphy , who so far in the ISL has been the top money earner after being the only athlete to win 2 rounds of skins this season. Murphy talked about his process of adjusting to and dialing in short course meters. He explains that he expects to get better and better as the season goes because of the process he and his coach, Dave Durden , tend to follow. Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Click here...
Nov 01, 2020•35 min•Ep. 318
We sat down with 7 athletes (6 swimmers, one diver) and 1 coach from Neuqua Valley high school, who just won their sectional meet with flying colors. The girls discuss how hard it was getting through a high school season with COVID-19 restrictions, especially in terms of bonding as a team. Rachel Stege , McKenna Stone , Megan Ciezczak , and more give their testaments to how much work they put into growing outside of the pool as a team, and how it paid off at the end of the season. Click here to ...
Oct 31, 2020•33 min•Ep. 317
We sat down with Oberlin College head coach Alex de la Pena to discuss how quarantine is affecting colleges, and collegiate swim programs, at the DIII level. Alex describes what his team is doing to incorporate the dryland they were forced to do during quarantine back into the water as well as how they can keep the dryland for more effective swimming. He also touches on the academic balance with being a student-athlete during the pandemic and what that looks like from a day-to-day perspective fo...
Oct 30, 2020•28 min•Ep. 316
