November 25, 2020
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, who knows if the ISL will be around for another season and if so what it could evolve into, but it is certainly fun to dream of how a truly professional swimming league could change the whole landscape of what a pro swimmer lifestyle looks like.
Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com
November 24, 2020
"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 great holiday gift for you swimmer, swammer of swim coach!
Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com
November 23, 2020
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 idea of working in F1 in some capacity.
Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com
November 20, 2020
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.
Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com
November 19, 2020
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 this because the circumstances at the meet were pretty bad, yet in spite of that, Nyls told himself he would still swim his very best. From that, he learned that it's not the best swimmer who always wins, but the best swimmer in the circumstances.
Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com
November 18, 2020
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.
Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com
November 17, 2020
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.
![SSPC: Lotte Friis on Putting the Pieces Together After Being Broken by Swimming]()
November 16, 2020
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 swim. Lotte gave us her ups and downs, from her Olympic medal in 2008 to being a world champion in 2009 and 2011. The title refers to her result at the 2012 Olympics, where she was sure she would win a medal no matter what but ended up finishing 5th in the 800. She said this broke her and was ready to retire. However, giving the wound a little more time, she decided to give it another go tells the audience how she was able to get back in the saddle for her 3rd Olympics.
Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com
November 15, 2020
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.
Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com
November 13, 2020
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.
Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com
