The SwimSwam Podcast

https://feed.podbean.com/swimswam/feed.xml

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

Episodes

Thursday Dec 03, 2020

SSPC: Can the ISL be Profitable?

Thursday Dec 03, 2020

We sat down with Torrey Hart, former SwimSwam writer and now full-time sports journalist at Front Office Sports. Torrey wrote a massive piece breaking down the business side of ISL at the conclusion of Season 2, and if you haven't read it yet, DO SO NOW! Then we can really have a conversation.

We break down how the ISL ran things in their first 2 seasons, including their inability to pay all of their debts right away. We talk through both sides of the coin as well as moving forward, what the league can do to turn a profit and really start to turn swimming into a legitimate professional sport. Because let's be honest: as swim fans, that's all we really want.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Wednesday Dec 02, 2020

SSPC: George Bovell on Why a Holistic Approach to Swim is Vital to Success

Wednesday Dec 02, 2020

We sat down with Olympic medalist George Bovell to talk about his career in swimming and what he's learned since. Bovell indulged me with some stories of his swimming days, including the explanation of "the Hammer of Justice" and how it won him an Olympic bronze.

But more importantly, Bovell dives deeper into the human side of swimming (and living). Bovell explains he's traveled all across the world trying to learn the secrets to existence and divulges where people are making common mistakes in their everyday lives and how we can start to correct these in order to lead a healthier lifestyle mentally and physically.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Tuesday Dec 01, 2020

SSPC:What Made Tracy Caulkins So Dominant in So Many Events?

Tuesday Dec 01, 2020

Olympic swimming icon Tracy Caulkins (married Tracy Stockwell) won 48 U.S. National titles and broke 63 American Records (setting American Records in all 4 strokes). She was on course to medal in 7 events at the 1980 Olympic Games (which were boycotted by President Carter). Of course Tracy finally achieved her Olympic moment 4 years later at the LA Games, taking home 3 gold medals.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Monday Nov 30, 2020

SSPC: Clyde Lewis on Celebrating Your Personal Victories, Regardless of Place

Monday Nov 30, 2020

We sat down with Clyde Lewis, a world champion and commonwealth games champion who is still on the rise for team Australia. Clyde Gives a very interesting perspective, one we don't see too often in swimming: he emphasizes celebrating your personal successes rather than what place you get in a race. Clyde has gotten 3rd at a trials meet, 4th at a world championships, and was 1st seed heading into a worlds final but then didn't medal. And in every case, Clyde celebrated as someone does who won the whole event.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Sunday Nov 29, 2020

SSPC: Jordan Wilimovsky on Why Distance Races are Way More Lowkey Than Sprints

Sunday Nov 29, 2020

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.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Saturday Nov 28, 2020

SSPC: Liam Tancock on Knowing How You'll Swim Based Off a Dive-And-Glide

Saturday Nov 28, 2020

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.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Friday Nov 27, 2020

SSPC: Maggie Macneil on Converting Short Course Success to a LCM World Title

Friday Nov 27, 2020

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, observing her role models, and how she converted her short course success into the 50m pool.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Thursday Nov 26, 2020

SSPC: Olivia Smoliga Breaks Down Training, Racing in the ISL Bubble

Thursday Nov 26, 2020

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.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Wednesday Nov 25, 2020

SSPC: Robert Howard Discusses Where Swimming Goes After ISL Season 2

Wednesday Nov 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

Tuesday Nov 24, 2020

SSPC: Katie Hoff Dives Deep with New Book "Blueprint"

Tuesday Nov 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