The SwimSwam Podcast

How Ruta Meilutyte Went From Finals DQ to World Record & World Title

We sat down with newly minted world champion and world record holder in the 50 breast (SCM), Ruta Meilutyte. The 2012 Olympic champion goes deep into how getting DQ'ed in the 100 Breast was a wake-up call for why she was even competing again in the first place. After getting her mind right, the breaststroke savant was back in action in the 50 breast, swimming to a world title and registering a best time and world record in the process.

How Can A Swim Coach and Their Swim Club Board Build Trust?

Renata Porter, founder of yoursportsresource.com, returns to the SwimSwam podcast. Renata’s a dedicated swim business expert with a focus on youth sports clubs. Her company provides actionable guidance and support helping swim clubs shift from old mindsets to running the club as the business that it is. We’re coming up on the end of the year—that time for New Year’s resolutions. If you're a swimming coach or a swim club board member, a great new year’s resolution would be to build more trust. The big question is how do you do that?

Ilya Kharun Breaks Down Representing Canada, World Jr Records, and 1st Worlds Medals

We sat down with World Jr Record holder and World champs medalist Ilya Kharun to discuss his 2022 Short Course World Championships performance. Kharun takes us through each of his individual swims (50, 100, 200 fly) as well as what his first experience competing for Canada was like. Kharun had thought he was eligible to compete for the USA just this summer, having been named to the USAS Jr Pan Pacs Roster. However, once it was realized by all parties that Kharun only had a Canadian passport, the decision was made for Kharun to instead represent Canada internationally. This is just in time for Swimming Canada, as Kharun will join a rising young crop of male talent that could combine for to make podium appearances on the top stages in years to come.

Chad le Clos 2.0 Looking Forward: ”The dream is to be Olympic Champion again”

We sat down with new SCM world champ in the 100 and 200 fly, Chad le Clos. The 2012 Olympic gold medalist talks us through his last 2.5 years, from Energy Standard dissolving because of COVID through being a nomad and training wherever he could to finally landing in Germany with Dirk Lange. Le Clos emphasizes how much of a difference it has made in having a steady training base. He also alludes to difficulties outside of the pool setting him back in early 2021 and affecting his performances through the 2022 Commonwealth Games. After his two wins in Melbourne, however, le Clos 2.0's confidence is sky-high. He is not only predicting podium finishes in the world champs to come but PBs at the Paris Olympic Games as well.

Daniel Wiffen on Being First Irishman to Own European Record, Skipping SC Worlds, Swim Vlog

Daniel Wiffen is the first man from Ireland to ever own a European record in swimming. He broke it last week in the 800 SCM free, going a time of 7:25.96. Wiffen talks us through racing at the Scottish/Irish Championships, winning a medal at the Commonwealth Games, and training at the University of Loughborough.

Javier Acevedo on Development of Canadian Men, Being a Team Swiss Army Knife

We sat down with recent SC Worlds medalist Javier Acevedo to discuss his last few years in the pool. After finishing his time at Georgia, Javi got the chance to compete for the LA Current in the ISL, where Marsh continued the trend that UGA's Jack Bauerle had started of using the Canadian as a breaststroker. Javi has continued to hone his versatility, culminating in a silver medal in the 100 IM last week in Melbourne. Acevedo is very excited to keep striving to improve heading into Fukuoka and Paris with the young core that the Canadian men are developing. Acevedo is high on their chances to not only build a stronger relay culture in Canada but vie for medals on the international stage.

Isaac Cooper Details Emotional Roller Coaster SC World Champs, Coming Out On Top

We sat down with world champion and world record holder Isaac Cooper to get his perspective on the 2022 short course world championships. Cooper had a roller coaster of a meet, starting things off with surprise medals in the 100 back and 4x50 medley relay and even a shocking win in the 4x50 free relay. In the 50 back, Cooper was the top seed headed into finals and initially swam the fastest time in the final before a re-swim was called for due to a starting error. In the re-swim, Cooper placed 2nd. The young aussie details how this affected him and how he was able to bounce back and perform for the 4x100 medley relay, which went onto not only tie for gold with the US, but break the world record as well. 

Kyle Chalmers on the Motivation and Sacrifice it Takes to Become World Champion

We sat down with newly crowned world champion Kyle Chalmers to dissect his performances at the short course world championships. Chalmers breaks down his historic swims and the pressure of racing on home soil. The Olympic champion is currently getting a week of training under his belt with fellow Icon and world-topper, Adam Peaty. Chalmers says they are wired similarly and it's been a great learning experience training with him. 

Short Course World Champs DEEP Dive | SWIMSWAM BREAKDOWN

This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we do a deep dive into the swims and history made at the 2022 Short Course World Championships in Melbourne.

Ryan Lochte is Back With A Very Busy 2023 Ahead

Married with two children and a third on the way in June, Ryan Lochte is already busy, but he has a lot more planned for the year ahead. The 12-time Olympic medalist recently signed with Excel Sports Management, a powerhouse agency repping Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, and Taylor Swift. Ryan’s signed an endorsement with an Italian shoe company riddickshoes.com, he’s the ambassador of a new swimming meet billed as the International Age Group Championships, and he’s launching his own swim camp series he’s calling 1:54. Is Ryan actively training now with plans for a run at the 2024 Olympic Trials? I asked him that a few times, in a few different ways. The short answer is no. Ryan’s on a break, but it does sound like he’s leaving the door open to competing. Ryan’s mostly excited about his swim camp series, "1:54", named after his 200 IM world record time earned going head-to-head with Michael Phelps. His camps are geared toward kids 10-16 years old with an interest in working through the fundamentals of all four strokes. If you haven’t been on deck with Ryan hosting a camp, it’s worth checking out. He’s energetic, certainly in the water with lots of demonstrations, and he’s fun. 1:54 swim camp dates are TBA. Go to the website prosportlive.com and email Ryan to get on their list for future dates. Lastly, Ryan’s back on TV in a new reality series, The Traitors, streaming on Peacock. The series debuts on January 12th, so save the date. This 10-episode series was captured back in May of 2022. The action and drama goes down in a remote castle in the Scottish Highlands, where contestants compete in a game of alliances and deception for a chance to win $250,000.