The SwimSwam Podcast

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.

USA Head Coach Braden Holloway Dissects Relay Lineups, Managing Athlete Doubles/Triples

SwimSwam spoke with team USA head coach Braden Holloway directly after the conclusion of the 2022 Short Course World Championships in Melbourne as he was walking back to his hotel. Holloway spoke to USA's resiliency, noting that even when things weren't going their way, the team could still put their best foot forward. He also gave the coaching rationale for the relay lineups of the mixed 4x50 medley relay as well as the men's 4x50 free relay. Notably, on that free relay, Michael Andrew was left off. Andrew split 20.3 later in the meet, a split that would have netted a medal for USA in the 4x50 free relay (they wound up 5th) had he replicated it.

42-Year-Old Nicholas Santos Reflects on World Title in Last Race of Career

Nicholas Santos made history when he took gold in the 50 fly this week by becoming the oldest swimmer to ever win a world title. Santos had said before the meet that this would be his last and he stuck to them, confirming with SwimSwam that he will be retiring. Santos explains his decision to step away from competitive swimming even though he is still very much on top in his pet event.

Jordan Crooks Went from 11 to 7 Strokes per 25 in his 50y Free This Year

We sat down with Jordan Crooks, the leading man in the 50 and 100 freestyle in the NCAA. Crooks broke down what has gone well for him this season, from confidence to completely revamping his stroke count in the 50 free. Crooks also previews what he will be looking for at the SC World Champs in Melbourne, where he was the top seed in the 100 free final and ultimately placed 7th.

Izzy Ivey Shares Perspective on Coming Home to Florida, Teri McKeever

SwimSwam sat down with 26x NCAA All-American Izzy Ivey, who recently announced her transfer to the University of Florida for her final (5th) year of eligibility. She takes us through the last 9 months of her swimming career, from taking an extended hiatus from the pool after NCAAs (and again after Teri McKeever was suspended from the Cal team for allegations of abuse) to training with Dave Durden and ultimately deciding to move to Gainesville. On the matter of Teri McKeever, Ivey says that she had a good relationship with McKeever and was shocked to find out about the allegations against her. However, Ivey was also surprised to find out that her former teammates had had such traumatic experiences with McKeever.

Zach Harting Extending US Open Taper for Surprise SC World Champs Roster Spot

SwimSwam sat down with 2020 Olympian Zach Harting, who was a last-minute addition to the US roster for the 2022 world short course championships in the 200 fly after it was revealed that Carson Foster was ineligible for the event. Harting was tapering anyway for the US Open, where he neared his PB in the 100 fly (51.9 in prelims) and took 2nd place in the 200 fly (1:57) behind his Louisville teammate, Nick Albiero. The 200 fly specialist says this works out great, as he can just stay on his taper schedule instead of heading to winter training trip with the Louisville team. 

 

Harting also discusses the difference between a taper meet with a lot of events versus just one and reveals "the Box" you get sent when you make it onto Team USA. 

SwimSwam Breakdown: US Open, Minnesota Invite, Winter Jrs, AND SC World Champs

This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we dissect the US Open and Minnesota Invite as well as preview the upcoming Winter Jr Champs East/West and Short Course World Championships.

Andreea Dragoi on Balancing Swimming & Beauty Pageants, Growing Up with David Popovici

SwimSwam sat down with the Winner of this year's Miss Ambassador and Miss California US Nation Beauty Pageants, Andreea Dragoi. The sophomore at San Jose State actually missed a 3rd beauty pageant because she was competing with her SJSU swim team at the Mizzou Invite. Dragoi takes us through her upbringing as an athlete, which evolved into solely swimming, including growing up and training with world record holder David Popovici since childhood. Dragoi started modeling in Romania but it was only in the US, once she moved to San Jose to study and swim, that she took on beauty pageants. The 20-year-old explains that they give her a sense of confidence and trust in herself, as well as a voice for her to champion important causes to her, like getting swim lessons for those with disabilities.

2x Olympian Yusra Mardini Discusses #1 Netflix Movie ”The Swimmers” About Her Life as a Refugee

Swim Swam sat down with Yusra Mardini, the Syrian Refugee that has swam at 2 Olympic games (Rio, Tokyo) as a member of the Olympic Refugee team. Mardini and her sister, Sara, are the subjects of the #1 Netflix movie "The Swimmers", which tells the story of the two crossing the Agean Sea from Turkey to Greece with 18 other refugees in a raft that is meant to hold 6-7.

 

Mardini discusses the boat trip, making and promoting "The Swimmers", and what her life looks like now after 2 Olympic Games. The now-German citizen is attending film school at the University of Southern California and swimming just for fun.