The SwimSwam Podcast

SwimSwam Breakdown: ASU Pro Group, NCAA 5th Years, & The ”2-Year Taper”

This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discuss Regan Smith and others moving to ASU to train with Bob Bowman, the fairness of NCAA 5th years, and not "fully tapering" for 2 years.

Ariarne Titmus Looking to Paris: ”My motivation is better than Tokyo”

We sat down with Ariarne Titmus, the 4x gold medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Titmus explains how her life has changed since the Tokyo Olympics where she won 2 gold medals in the 200 and 400 free, specifically how there is much more outside pressure to perform. However, Titmus says she's pretty good at blocking it out most of the time, which showed with the freestyle aces performances in the UK. Titmus successfully defended her Commonwealth titles in the 400 and 800 free as well as added 200 free gold to her resume this week. Titmus says looking toward the Paris Olympic Games, she's more motivated than ever. "I've experienced those absolute highs at the Olympics. You can't really describe it once you've experienced it and you want to experience it again and again and again. I think that's my motivator now."

Adam Peaty Describes Lows and Highs of Commonwealth Games

We sat down with Adam Peaty, the breaststroke legend that most recently has completed his long course gold medal collection with a 50 breast win at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Peaty discusses the devastation of missing the podium in the 100 breast in Birmingham and how he bounced back to not only medal in the 50 breast, but win the only title that had eluded him his entire career.

Katie Grimes on Racing Katie Ledecky, Open Water, and Not Fully Tapering Until 2024

We sat down with Katie Grimes, the youngest Olympian from the 2020 Tokyo team and most recently the double silver medal winner in Budapest. Grimes admits that while she is pleased with her two 2nd place finishes in the 400 IM and 1500, she isn't satisfied. Grimes is looking toward the 2024 Olympic Games and winning gold in Paris, with such a laser focus that she has decided with her coach, Ron Aitken, that she won't fully taper for a meet until then (not even world championships). Grimes also discusses how she improved in training and racing since last year at the Olympic Trials and the Games themself, where she placed 4th in the 800 free. The young distance swimmer has also started dipping her toes into open water, competing in the 10K in Budapest as well as preparing for the upcoming open water Jr World Champs in September.

SwimSwam Breakdown: Chalmers Media Woes, Peaty Misses Podium, & Aussie Relay WR

This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discuss Kyle Chalmers' reaction to Australian tabloid media, Adam Peaty missing a 100 breast podium for the first time in nearly a decade, and the Australian women surprise smashing the world record in the 800 free relay.

2022 Commonwealth Games SwimSwam Fantasy Draft

SwimSwam is back with the 2022 Commonwealth Games fantasy draft. Listen in as Braden, Ben, Loretta, and Coleman all try to draft the ultimate Commonwealth Games team ahead of the Games in Birmingham, which start Friday.

Bella Sims Previews Duel in the Pool Open Water Relay, Broken Individual Events

We sat down with Bella Sims, the 17-year-old Olympian who anchored USA's 800 free relay in Budapest to gold with a massive 1:54.6 split. Sims breaks down her 200 free race strategy, how she kept her cool while anchoring both prelims and finals relays, and how she prepped in training for her lone event in Budapest. Although she got 3rd in 3 different events, Sims had a great World Trials, going 4 PBs including a time trial of the 200 fly. She is following up her world champs performance with a Duel in the Pool debut, where she will be a part of the 4x800 open water relay and hopes to get the chance to swim the broken 400 and 800 free individual events.

Summer McIntosh Takes Big Meet Racing From Budapest into Birmingham

SwimSwam sat down with 15-year-old 2x world champion Summer McIntosh ahead of her Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham next week. McIntosh (pronounced Mac-In-Tosh, as told by Summer) described her mentality at the 2022 World Championships and analyzed her historic performances in the 400 free (4th woman to break 4:00, silver medal) and the 400 IM (world champion at 15 years old). Part of the young Canadian’s success is her eagerness to race the best, being energized by performing for the crowds on the biggest stages and getting to step on the blocks next to names like Katie Ledecky and Ariarne Titmus.

How Has 17-Year-Old Ksawery Masiuk Become One of the Top Backstrokers in the World?

We sat down with 3x 2022 European Jr Champ and 2022 world champs bronze medalist, Ksawery Masiuk. The 17-year-old Polish backstroke has quickly risen the ranks as one of the premier talents in the world, posting PRs in Budapest of 52.5 and 24.4 in the 100 and 50. Just days later, he turned around and won both events in Bucharest (Euro Jr Champs) as well as the 200 back (PR 1:56.6) and went a PR in the 100 free (48.3) leading off Poland's bronze medal mixed 400 free relay. Masiuk discusses what his training is like back in Warsaw, saying he typically does 5-6k per practice with a blend of 200 pace and sprint work. He also reveals that he doesn't like having time goals because it would put unnecessary pressure on himself; he just tries to have fun when he swims. Masiuk will be back in action at the 2022 European Champs in August which will take place in Rome, swimming the same lineup of 50-100 back that he did in Budapest. Masiuk plans to attend NC State in the United States, but not until after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

SwimSwam Breakdown: Comm Games, Duel in the Pool, and NCAA Transfers

This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discuss the upcoming Commonwealth Games entry lists, the Duel in the Pool rosters for both USA and Australia, and Olympian Emma Weyant potentially leaving Virginia.