The SwimSwam Podcast

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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

Monday Jun 28, 2021

Kaitlin Sandeno Gives Behind-the-Veil Look at 2021 Olympic Trials, DC Trident

Monday Jun 28, 2021

We sat down with Olympic medalist, DC Trident GM and on-deck host for the 2021 Olympic Trials, Kaitlin Sandeno. Anyone who has ever encountered Kaitlin knows that she is an energizing personality who is easy to be around and can get a party started. This is exactly what she was doing every night in Omaha for the first 3 weeks of June. Sandeno breaks down exactly what her day-to-day entailed during Wave I and II trials as well as what to expect from her DC Trident in season 3 of the ISL, including thoughts on her newest assistant coach, Olympic champion Cullen Jones.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Sunday Jun 27, 2021

Speedo Unveils U.S. Federation Fastskin Swimsuit

Sunday Jun 27, 2021

Courtesy of Speedo, a SwimSwam partner.

Today, Speedo USA unveiled its U.S. Federation Suit which will be worn by superstar swimmers Caeleb Dressel, Hali Flickinger, Jamal Hill, Becca Meyers, Ryan Murphy, Andrew Seliskar and Abbey Weitzeil during a huge summer of swimming.

The U.S. Federation Suit colorway will adorn both of Speedo’s cutting-edge tech race suits, Fastskin LZR Pure Intent or Fastskin LZR Pure Valor, designed by combining 20 years of performance learnings with innovative technologies and fabrics, creating the perfect suit for every type of competitive aquatics athlete.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Saturday Jun 26, 2021

Getting to Know The New FINA Executive Director Brent Nowicki

Saturday Jun 26, 2021

Brent Nowicki, the new FINA Executive Director is young, only 42 years old. He grew up an age group swimmer, a breaststroker, in the United States and played DI lacrosse at Fairfield University before receiving his Juris Doctor degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

When SwimSwam captured this interview Brent had only been on the job eight days. Despite his youthful age, Brent is stepping into the chief executive position with respectable experience across many international federations. He's the former Managing Counsel at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). I asked around, and leaders I trust in swimming felt he could've gone down a few different career paths. They felt we're lucky to have him. I hope they are correct.

Off camera the message from Brent was clear. Under his leadership swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming will experience more transparency, engagement, and communication from FINA, our international governing body. From my experience with FINA that would be a 180 degree turn from the policy of the former executive director, Cornel Marculescu of Romania, who held the position for 35 years.

We obviously captured the interview at U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha. While Brent's first aquatic trip as ED was to the United States, that was simply because of timing. U.S. Trials was the first big event to see elites and governance in action since he assumed the position. Brent will be on the road a lot this year, seeing aquatic sports federations around world.

The interview came together last minute thanks Dale Neuburger, former FINA Vice President, now FINA Treasurer. I've known Dale for many years. He is a tough leader. He lets you know where he stands, and he lets you always know where you stand with him. To Dale's credit, he headed the search committee that landed Brent, and it's seem clear Dale's mission was to find a youthful, energetic executive.

I didn't grill Brent. He's too new to the gig, but I had to at least ask Dale about the complicated relationship between FINA and the International Swimming League (ISL). I thought Dale would respond "no comment" for a variety of reasons, but he didn't flinch, and, in fact, had quite a bit to say. Watch to the end. Dale's forthcoming and clear on the topic.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Friday Jun 25, 2021

James Magnussen Previews Australia vs. USA's Biggest 2021 Olympic Matchups

Friday Jun 25, 2021

We sat down with world champion, Olympic medalist, and now Australian commentator James Magnussen, who was calling the races poolside in Adelaide at the 2021 Australian Olympic Trials. James gives us insight into what he saw from the Aussie team at Trials we all we his biggest USA vs. AUS matchups heading into the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. Magnussen's must-see in Tokyo is Ledecky vs. Titmus, where the two distance juggernauts will go head-to-head in 3 events: 200, 400, and 800 free. We also touch on sprinting aces Caeleb Dressel and Kyle Chalmers going at it in the 100 free as well as current world record-holder Kaylee McKeown racing former fastest-ever in the 100 back, Regan Smith.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Wednesday Jun 23, 2021

Hunter Armstrong Talks Journey From Being Last in Practice to 2021 Olympian

Wednesday Jun 23, 2021

One of USA's newest Olympians from last week's trials was Hunter Armstrong, the 20-year-old Ohio native who swims for Ohio State. Armstrong is a self-titled "late bloomer" and until high school would often be last in practice, getting beat by male and female teammates alike. Armstrong talks about his journey through this stage and eventually reaching the next level, his motivation being getting to go to a training trip with his team in Florida (Video from 2019 Summer Jr Nationals).

Since then, Armstrong's star has continued to rise, swimming well for West Virginia his freshman season, then transferring to Ohio State to be closer to home and having continued success during the NCAA season his sophomore year (2020-2021). During long course season of this year, he went to the pro swim in Indianapolis and dropped a 53.7 100m back, a PR by 1 second. Armstrong came into the 2021 US Olympic trials with a ton of momentum and it paid off, making the 2021 Olympic team by touching 2nd in the 100 back with a huge personal best of 52.4.

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Tuesday Jun 22, 2021

Peter Andrew Explains M. Andrew's Taper Process Leading into Olympic Trials

Tuesday Jun 22, 2021

We sat down with newly named Olympic coach Peter Andrew, father of Michael Andrew who also just made his first Olympic team. Peter walks us through the process of tapering Michael for Trials and how they decided on his event lineup in Omaha. He also talks about what went well in training for them in the months leading up to Trials and what they expect heading into the Tokyo Olympic Games.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Saturday Jun 19, 2021

2021 US Olympic Trials Roundup Night 6

Saturday Jun 19, 2021

Day 6 was short and sweet, seeing a few new Olympians and quite a few doubles. Annie Lazor made her first Olympic team after taking a break from the sport in 2016-17 as did Natalie Hinds. Michael Andrew, Chase Kalisz, Ryan Murphy, and Lilly King all added their second events for their lineups. And newbies Bryce Mefford and Erika Brown added their names for the Tokyo roster. Oh, and Caeleb Dressel broke a US Open record, as he does.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Friday Jun 18, 2021

2021 US Olympic Trials Roundup Night 5

Friday Jun 18, 2021

https://youtu.be/EDwkJz1KCNs

Night 5 continued to bring surprises in Omaha, both elating and devastating. We saw 2 US Open records from Hali Flickinger (200 fly) and Caeleb Dressel (100 free) as well as Michael Andrew become the #3 American all-time in the 200 IM. We also saw Nic Fink qualify for his first Olympic team after narrowly missing out in the 100 breast as he took a dominating win in the 200 at 2:07.55.

On the flipside, in the women's 100 free, we saw defending Olympic and world champion Simone Manuel place 9th, missing out on the final. She would later explain in an emotional press conference that she was diagnosed with Overtraining Syndrome in March and her training has been radically different since in order to accommodate this. We also saw Will Licon placed 3rd in the 200 breast by a razor-thin margin for the 2nd trials in a row, leaving him off the team.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Friday Jun 11, 2021

Breaking Down The Biggest Races of the 2021 US Olympic Trials

Friday Jun 11, 2021

We sat down with SwimSwam's Editor-in-Chief Braden Keith and SwimSwam senior writer Jared Anderson to break down the biggest races of the 2021 US Olympic Trials. We dive deep into the men's 200 IM, men's 100 free, women's 100 fly and who we think may surprise us in Omaha.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Thursday Jun 10, 2021

Maya DiRado Shares Memories From Lead-up to 2016 US Trials, Olympic Games

Thursday Jun 10, 2021

We sat down with Olympic Icon Maya DiRado to discuss how much of a roller coaster the lead-up to both the Olympic Trials and Olympic Games can be. Maya had one of the most successful Olympic performances of the 2016 Rio Games, taking home individual gold (200 back), silver (400 IM), and bronze (200 IM) while also earning gold on the 4x200 free relay. She recalls some of her best and worse moments in the weeks leading up to both Trials and the Games, from swimming in a Trials final to Olympic training camp workouts.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com