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

Friday May 21, 2021

Hugo Gonzalez Breaks Down 100 Back (Silver)/200 IM (Gold) Day 4 Finals Session

Friday May 21, 2021

Hugo Gonzalez continued to perform unbelievably in Budapest, closing in a scintillating 27.76 to win the men’s 200 IM in a time of 1:56.76. Gonzalez demolishes his Spanish Record (1:58.03) by well over a second in 1:56.76, and falls just a tenth shy of the nine-year-old Championship Record. The 22-year-old now ranks fifth in the 2020-21 world rankings. This came after claiming silver in the men's 100 back just an hour prior in a new PR of 52.90.

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Thursday May 20, 2021

3x Euro Champ Kolesnikov on 100Free/Back Double: "I'm not a robot... or Michael Phelps"

Thursday May 20, 2021

Heading into day 3 of the European Championships, Kliment Kolesnikov had already won 2 gold medals in the 4x100 free relay (Russia) and 50 back (world record, 23.80). He swam 52.2 in the prelims of the 100 back, seeding him first by over 1 second. In finals, he swam the 100 free, touching first in 47.37, a new meet record. 15 minutes later he was back in the pool for the semi-final of the 100 back. He would’ve qualified first for the 100 back final with his prelim time, but with the quick turnaround, he wasn't able to equal his morning effort and finished 16th in 54.86, missing the final altogether.

Kolesnikov is candid about his double, admitting he is human and that quick of a turnaround is not something he trains for often. He did look on the bright side and say it was good experience, and moving forward he can adjust his training to be better prepared for races like that in the future.

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Wednesday May 19, 2021

Director Brian Tremml, Star Tom Wilkens Discuss Making of The Water is My Sky

Wednesday May 19, 2021

THE WATER IS MY SKY dives deep into the world of elite competitive swimming through the lives of three swimmers- Tom Wilkens, Connor Jaeger, and Taylor Garcia- swept up in the hunt for a shot at Olympic glory. As they endure heartbreaking setbacks and soaring triumphs, each swimmer grapples with the underlying meaning behind their pursuit, revealing the true spirit of ordinary individuals chasing extraordinary dreams.

Virtual Premiere:

"Swim Club Screening Week" is a ten-day virtual premiere of The Water Is My Sky. The film will be made available to rent and stream via the platform Eventive from May 21-31. The film is teaming up with swim clubs in order to help promote the premiere--over 80 swim clubs are participating in the premiere as hosts of the film, and each will be receiving a portion of the proceeds.

The film will be available on additional platforms later in the summer.

LINK TO PRE-ORDER VIRTUAL PREMIERE:

https://watch.eventive.org/waterismysky/play/60982cf05189ab0092b6fc9b

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Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Tuesday May 18, 2021

Jack Alexy Talks Training Camp in Florida Ahead of Olympic Trials

Tuesday May 18, 2021

We sat down with Jack Alexy, the top-20 recruit and Cal-commit that just put on a show at the 2021 YMCA Festival. Alexy broke down his performances at the YMCA Festival and how his training has been affected in the last year. He also explained that he and teammate Matt Fallon are training in Florida in the lead-up to the 2021 Olympic Trials.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Monday May 17, 2021

Natalie Hinds Feels Calm as She Drops PR's in Atlanta Leading into Trials

Monday May 17, 2021

Natalie Hinds dropped best times in both the 100 fly (58.6) and 100 free (54.2) at the Atlanta Classic this weekend and is feeling good about Olympic Trials. This is the 3rd year of Hinds' comeback, having left the sport after Olympic Trials in 2016 and coming back in the fall of 2018.

Sunday May 16, 2021

Ryan Murphy Describes Why He Enjoys the Roller Coaster of Taper

Sunday May 16, 2021

Ryan Murphy took the 100 and 200 backstrokes easily this weekend in Atlanta, logging times of 52.9 and 1:56.1, a good spot for him heading into taper. A seasoned veteran in the sport, Murphy discusses why he likes taper, even when it can come with more extreme highs and lows than the normal season.

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Friday May 14, 2021

Michael Andrew Breaks Down US Open Record of 58.67 in the 100m Breast

Friday May 14, 2021

Michael Andrew followed up his prelim PB in a big way, setting a new U.S. Open Record in the men’s 100 breaststroke in 58.67, just .03 shy of the American Record set by Kevin Cordes in 2017 (58.64).

The previous U.S. Open Record was set by Cordes at the 2017 U.S. World Trials in 58.74. Andrew’s swim is also another Pro Swim Series Record after he lowered it down to 58.82 in the prelims. The previous mark belonged to Adam Peaty at 58.86. Compared to his morning swim, Andrew was out .13 faster tonight in 27.32, and back .02 quicker in 31.35. Andrew now moves up fourth in the world rankings for 2020-21, leading the next-fastest American (Andrew Wilson, 59.58) by a full nine tenths of a second.

Thursday May 13, 2021

Sports Icon Mark Spitz Shares His Wisdom On The Mind Of An Olympic Champion

Thursday May 13, 2021

Mark Spitz, the greatest Olympian of all-time from 1972 to 2008, has been gracious with his time on the SwimSwam Podcast. Ahead of the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo he has shared many stories, his wisdom, and his humor. Our younger Olympic fans probably know his name and understand he's important, but they may not know the context of his career and how central he has been to swimming's success over the last five decades. While swimming has produced many, many star Olympians, Mark was the first true Olympic icon, globally famous, and he drove our swimming registration. I was a child of the 1970s, and when I started swimming, I dreamed of Olympic success because of his story and his immense achievement, winning seven gold medals (breaking seven world records) at the 1972 Olympic Games.

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Wednesday May 12, 2021

Sarah Thompson on Mandatory Celebrations at Mizzou Friday "Ambush" Practices

Wednesday May 12, 2021

All-American Sarah Thompson is returning for a fifth year with the Missouri Tigers next season, per a release from the school. Thompson, a versatile sprinter, has been an invaluable member of the Mizzou roster the last couple of seasons. She recently placed third at the 2021 NCAA Championships in the 50 free, hitting a lifetime best and Mizzou team record of 21.42, and she chipped in a 10th-place finish in the 100 back. At NCAAs, she was also 21.2 on Mizzou’s fourth-place 200 free relay and 22.4 swimming fly on their 10th-place 200 medley relay. Their finish in the 200 free relay matched a program record for NCAA relay finishes.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Tuesday May 11, 2021

Anthony Ervin Discusses Olympic Podium Protests

Tuesday May 11, 2021

Anthony Ervin, the oldest individual Olympic gold medalist in swimming history, is savoring his last run-up to U.S. Olympic Trials. At 40 years old, his experience is unique, and, personally, very meaningful. He laughed at my 50m free prediction game video, but he appreciated that I forecasted him under 22 seconds. Anthony isn't sure he'll be under 22 seconds at U.S. Olympic Trials, but he did share that he's feeling moments of that familiar-sprint-flow in training with Coach David Marsh.

I asked Anthony to come on the SwimSwam Podcast to discuss the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Rule 50 recommendations, which were recently released. It is the hot-button issue right now---centered around Olympic Podium Protests. In a respectful way as an Olympic statesman, Anthony publicly pushed back a bit on his Instagram account. He felt the need to make his voice heard. Anthony unpacks his thoughts in detail on this topic.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com