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

Thursday Jul 15, 2021

Liam Custer on Stanford Commit, Ascent to Class of 2022's Top Distance Star

Thursday Jul 15, 2021

We sat down with Liam Custer, our #3 ranked recruit in the boys' high school class of 2022. Custer made big news last week when he announced his verbal commitment to Stanford in conjunction with our #2 recruit, Josh Zuchowski. Custer explains what went into that decision and why he and Josh wanted to commit at the same time.

Custer also goes into detail about training during the COVID pandemic and the improvements he's made in the last year, which are substantial ones on paper.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Wednesday Jul 14, 2021

Gabe Castaño on Tying Olympic 'A' Cut On 5th Attempt of Last Possible Weekend

Wednesday Jul 14, 2021

We sat down with Gabe Castaño, the Penn State grad who recently tied the Olympic 'A' cut in the 50 free with a 22.01 at the Swim Meet of Champions in Mission Viejo, California. Castaño describes his Olympic qualification in detail, from going to the Mare Nostrum tour and racing for 10 days in Europe (and not achieving the A standard) to going to California as a last chance effort and racing the 50 5 times over the course of the weekend, only to tie the A cut in his time trial (50 #5) on the last day of the Olympic qualification period.

Castaño also takes us through his humble beginnings in swimming, as he was a late bloomer who didn't start swimming seriously until high school but went on to become an NCAA All-American for Penn State.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Monday Jul 12, 2021

Josh Zuchowski on Stanford Commit with Liam Custer, Having His Dad as His Coach

Monday Jul 12, 2021

We sat down with Josh Zuchowski, the #2 ranked recruit in the class of 2022. Zuchowski just verbally committed to Stanford along with #3 in their class, Liam Custer. Josh explains what went into this decision and his reaction to the SwimSwam commentor's reactions. We also get deep in the weeds on Zuchowski's swimming background, including what it has meant to have his father as his coach since he was 11.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Monday Jul 12, 2021

Ron Aitken Describes 1500 for Time After 70k Training Week at Olympic Camp

Monday Jul 12, 2021

We sat down with Ron Aitken, the head coach of the Sandpipers of Nevada, the club team that has 4 current or former swimmers on the 2021 Olympic team. Aitken goes into full detail on what his 3 distance girls have been doing at the Olympic Training Camp (which he got to attend and coach at) in Hawaii. This includes a 1500 for time on a Saturday afternoon (2nd practice of the day) after hitting 70k during the week.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Sunday Jul 11, 2021

2021 Olympic Media Day - Press Conference: Smith, Ledecky, King

Sunday Jul 11, 2021

The 2021 Olympic team visited with the media on Thursday from their training camp in Hawaii to chat about the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo. Regan Smith, Katie Ledecky, and Lilly King discuss topics such as being a teenager on the Olympic team, growing together as Team USA, and not having McDonald's in the Olympic village.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Sunday Jul 11, 2021

2021 Olympic Media Day - Press Conference: Manuel, Schmitt, Dressel, Murphy

Sunday Jul 11, 2021

The 2021 Olympic team visited with the media on Thursday from their training camp in Hawaii to chat about the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo. Team captains Simone Manuel, Allison Schmitt, Caeleb Dressel, and Ryan Murphy addressed topics such as leading Team USA, this team being such a young team (11 teenagers) and no fans in the stands in Tokyo.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Saturday Jul 10, 2021

2021 Olympic Media Day - Press Conference: Dave Durden, Greg Meehan

Saturday Jul 10, 2021

The 2021 Olympic team visited with the media on Thursday from their training camp in Hawaii to chat about the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo. Olympic head coaches Dave Durden and Greg Meehan discuss how training camp has gone thus far, what they've seen from certain athletes that looks promising, and much more.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Saturday Jul 10, 2021

2021 Olympic Media Day - Press Conference: Michael Andrew, Chase Kalisz

Saturday Jul 10, 2021

The 2021 Olympic team visited with the media on Thursday from their training camp in Hawaii to chat about the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo. Michael Andrew and Chase Kalisz discuss topics such as navigating through the COVID-19 protocols, embracing the pain of the 400 IM, and the 4x100 mixed medley relay.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Friday Jul 09, 2021

Rebecca Soni, Caroline Burckle on Mental Wellness Vs. Mental Fortitude

Friday Jul 09, 2021

We sat down with Olympic icons and RISE Athlete Co-Founders Caroline Burckle and Rebecca Soni to speak about mental wellness vs. mental fortitude, especially as it relates to the US Olympic Trials and Olympic Games. Burckle and Soni both speak candidly about their experiences at both competitions and how, although they did have outlets to express their emotions in one way or another during their swimming careers, they wish there had been more of a conversation about mental wellness 10 years ago. Through RISE, Burckle and Soni are providing current athletes with mentors that will have the conversations relating to mental health and emotional awareness that the 2 Olympians missed out on.

You can visit RISE Athletes here.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Wednesday Jul 07, 2021

Lydia Jacoby Gives Inside Look at 2021 Olympic Training Camp in Hawaii

Wednesday Jul 07, 2021

We sat down with newly minted 2021 Olympian Lydia Jacoby to discuss the 2021 Olympic Trials in Omaha and how training camp is currently going in Hawaii. Jacoby takes us through her first Trials and how she navigated the extreme high of making an Olympic team and dealing with the pressure of trying to swim her own race. She reveals that her mindset heading into the meet was focused on performance, knowing that if she didn't make the team this go-around, she would still have a long career ahead of her.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com