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

Tuesday Mar 16, 2021

Event-by-Event Breakdowns & Predictions for the 2021 Women's NCAA Championships

Tuesday Mar 16, 2021

I sat down with SwimSwam writers and swimming aficionados Robert Gibbs and Karl Ortegon to discuss and predict every event in the upcoming 2021 Women's NCAA Championships.

From a team perspective, it looks like Virginia's year to finally take a women's crown. However, as Robert pointed out, they have a lot of points to lose from the psych sheets, and NC State and Cal also have very strong teams coming into the meet that could make a title run. It also still doesn't seem like we've seen what Stanford can really do with a full rest and I feel like you can never count them out.

From an individual standpoint, the biggest storyline here is Kate Douglass and Maggie MacNeil getting in the ring and going 3 rounds in the form of 50 free, 100 fly, and 100 free. With few defending champions from 2019, this is a very young field of talent with a lot of wide-open events, so look to see some surprise champions crowned this weekend.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Monday Mar 15, 2021

How Fast Will Katie Ledecky Swim at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials?

Monday Mar 15, 2021

Olympic and World Champion distance swimming icon Katie Ledecky swam well at the San Antonio Pro Swim, but she was her own biggest critic unpacking her swims in the post race interviews. I thought Ledecky looked great considering she hasn't really traveled and competed in a year. Suiting up at home and running an elite meet schedule isn't the same experience. I think Ledecky knocked off some rust in San Antonio. What do you think? If you missed the meet coverage, see her times:

Ledecky - 2021 San Antonio Pro Swim

1500 free - 15:42.92
800 free - 8:13.64
400 free - 4:04.72
200 free - 1:56.62

For reference, see Ledecky's 2020 Des Moines Pro Swim Times:

1500 - 15:29.51
400 - 3:59.66
200 - 1:54.59

U.S. Olympic Trials Predictions?

Ledecky will swim fast, but not as fast as she will at the 2021 Olympic Games. At U.S. Olympic Trials I see a 1:54.5 200 free, 3:59.1 400 free, 8:09 800 free, and a 15:29 1500 free. I might be playing it a little too safe, but I don't see a reason for her to swim faster when making Team USA is all that's needed. Still, those would be solid swims in June for Ledecky, but the big question is will she swim the 100 free? I don’t know. I haven’t asked her, but I don’t think so. It’s been a weird year battling the pandemic. I think Ledeckey stays focused on her core schedule at U.S. Olympic Trials. But who cares what I think? I want to know what you think? Give me your best expert swimming analysis.

Monday Mar 15, 2021

American Record Holder Ian Finnerty Explains Pre-Olympic Retirement

Monday Mar 15, 2021

We sat down with NCAA Champion and American record holder Ian Finnerty, who just announced his retirement from swimming. Finnerty explains that staying in swimming an extra year for the 2020-21 season was a challenge in itself, as he had been ready to move on to other pastures after the 2020 Olympic Trials (and Games if applicable). After leaving Indiana University and training with Energy Standard, he wasn’t able to return to Turkey after the ISL season in Budapest, so went to train with Coley Stickels at Alabama. After Sitckels announced his leave as head coach at Bama, Finnerty decided to call it quits.

Finnerty was the first (and currently only) man to break 50 seconds in the 100y breaststroke, a feat which he first accomplished at the 2018 NCAA Championships, then repeated at the 2019 NCAA Championships, winning the event both times. He was also a 2x NCAA Champion as a part of Indiana’s 400 medley relay that one in both 2018 and 2019.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Sunday Mar 14, 2021

Jessica Long Explains Surreal Experience of Being Featured in Super Bowl Ad

Sunday Mar 14, 2021

We sat down with 13x Paralympic champion Jessica Long, who was just featured in an ad for Team Toyota that ran during the 2021 Super Bowl. Long takes us through the process of being featured as a subject of an ad of that caliber and getting to see the different iterations of her own story coming to life on screen. Long also takes us through training through COVID in the last year and staying motivated for what could be her 5th Paralympic Games.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Friday Mar 12, 2021

Reed Malone on Realizing Making an Olympic Team Doesn't Define a Career

Friday Mar 12, 2021

We sat down with NCAA Champion, World University Games Champion, and now Swammer Reed Malone. Malone announced his retirement after sustaining a concussion in practice one day, which gave him time to reflect on his career. Reed said the realization that he came to is he was chasing this Olympic dream because, without it, he thought his career would be a failure. Malone was able to reflect on all that he's accomplished, and more importantly all the relationships he was able to foster through swimming, and hang his goggles up feeling very fulfilled with his time in the sport.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Thursday Mar 11, 2021

Is 3x Olympic Medalist Katie Hoff Stronger Now Than When She Swam?

Thursday Mar 11, 2021

2-time Olympian, 3-time Olympic medalist, and the author of BLUEPRINT Katie Hoff drops in on the SwimSwam Podcast. Katie talks about her hardcore training, her business, and her new life post-swimming--which she is loving. Check her out here on IG @KTHoff7.

Interested in BLUEPRINT, her book? See what Michael Phelps has to say about it:

“I have so much respect and admiration for Katie Hoff as a person and an athlete. She helped push the progression of women’s swimming and now courageously shares her insights and challenges in and out of the pool in Blueprint. Through it all, Katie’s mettle is gold.” – Michael Phelps

See Blueprint HERE, a great holiday gift for you swimmer, swammer or swim coach - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P521NV8/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Thursday Mar 11, 2021

Dartmouth Swim & Dive Share Thoughts on Reinstated Program, Moving Forward

Thursday Mar 11, 2021

After reinstating men and women’s swimming and diving and 3 other varsity athletic programs , Dartmouth Athletic Director Harry Sheehy held an evening Zoom call with the returning teams – a Zoom call that the college newspaper described as “hostile.” The teams went into the hour-long call hoping for an apology and accountability for the decision to cut their sports which negatively affected recruiting efforts and potentially violated Title IX compliance.

“It was chaos,” former Dartmouth swimmer Connor LaMastra told The Dartmouth in an interview. LaMastra, who transferred to Northwestern in August to finish his collegiate career, says he asked Sheehy for a personal apology toward the end of the meeting.

Reportedly, Sheehy responded, “I’m sorry you transferred.”

We sat down with junior diver Bella Lichen and junior swimmer Parker Hershberger to get their take on the zoom call and how they hope to move forward as a team. Lichen and Hershberger both agreed that this zoom call was discouraging, however they and the rest of Dartmouth Swim & Dive seem ready to put it behind them and move forward into their new era of being a team again.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Wednesday Mar 10, 2021

Kaitlyn Dobler on Dealing with Pressure to Get Back to Pre-COVID Times

Wednesday Mar 10, 2021

We sat down with Kaitlyn Dobler, the freshman from Southern California who walked away from the Pac-12 championships with wins in the 100 and 200 breast. Dobler takes us through her freshman year, emphasizing that knowing she had an extra year of eligibility was a huge stress-relief. Dobler had felt pressure coming into USC to get back down to the times she had registered pre-COVID and with that extra time, she could work on having fun and learning in the pool, which showed at Pac-12s.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Wednesday Mar 10, 2021

James Guy Details What's Possible in Tokyo for the UK and How It Can Happen

Wednesday Mar 10, 2021

We sat down with James Guy, the world champion, Olympic medalist, and FINIS athlete who's looking for gold in Tokyo. Guy gets deep when talking about his preparation as well as what his relay teammates are doing to get ready for the Tokyo Olympics. Come Tokyo, Guy is not only eyeing individual hardware but also looking to top the podium in the 4x200 free and 4x100 medley relays, both of which Britain has taken 1 world title in at the last 3 world Championships (4x200 gold in '15, '17, 4x100 medley gold in '19).

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Monday Mar 08, 2021

Head Coach Matt Leach on Meaning Behind Washington State's First Pac-12 Champ

Monday Mar 08, 2021

We sat down with Washington State head coach Matt Leach, who coached one of his athletes to a Pac-12 championship title, the first in WSU history. Leach takes us through the race as well as the season for the Cougars, detailing the ups and downs they've faced throughout this season. Leach, who was the head coach at Indiana State before relocating to WSU, also dives into what it takes to build up a collegiate women's program.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com