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

Wednesday May 26, 2021

Ned Skinner Explains Move to Virginia Gators as Head Coach

Wednesday May 26, 2021

The Virginia Gators of Roanoke, Virginia, have announced that they have hired Ned Skinner as the new head coach. Skinner succeeds team founder and longtime head coach Doug Fonder at the helm of the program.

Skinner comes to the Gators after two years as the head coach of Hollins University, a women’s only Division 3 program, but is primarily known for leading the Virginia Tech Hokies for 20 years. Most notably, the Hokies men’s team won the ACC championship in 2014, ending a University of Virginia streak that began in 1999 and up to that point was only interrupted by a now-vacated Florida State title in 2007.

The Gators have been one of the top club teams in the nation over the last few year, producing top-ranked swimmers like Noah Bowers, Olivia Bray, Khali Fonder, Caroline Kulp, Keith Myburgh, Emma Muzzy, and Greg Reed, just to name a few. Former head coach Doug Fonder started the Gators in 1988, and since then the team has had success at multiple levels of the sport, sending swimmers to Olympic Trials and producing swimmers who’ve made an impact at the college level. Fonder currently serves as the President and CEO of the International Swim Coaches Association.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Tuesday May 25, 2021

Vlad Polyakov on Being a 'Bama NCAA Champ Turned Auburn Associate Head Coach

Tuesday May 25, 2021

After taking over the Auburn program in April, Ryan Wochomurka has quickly begun rebuilding his coaching staff. After hiring Abbie Houck as an assistant coach last week, the Auburn program has now brought in Vlad Polyakov to serve as the team’s associate head coach.

Polyakov will join the Auburn program after having spent the last eight years at Louisville, where he has served as an assistant coach and the men’s recruiting coordinator since 2012.

In joining the staff at Auburn, Polyakov will be coaching alongside Wochomurka for the second time in his career, as Wochomurka served as the Louisville associate head coach when he was first hired in 2012. Houck also spent time with the pair at Louisville, having swum there from 2013 to 2017.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Sunday May 23, 2021

Madisyn Cox on Weekend of 3-for-3 Best Times: "I don't think I've been happier"

Sunday May 23, 2021

While swims fans have been treated to some fast swimming this past week at the European Championships, top-notch US swimmers have been looking sharp three weeks out from the USA’s Olympic Trials. Case in point: tonight, former Texas Longhorn Madisyn Cox came up big with a 2:08.51 in the 200 IM. That time makes her the fastest women in the world so far in 2021, ahead of the 2:08.73 Australian Kaylee McKeown clocked a week ago at the Sydney Open. McKeown was slightly faster last December, having gone 2:08.23. Cox’s time tonight also moves her to #3 all-time among US women, jumping her up from #8.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Saturday May 22, 2021

Kathleen Dawson Describes Hard Fought Win After 100 Back Re-Swim at Euro Champs

Saturday May 22, 2021

In a twist of events, The women’s 100 backstroke final at the 2021 European Championships had to be re-swum due to an error with the timing system. In the re-swim, Dawson got the job done again, this time in 58.49. Though she loses her official PB of 58.18 and that Championship Record, she still owns the record and keeps her European gold medal. Dawson was notably much more conservative on the first 50 in the re-swim, flipping in 28.47 compared to a blazing 27.99 in the first final. She closed faster, 30.02 to 30.19, in the re-swim.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

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.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

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.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

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

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

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.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS