The SwimSwam Podcast

https://feed.podbean.com/swimswam/feed.xml

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 Feb 22, 2021

Ryan Hoffer Explains Transition from Taper Swimmer to In-Season Stud

Monday Feb 22, 2021

We sat down with NCAA champion Ryan Hoffer, who's looking to help the bears defend their NCAA title from 2019. Hoffer breaks down what Cal's limited racing opportunities have been like this season and explains the difference in mentalities between practicing (or even racing in practice) and racing in a meet format. Hoffer admits that when he came to Cal, he wasn't the best in-season swimmer, focusing much more on swimming well once he had a good rest under his belt. However, Hoffer learned how to get his swimming tuned-in to be able to throw down in-season through his time with the bears.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Sunday Feb 21, 2021

“Once Upon a Comeback” Doc Film Details Dara Torres' Eating Disorder

Sunday Feb 21, 2021

SEC Network will debut its latest SEC Storied documentary “Once Upon a Comeback,” the story of swimming sensation Dara Torres, on Monday, Feb. 22 at 9 p.m. ET. The film’s debut coincides with the SEC Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, with the women’s airing Sunday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. and the men’s airing Saturday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m.

Dara Torres pushed boundaries for both her gender and age, breaking records and forging new paths for women. However, underneath the success was a relentless mounting pressure to look a certain way. A star swimmer at the University of Florida, Torres won nine SEC individual championships, was named SEC Athlete of the Year in 1988 and earned 28 All-American swimming honors – the maximum possible during a college career – all while living with a severe eating disorder. Bulimic during her time at Florida, Torres speaks about this experience on-camera for the first time in-depth. Her journey is not uncommon, just rarely talked about, and highlights the dangers of competing at the highest levels and pushing the limits, both physically and psychologically.

Torres would go on to win 12 Olympic medals over a 25-year span, participating in five Olympic Games. As a veteran swimmer and mother, her 2008 Olympic comeback is legendary, when at age 41, she became the oldest swimmer to win an Olympic medal. Now, she is an important role model for all collegiate and Olympic athletes, having navigated the difficult transition from elite athlete to a successful life after sport.

The film was directed by filmmaking duo Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern Winters.

“We began our careers in sports television, Nancy at ABC Sports and me at NBC Sports, and followed Dara’s amazing journey through many National & World Swimming Championships and five Olympic games,” said Lax. “We are in awe of her accomplishments, especially in 2008 when she made her third Olympic comeback as a ‘working mom.’ She is a remarkable inspiration to all of us working moms. Being able to handle the pressure and juggle the responsibilities – and to do it all with such poise and perfection is fairytale-like.”

Collectively, Lax and Winters’ television and film productions have earned them 16 Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and multiple CASE, Christopher, Cine Golden Eagle, Davey, Gracie, International Monitor, Telly and Sabre Awards. After building illustrious careers at rival networks -- Winters at ABC producing Wide World of Sports and directing soap operas — and Lax at NBC Sports directing, producing and managing the production of over 500 short films & profiles for the Atlanta, Sydney & Salt Lake City Olympic Games -- they fulfilled a lifelong dream of working together by joining forces in 2002.

An advance press screener is available upon request. Please contact Kimberly Elchlepp atKimberly.m.elchlepp@espn.com and Isabelle Lopez at Isabelle.M.Lopez@espn.com.

About SEC Storied
ESPN Films launched the SEC Storied documentary series in September 2011, presenting fans the opportunity to explore the rich athletic history of the Southeastern Conference. From extraordinary athletes and coaches to defining games and moments, the series has featured films that focus on the SEC’s recent and more distant past, including one of the most-viewed documentaries in ESPN history, The Book of Manning. In 2015, SEC Storied received its first two Sports Emmy nominations for both “Outstanding Sports Documentary” and “Outstanding Music Composition/Direction/Lyrics” with the film It’s Time: The Story of Brad Gaines and Chucky Mullins.

About SEC Network
The Southeastern Conference and ESPN launched SEC Network on August 14, 2014. The network televises hundreds of games across the SEC’s 21 sports annually. Programming includes in-depth analysis and storytelling in studio shows such as SEC Nation, Thinking Out Loud and Rally Cap, daily news and information with SEC Now, original content such as TrueSouth, SEC Storied and SEC Inside, and more. Hundreds of additional live events are available for streaming exclusively on SEC Network’s digital companion, SEC Network+, via the ESPN App and SECNetwork.com. The network is also available in more than 135 countries throughout Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia via ESPN Player, ESPN’s sports streaming service in the region.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Saturday Feb 20, 2021

Abbey Weitzeil Breaks Down Dream Come True After Signing with Speedo

Saturday Feb 20, 2021

Two-time Olympic medalist Abbey Weitzeil has signed with Speedo ahead of the 2021 Olympic summer. Weitzeil's place on #TeamSpeedo is well-deserved. Weitzeil has had a long, successful career. In fact, this summer will be her third trip to U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha. Back in 2016 Weitzeil swept the 50 and 100 free at U.S. Trials. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Weitzeil notched the fastest split on the women's 4x100 free relay, helping Team USA earn silver behind the Australian sprint crew. Edging the Australians in Tokyo is top of mind as Weitzeil trains over these final months before the Olympic Games.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Friday Feb 19, 2021

Cesar Cielo Gives Personal Account on Defining Moments of his Career

Friday Feb 19, 2021

We sat down with Olympic champion and world record-holder Cesar Cielo to talk about his career, where it's at, and where it has been. Cesar recounts many of his highlights, taking extra care to give details on his time at Auburn alongside sprinter greats like Fred Bousquet, George Bovell, and Matt Targett. He recalls the power work they did on Monday and Friday mornings as well as the competitive environment he was a part of with this group.

Cielo also dives deep into his experience at the 2008 Olympics, admitting that mentally he was in quite a bad place heading into the 100 free and was quite sure he had missed the final after his semi-final swim. However, once he made the final in lane 8, he was able to pivot in a more positive direction, yielding him a bronze in that race and Olympic gold in the 50 free just days later.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Wednesday Feb 17, 2021

Matt Kredich Discusses how to Effectively Communicate with Athletes

Wednesday Feb 17, 2021

We sat down with Tennessee head coach Matt Kredich, who has seen quite a few top transfers to his program in the last year. Kredich discusses how he's developed his coaching style to understand and communicate effectively with athletes and shares what he's learned along the way. This includes being aware of his body language, letting athletes decide what success means to them, and straying away from anger as a coaching method.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Wednesday Feb 17, 2021

"Finding Ultra" Author Rich Roll on Harnessing Vulnerability as a Superpower

Wednesday Feb 17, 2021

Rich Roll, globally famous podcaster and former DI swimmer from Stanford, has a superpower—vulnerability—and when times get tough, he taps into its marrow.

There was a point early in his rapid rise when Rich appeared to own the world. His book was on countless top-10 lists, his podcast was blowing up with listeners, and CNN had crowned him one of the Fittest Men on the Planet. At the some time, his finances were devastatingly strained. The economics of his new life didn’t match his current reality, not yet. The universe, in Rich’s words, decided he needed to burn a little longer. Rich’s swimming-roots guided him through this challenging period:

“It took a lot of faith and a lot of grit and hard work – all things I learned as a swimmer, when you’ve got to get up at 4:30 in the morning and go to practice. I relied upon those habits and those tools that I learned as a very young person to weather that storm and get to the place I am now. These tools that you learn as a swimmer are so important in terms of how you apply them to other goals and aspirations that you have in your life. That ability to show up and grind and do it in the dark when no one’s watching, be anonymous in this pursuit of mastery, is such a gift. So, whether you become an Olympian as a swimmer or you struggle to make your Junior National cut, whatever it is, you’re learning life skills that have applicability in ways that you can’t possibly imagine.”

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Tuesday Feb 16, 2021

Ranomi Kromowidjojo on the Importance of Self-Development as a Pro Swimmer

Tuesday Feb 16, 2021

We sat down with Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo, who has been at the top level of swimming for well over a decade, winning her first Olympic medal as a part of the winning 4x100 free relay in 2008. Not only does Ranomi share some of her vast swimming experience with us, but she delves into what may come after swimming. Ranomi is a big proponent of self-development outside of the pool and staying balanced as a swimmer with other interests or things you can turn to. She realizes that she won't be swimming and even says she may pursue a career in helping others find themselves once her days in the competitive pool are over.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Monday Feb 15, 2021

USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey on 2021 US Olympic Trials

Monday Feb 15, 2021

USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey has three decades of sports business executive experience, holding leadership positions across Major League Soccer, English Premier League, National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League. Tim’s also thoroughly chlorinated. Before his sports executive run-up, he swam DI at UC Irvine, coached for Dave Salo, and he still swims masters. (If you train with him, here’s a pro-tip. Wear fins so you can keep up. I’m not joking. Tim gets after it in swim practice, and he’s a distance-man.)

I asked Tim to drop-in on the SwimSwam Pod because I want swimmers, coaches and parents to know him like I do. Tim loves the sport—the entire swimming family. He’s got big goals (big dreams) and the organizational skill to make them happen. I strongly believe the Hinchey era of swimming will come to define our sport in the future. He’s shouldering the pandemic with strength and grace, and we are all going to see the fruits of his labor as we evolve and grow throughout 2021-2024.

STAY ENGAGED WITH TIM: Tim has launched CEO CORNER on USAswimming.org, a quarterly editorial to keep the base informed. See his first post here: https://www.usaswimming.org/news/2021/02/11/ceo-corner-the-new-year

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Sunday Feb 14, 2021

Andreas Vazaios on the Importance of Emotional Intelligence for Swimmers

Sunday Feb 14, 2021

We sat down with NCAA champion Andreas Vazaios, who is now training and working towards his masters degree at Loughborough University. Vazaios is studying psychology, specifically emotional intelligence and self care. The Greek swimmer shares some of the things he's learned about these topics and how they've trickled into his life as a swimmer and as a human.

Read Andreas Vazaios' blog about emotional intelligence here.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Saturday Feb 13, 2021

Calvin Werts on How to Make Your Passion for Swimming and Creativity Into a Job

Saturday Feb 13, 2021

We sat down with Calvin Werts, swimmer at the University of Puget Sound and video producer at the CG Sports Company. Calvin, like many other athletes, has numerous passions, two of them being swimming and video production. After going to a swim clinic led by Olympian Jacob Pebley, Werts ended up calling Pebley's agent, CG Yung and asking if he needed help on the video-side of things. Calvin tells us how he worked his way from intern to paid employee and some of the things he found helpful along the way.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com