The SwimSwam Podcast

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Abbey Weitzeil Breaks Down Dream Come True After Signing with Speedo Feb 20, 2021

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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

Cesar Cielo Gives Personal Account on Defining Moments of his Career Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

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

Matt Kredich Discusses how to Effectively Communicate with Athletes Feb 17, 2021

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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

"Finding Ultra" Author Rich Roll on Harnessing Vulnerability as a Superpower Feb 17, 2021

Show notes

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

Ranomi Kromowidjojo on the Importance of Self-Development as a Pro Swimmer Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

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

USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey on 2021 US Olympic Trials Feb 15, 2021

Show notes

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

Andreas Vazaios on the Importance of Emotional Intelligence for Swimmers Feb 14, 2021

Show notes

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

Calvin Werts on How to Make Your Passion for Swimming and Creativity Into a Job Feb 13, 2021

Show notes

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

Coleen Gillilan Surprises Herself with Near-PBs After Up-and-Down COVID Year Feb 12, 2021

Show notes

We sat down with Notre Dame standout Coleen Gillilan to get her perspective on the past year. Gillilan put up impressive times recently at the Shamrock Invite, where the Irish put on racing suits and the sophomore surprised herself with near PB's. Gillilan explains the training that the Notre Dame team has been able to get in the last 2 semesters since getting back to campus, including a look into her favorite (everybody's favorite): 200 fly practices.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

How Fast Will Lilly King Swim at 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials? Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

Olympic and World Champion Lilly King was SwimSwam’s 2020 U.S. Swimmer of the Year because the global pandemic did not slow her down. King crushed her competition over ISL’s second season representing the Cali Condors.

At USA Swimming’s most recent Pro Swim Series in San Antonio King swept the 100 and 200 breaststroke, but she was edged by Emily Escobedo at the Richmond Pro Swim. I have a feeling King would’ve swum faster had she been racing head-to-head with Escobedo.

Emily Escobedo - 100 breast - 1:07.11
Lilly King - 100 breast - 1:07.14
Emily Escobedo - 200 breast - 2:23.46
Lilly King - 100 breast - 2:25.83

WAY TOO EARLY 2021 SWIMMING PREDICTIONS

I can’t pretend to doubt King—not even a tiny bit. King dominates the field in the 100 breast at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, inching close to her personal best at 1:04.3. She also wins the 200 breast, going out fast and holding on for 2:21.5

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