Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories

Sven Schwarz is one of the fastest-rising distance swimmers in the world, training up to 100K per week and relying almost entirely on feel to guide his pace. In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, Sven breaks down the work, the mindset, and the new level of men’s distance swimming.

We talk about training volume, threshold pace, recovery habits, coach communication, race prep, and why he skipped the 2025 European Championships. If you’re into distance swimming or elite training insights, this conversation delivers.

Subscribe for more interviews with the world’s top swimmers.

Virginia Head Coach Todd DeSorbo joins The Social Kick to talk about the future of college swimming and the debut of a made-for-TV double elimination dual meet featuring UVA, Tennessee, and Michigan. He shares how new formats, rivalries, and personality can elevate the sport, his philosophy on building winning teams, and what it takes to innovate without losing the joy of racing.

A fast, insightful conversation with one of the most influential coaches in the NCAA.

Matt Kredich isn’t just a successful swim coach — he’s a culture builder, a thinker, and a leader whose impact reaches far beyond the pool deck. As the Director of Swimming & Diving at the University of Tennessee, he has developed Olympians, NCAA champions, and stars like Jordan Crooks, Mona McSharry, and Gui Caribe. But what truly makes Tennessee stand out is not just the speed — it’s the chemistry, belief, and connection that everyone can see.

In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, Matt shares how culture becomes a competitive advantage, why empathy and accountability can coexis...

Just the guys this week! Luke, Bryan, and John are back in classic Social Kick mode — no guests, no script, just pure swim talk.

The crew catches up on everything happening across the swim world: new records in China and Russia, Summer McIntosh’s big move to Arena, college season chaos, and even a few triathlon and high school highlights. It’s the kind of episode that feels like hanging out with your swim buddies after practice — full of takes, laughs, and real conversation about the sport we love.

In this episode:

Yu Zidi bre...

Ukraine’s next great sprinter joins The Social Kick! 🇺🇦
Nikita Sheremet is the World Junior Champion and Record Holder in the 50 freestyle (21.75) — tying Michael Andrew’s World Junior Record last summer. Now racing for the University of Louisville, he’s already made waves in the NCAA with a 19.28 freshman record and big goals for the European Championships.

In this episode, Nikita shares his remarkable journey from Ukraine to Poland to escape the war, his move to the U.S., and how he built world-class sprint speed at such a young age. We break down sprint training, mindset, dryla...

Former Cal swimmer Greg Harper is now one of the best swimmers in triathlon — leading out the swim at the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships and chasing the Kona swim course record next year.

In Episode 271 of The Social Kick Podcast, Greg joins us to talk about his journey from NCAA swimming to pro triathlon, what triathletes often get wrong about swim training, and how fatherhood has changed his approach to training and racing.

We dive into:

The biggest lessons from racing at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona

What swimmers need to kn...

The 2025 Swimming World Cup wrapped up with one of the fastest nights in history — five world records in a single session! 🏊‍♂️

In this episode, former world champion and commentator Bobby Hurley joins The Social Kick crew to break down the epic Toronto finale and the standout moments from three incredible weeks of racing.

We dive into the biggest performances, the prize money race, surprises and disappointments, and how the World Cup continues to evolve into one of the sport’s premier showcases.

Get Bobby’s insider take from his own exper...

Australian Olympian Tommy Neill joins The Social Kick to talk about his journey from back-to-back Olympic bronze medals to a much-needed reset. After stepping away to recover from injury and refocus on life, Tommy’s back training with a sharper mindset and fresh motivation. We dive into his comeback, the grind of elite swimming in Australia, and what’s next for this two-time Olympic medalist.

Before joining the powerhouse Virginia Cavaliers, Bryn Greenwaldt was already making NCAA history — becoming the first woman in Division II to break 22 seconds in the 50 freestyle while also competing as an All-American high jumper.

Now beginning her fifth year and first season in Division I swimming, Bryn brings a unique two-sport background, combining explosive athleticism with the mindset of a seasoned competitor. In this episode, she talks about her journey from Augustana University to UVA, how track and field training shaped her sprint power and underwaters, and what she’s learning inside one of the nation’s most d...

We’re diving into the 2025 World Aquatics World Cup with Bobby Hurley — former world champion swimmer, World Cup star, and one of the sharpest voices in swimming commentary.

From his unique insider perspective, Bobby breaks down everything that makes this year’s World Cup series so compelling: the new format, prize money, and its place in the global swimming calendar. We compare today’s three-stop tour with the eight-stop grind from Bobby’s era, and unpack standout performances from Carmel — including Gretchen Walsh’s stunning new world record.

Plus, we go deep on the big debates:
•...

2023 World Champion 🏆 and Olympic medalist Sam Short joins The Social Kick Podcast for a deep dive into what drives one of the world’s best distance swimmers.

Sam’s already redefining what it means to go the distance — from his brutal training sets that have become the stuff of legend, to the mental toughness it takes to dominate the 400 and 1500 on the world stage.

In this episode, Sam talks about:

The mindset that separates good from great in distance swimming

What it’s like chasing Australian icons like Grant Hackett and Ian Thorpe<...

At just 16 years old, Luka Mijatovic became the fastest 18 & under swimmer ever in the United States. After a breakthrough summer, he earned a spot on his first senior international team and represented Team USA at the World Championships.

In this episode, Luka opens up about:

The tough lessons learned after a team-wide illness left him drained at Worlds 🌍

His college recruiting journey, why he only took three official visits, and what excites him about training where he isn’t the fastest swimmer in the pool 🎓

The brutal training sets that tested his limi...

Rylee Erisman is back on Social Kick! Fresh off a historic summer at the World Junior Championships, Rylee won 8 medals (5 gold, 3 silver), including individual titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle. She capped the meet with an unforgettable triple in the final session—winning 2 events and medaling in all 3 races in less than an hour.

In this episode, Rylee reflects on what she learned from her breakout summer, shares what it feels like to join the U.S. senior national team ahead of Pan Pacs, and talks through the exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) process of college recruiting. From her tr...

McKenzie Siroky’s journey from hockey rinks to Team USA swimming is anything but typical. A breakout sprint breaststroker, McKenzie talks about her path to the World Championships, training and racing at Tennessee, and how lifting and explosive power fuel her speed. She shares stories from recruiting, gap year choices, and quirky behind-the-block rituals, while opening up about the challenges of racing on the world stage. Funny, insightful, and full of personality, this is McKenzie Siroky like you’ve never heard her before.

Brett Hawke is back—now as Head Coach of swimming for the Enhanced Games. He talks about the bold move to join the Games, the signing of Ben Proud, athlete health vs. shortcuts, and why sprint events and new formats could change the sport.

Olympic medalist and World Champion Ben Proud has stunned the swimming world by retiring from professional swimming to join the controversial Enhance Games. In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, we break down what this means for the sport:

Why Proud’s decision is so shocking

The reaction from governing bodies like Aquatics GB

Whether clean athletes can compete in Enhance Games

What this move signals for athlete pay and the future of swimming

Is this the start of a new chapter for athletes — or a risk to Prou...

Jack Alexy is back on Social Kick! Fresh off Worlds, the American record holder dives into the mindset shift that unlocked his 46s—and that wild 45.9 relay split.

We break down how 200 free training boosted his 100, the backend-50 sets he loves, and why slowing his tempo led to his fastest swim of the year. Jack also shares thoughts on Team USA’s performances in Paris and Singapore, Pan Pacs selection, the Enhanced Games debate, his World Cup debut, and how a goofy smile in the ready room keeps racing fun.

Australian sprinter Jamie Jack joins Social Kick fresh off a breakout season! We talk sprint training at St. Peters with Dean Boxall, racing the 50 free, working alongside Cam McEvoy, and the mindset behind becoming one of the world’s next great sprinters.

Fresh off a breakout summer on Team USA, Tommy Janton joins Social Kick to talk about his wild ride through Worlds, winning a U.S. national title from lane one, and embracing the nickname “Crocodile Man.”

We get into everything from goggle strap fashion faux pas to Shake Shack saves during team illness, plus why Tommy’s sticking with goggles-over-the-cap no matter what anyone says. He reflects on Notre Dame’s unique team journey, the pressure of representing the U.S. backstroke group, and what it takes to bring home a relay medal after a brutal week in Singa...

Fresh off his double World Championship titles in the 800 and 1500 freestyle, Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi joins Social Kick! We talk about the meteoric rise that took him from an 8:02 800 to 7:36 in just one year, what it’s like going toe-to-toe with world record holder Bobby Finke, and why his turns still suck (his words, not ours).

Ahmed shares his thoughts on racing strategy, aura farming, and his decision to join the Florida Gators to train with Bobby and Katie. Plus, we dig into training sets that sparked his Singapore breakout and why being world champion has only made...

The TYR Summer Championships are here, and we have some hot takes. Bryan and John break down everything from the solo swims in the C finals to the most unexpected performances of the night.

In this episode we discuss:

The Solo Swims - When only one swimmer shows up to a final...is there a name for that? What's the longest solo swim you'd be willing to do? We get weird on this one.

The Return of Caeleb - Is Caeleb Dressel's mojo back? A discussion on the 50 freestyle, what it takes to...

The 2025 World Championships are in the books, and we've got takes. Who delivered, who flopped, and what the heck happened to all those prelims relay lineups?

John and Luke kick off the recap with taper talk and a few questionable Masters training choices before diving deep into the biggest storylines from Singapore: Summer McIntosh’s incredible meet and emotional rollercoaster, Léon Marchand’s stunning 1:52 200 IM, David Popovici’s last-50 death blows, and USA’s medley world record rebound.

We break down our picks for: * Individual swim of the meet (Yes, it’s who you think… but...

Grant House joins Social Kick fresh off a season of huge personal bests at US Nationals! The multi-talented swimmer is well known for his leadership at ASU and, of course, his role as the lead plaintiff in the landmark NCAA antitrust lawsuit 'House v. NCAA' which bears his name.

Grant unpacks the unfiltered truth about the lawsuit and its origins, how he has dealt with public backlash, and why he chose to stay in the fight for athlete rights. Plus, Grant offers his candid thoughts on swimming's "soft" image and the need for more rivalries.

...

Rising Team USA talent, Anna Moesch, joins Social Kick fresh off a breakthrough performance at US Nationals where she made her first senior national team with a 6th place finish in a 100 freestyle final stacked with her Virginia Cavalier teammates. Anna tells us about her unorthodox 100 free preparation that led to a massive personal best and what she's most excited about as she prepares to represent Team USA on the world stage. Anna also gives us the background on what she learned from her high-stakes swim-off at last year's Olympic Trials.

Of course, this conversation covers Anna's...

Santo Condorelli, a man of many countries and an Olympic finalist, joins Social Kick! We discuss Santo’s unique journey, from brutal high school sets to a stunning 21.6 in the 50 Free, earning him a spot on the US World Championship team.

Santo shares his philosophical approach to training, why he embraces the "hardest" path, and how an unexpected mindset shift led to his recent personal best. We discuss the complexities of the athlete-coach relationship, the realities of being a veteran swimmer, and the vital role of individual expression in a sport often perceived as "soft." San...

On this episode of Social Kick we’re joined by rising American sprinter Patrick Sammon, fresh off a breakout season that’s turned heads in the swimming world with his 47-low 100 freestyle at US Nationals that not only earned him earned him a spot on his first World Championship team, he also earned an individual swim and likely spot on US relays as well. Already a standout NCAA finalist and relay contributor for sprint powerhouse, ASU, this long course result is a huge step forward for Patrick and bodes well for coach Herbie Behm’s squad as well as the fu...

Cal standout and rising Team USA breaststroker Abby Herscu joins Social Kick fresh off a breakout season that earned her a spot at the 2025 World University Games in Berlin. We dive into Abby’s journey from an age grouper to the NCAA Championship final and her huge personal best in the 200 breaststroke at U.S. Trials—dropping nearly 3.5 seconds to post one of the fastest U.S. times of the year.

Abby shares what it’s like training at Cal, how that’s evolved with different coaches, and how creativity and trying new things led to her discover...

He just went 58 in the 100 breaststroke! Campbell McKean, the breakout breaststroker who skipped the 59-second barrier entirely, joins us fresh off his electrifying performance at US Nationals.

This ascending American star shares the inside story of winning both sprint breaststroke events and becoming the fastest 18-year-old ever in the 100 breaststroke. We discuss grueling training sets that forged his record-breaking speed, his strategic approach to 50 breaststroke races, and what it feels like to touch the wall knowing you've just upset legends.

Campbell also pulls back the curtain on his journey from a swimming family to committing...

Faster everywhere she goes

It took a few attempts and many years before Ashley Twichell eventually became an Olympian at age 32, the oldest first time Olympian on the US team in Tokyo, but that wasn’t what she set out to achieve anyway. In this episode, we check in with Ashley a few weeks after giving birth to her 2nd child, which took place during the Kentucky Derby!

We cover everything from her journey from Duke to the legendary Mission Viejo workouts with distance guru coach Bill Rose, to winning the 5k World Title in 2017, to...

Three world records in one day?!?!

Superstar paralympian Leanne Smith may be on the best form of her career following her recent performance at the World Series stop in Indianapolis where she won 5 events and broke 3 world records in the 50, 100, and 200 free with all records happening on the same day! 

Following her diagnosis with dystonia, Leanne discovered swimming as part of her rehab but but the sport became an athletic pursuit as Leanne has amassed one of the most impressive resumes in swimming. Following her first Paralympics in Tokyo, Leanne smashed the...

Team GB’s backstroker has arrived, and he’s one of the world’s best. Oliver Morgan has been on a rapid rise the last few years including an assault on the British record in the 100 backstroke and now has won the backstroke treble twice at his country’s championship meet. Only fully committing to swimming around age 18, the now 21 year old recently dropped his best time in the 100 to 52.1, close enough to taste a 51 second performance which few men in history have done.

In this episode, we chat with Ollie as he looks ahead to the World Ch...

With all the conversation surrounding the Enhanced Games, we decided to hop on a live show to discuss the pros, cons, and everything in between!

Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe for weekly podcasts and daily shorts!

From crossing the Maui channel at age 10 to rocking the American flag cap for Team USA to becoming the first and only person to complete the Maui Nui triple crossing, Becca Mann has lived a swimming life full of triumphs and tribulations too good not to share with the world, so the accomplished novelist and screenwriter pivoted to non-fiction and wrote a memoir - Outside the Lanes: A Pro Swimmer’s Story of Resilience, Reinvention, and Redefining Success.

Becca joins us for a chat about her life, writing books, and swimming. She’s a riot and her ener...

The Stanford women were on fire this year and it was performances like Caroline Bricker had at NCAAs that led the Cardinal moving up the podium to take the 2nd place trophy back to The Farm. Dropping 12 seconds over the course of 2 years is something age groupers do, not often seen among the elite field who generally are chasing marginal gains and celebrating personal bests by tenths of a second. But not Caroline Bricker. Her self belief, as she explains in this episode, powered her with a winning mindset that she brought to the A final and unleashed on...

NCAA 200 breaststroke champion Lucy Bell, a Stanford junior, didn’t even swim that event she ultimately won when the season began.

While one of the best individual medley swimmers in the country, driven by a strong breaststroke leg, her “3rd event” at NCAAs had usually been the 200 butterfly. But Lucy’s intuition told her to give breaststroke a try so she asked her coaches, got a chance, and on her first attempt put up the fastest time in the country to that point of the season. She would go on to drop time over and over again, ultimate...

The 2025 college swimming season was a wild one, and to chat about women’s swimming and put a bow on the year that was, we’re joined by Texas stud freshman Piper Enge and Indiana mega point scorer Miranda Grana to talk all things swimming. 

Piper finaled in the 100 breaststroke (5th) at her first ever NCAAs as a freshman and swam short course best times this year, following up on her World Championships appearance in 2024. Texas finished 3rd in the team race following a tight battle with Stanford for 2nd. 

Miranda Grana sc...

3rd Annual Men’s NCAA Championship Recap Show featuring Will Modglin (Texas), Jonny Marshall (Florida) and Yamoto Okadome (Cal).

The dust settled another Texas vs. Cal title race with Texas taking the crown, some of the up and coming stars from the meet sat down for a cross-team chat about the meet and college swimming. Will Modglin scored 23 individual points, highlighted by a team NCAA championship for the longhorns and 3 A final appearance. Modglin had ups and downs, as he was on the national champion 200 medley relay, due to a Florida false start. Modglin had his own di...

As a 5th year, even Jassen Yep didn’t think winning an NCAA Swimming title was possible until he touched the wall in the 200 breast. After touching, Jassen Yep let out raw emotion and excitement, resulting in a legendary swimming celly. Although it seems like Yep was an overnight success, there was a lot of hard work behind this win. Yep was an accomplished high school swimmer in California, representing Archbishop Mitty and swimming at PEAK with elite club coach Abi Liu. In high school, he went a 1:57 in the 200 breast to earn a small scholarship at Indiana. At In...

In this special NCAA Swimming recap episode, the Social Kick crew recaps the most memorable moments of 2024-2025 in NCAA swimming season. We discuss the best individual swims (Walsh’s 46.97 100 fly, Crooks’ 39.83 100 free and many more), the overall environment of women’s and men’s championship meets, and rumors around the pool deck. Join us for a lively and insightful discussion as we reflect on another great year of NCAA swimming filled with incredible swims, unforgettable moments and a few drinks. 

Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe for weekly podcasts and daily shorts!

Iona Anderson is a teenage Australian Olympian and one of the best backstrokers in the world. 5th at her first Olympics individually, she came home with silver and bronze medals for her relay efforts in Paris. A native of Perth, West Australia, Iona grew up focusing primarily on gymnastics and didn’t even start swimming until age 12, so her rise to be among the elites happened quickly.

Perhaps this success in the pool comes from a short term focus, not being distracted by the potential she has down the road as Iona is simply focused on this se...

The best kicker in college swimming

Quintin McCarty, the 2025 ACC 50 freestyle champion, could be looking to sign NIL deals in two sports if the Wolfpack football staff needs any help in the kicking game. While swimmers are getting more athletic every year, we don’t often hear about swimmers with hobbies that could potentially unlock legitimate opportunities in other sports. Turns out, Quintin is pretty dangerous with the right leg. The takeaway: high performers enjoy the process of trying, failing, learning, repeating - and this might apply to their primary field (swimming) or any other act...

Cal Poly just had its swimming & diving program cut. No other sport at the school was cut. The school president says it will take $25 million to reinstate the program. Current Cal Poly swimmers Jen Reiter and Sabrina Bell joined us to share about the situation they find themselves in, how it came to this, and to ask for help. While scholarships across the nation are being slashed, cutting entire programs is not what the sport needs. Plus, San Luis Obispo is awesome. The facilities are great (2x 50m pools). The team had a good year under interim staff. Would...

Chlorinated Claire Curzan comes clean about crushing kicks and coaches tricks. In her first year competing for UVA, Claire Curzan, an Olympic medalist and World Champion looks to be on peak form heading into the college championship season. Already an NCAA champion from her freshman season at Stanford, College Claire picked up right where she left off, breaking the NCAA record in the 200 backstroke in-season, building excitement for what may come at her first ACCs.

The machine at Virginia keeps rolling.

If you bought $100 of Chris Guiliano stock in ~2021 and held onto it, you’d be a very rich person right now. The man of many freestyle talents has been on a rapid rise dropping chunks of time like he’s 10 years old en route to securing 3 individual spots on the Olympic team last summer in the 50-100-200, the first U.S. man to do so since the legend Matt Biondi. Under the radar, Chris developed at Notre Dame, but following the sanctions on the program is now a Texas Longhorn and already among the all-time top 10 performers at UT a...

Fresh Wolfpack faces. Same Wolfpack speed. Leah Shackley and Erica Pelaez have been racing each other for a few years already wearing American flags on their cap. Now they are in college on the same team and thriving.

Backstroke prowess runs deep in Raleigh, so it’s no surprise these backstroke standouts found their way to join the bearded baron Braden Holloway to etch their names in NC State lore, but both have skills beyond backstroke and have already shown through the dual meet season they are key contributors for the Pack this championship season. 

Duration: 01:08:01

Fresh off of a Dual Meet Attendance Record and in season best times, Camille Spink and Josephine Fuller of the University of Tennessee join us for a pre-championship season update. After a tragic start to the 2023-2024 season with the loss of Coach Matt Kredich’s son, the team battled through various ups and downs, finishing fourth overall at the NCAA championship.

This season, the Volunteer women are more united than ever, as they enter SECs and NCAAs with bigger goals than just attendance records. With more highs than lows thus far, will this be the year th...

A Legend Among Us Simone Manual, one of the best swimmers of all-time joins us to talk about life, swimming, and giving back. An Olympic and World Champion and pioneering figure as the first black American woman to win Olympic gold in swimming, Simone has quite the CV. But she is charging on, having recently kicked off her season with some rust-busting, “off” events and is settling into her new training base in Austin with Bob Bowman.

As one of the greatest “big moment” sprinters to ever stand behind the blocks, Simone surprisingly does not identify as a sprint...

The fastest teenager ever, Turkish distance phenom Kuzey Tuncelli is already an Olympic finalist and 2x World Junior Record holder in both the long and short course 1500m freestyles and a 2024 World Championship Bronze Medalist. What’s the secret to success this young? Kuzey Tuncelli is in love with the process.

So much so that he is learning what he can improve, like sprinting, and incorporating the learnings into his program, while also assembling a true professional support staff of coaches, doctors, and physios to maximize his huge potential. Expect this guy to be a factor come th...

Friends of the pod, the Cal Bears return, this time with a World Championship Bronze medalist and an NCAA Champion in Lucas Henveaux and Robin Hanson. Both elite freestylers with Olympic experience, Lucas and Robin share insights on the ‘24-’25 edition of Cal swimming that has seen 17-straight top 2 finishes at NCAAs, an unprecedented run of success.

This year, the attention all seems to be on high profile hires and transfers at Texas and Indiana, and Cal is just fine with the attention being elsewhere. Will this be the year the streak ends? Or will Cal once agai...

Same tree, different branches. Stanford’s Aurora Roghair and Charlotte Hook join us for a mid-season update, where the two Cardinal stars are in very different places with their swimming. Aurora is coming off a stellar 2024 year of continuous personal bests, including throwing down some of the top times in the country in the fall as she looks to battle for the podiums in longer freestyle events at ACCs and NCAAs.

With a different perspective, Charlotte Hook, a world championship medalist, talks about her path battling injuries and decision to sit out the college season to focus on...

Breaking a Caeleb Dressel record is a hell of a way to celebrate your final season as a swimmer. For Florida star Julian Smith, there may well be more accolades to come with the college championship season still to come. Coached by a former Gator great prior to his arrival in Gainesville, Julian Smith is a classic example of a not so highly touted recruit who bought into a system and soaked up the knowledge of great swimmers and coaches around him to show progress every year and now find himself the 4th person in history to swim 49 seconds...

Go long or go home. Distance freestyle phenom Jillian Cox is tearing it up this year with nation-leading times, Texas Longhorn school records, and a World Championship bronze medal as a mere redshirt freshman.

Already a multi-time US National teamer, Austin native Jillian Cox is now leading a strong Texas distance freestyle contingent that looks to be an absolute weapon for the Longhorns coming into championship season as they aim to disrupt the SEC as the new team on the block and attempt to knock off the Virginia Cavaliers for the top step of the podium at...

A Social Kick Carnival. The boys from Tennessee joined us to chat fast swimming and share their journeys from Caribbean and Brazilian roots to end up on lethal relays together. Cayman's Jordan Crooks and Brazil's Gui Caribe are coming off a killer World Championships where they went 1-2 in the 50 and 2-3 in the 100 freestyles, including a world record for Jordan Crooks in the 50 free in a barrier breaking 19.90 as he became the first person to swim under 20 seconds.

Bahamian Lamar and Trinidadian Nikoli also put down personal bests at Worlds, and the foursome now look ahead...

In this episode we’re joined by Swiss swimming sensation and butterfly specialist Noe Ponti. Noe just completed a short course season for the ages where he pummeled the 50m Butterfly World Record throughout the World Cup en route to the World Title and he also took down the record that meant the most to him - Caeleb Dressel’s 100m Butterfly World Record.

This season is just what Noe needed to call 2024 a success, after 4th and 5th place finishes in Paris denied him medals at back to back Olympics. In this chat, Noe takes us behi...

Sneakily one of the fastest men to ever sprint, Canadian and Florida Gator Josh Liendo is coming off a career year in 2024. His sophomore campaign at UF included 3 individual event wins at NCAAs, along with leading the Gators to 2 relay wins, building on the already solid freshman year (100 free + 3 relay wins). Somehow that wasn’t enough to earn him a Swimmer of the Year, only topped by Leon Marchand with his record performances.

Josh continued the momentum in Paris, earning a silver medal with his statement 100 butterfly that nearly won gold, dipping under 50 seconds with a 49.99, only th...

The man, the myth, the legend: Jonny Kulow. We sat down with the ASU super sprinter and dug into his journey from a small town in Wyoming to become a freestyle rocket. We discuss his training secrets (or lack thereof!), his signature gym moves, and his favorite Wyoming State record.

Plus, we get the inside scoop on the ASU-UofA rivalry, relive the thrilling double swim-off against Adam Cheney at Olympic Trials, and hear Jonny's predictions for the upcoming ASU season, including which underclassmen are poised to make a splash.

Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe...

In this episode of Social Kick, we welcome IU standout swimmer Owen McDonald. We delve into his journey from Atlanta to Arizona State, and finally to Indiana University. Owen shares his training secrets, including his favorite event to watch (the 200 IM!), and reveals some hilarious stories about his teammates and coaches.

We also discuss his eating habits (hint: it involves a lot of food!), and his intense training regimen with his brother and legendary coach Ray Looze. Plus, Owen gives his predictions for the upcoming NCAA Championships, where he believes it will be a tight race between...

In this special year-end episode, the Social Kick crew recaps the most memorable moments of 2024 in swimming. We discuss the best individual swims (including Jordan Crooks's historic sub-20 50 free and Leon Marchand's 4:02 500 free), the most thrilling relays (like the US Women's Medley and the Great Britain Men's 4x200 free), and the most exciting meets (including the NCAA Championships and the Paris Olympics). We also delve into breakout performances from swimmers like Gretchen Walsh and discuss the impact of records like Pan Zhanle's 46.40 100 free.

Join us for a lively and insightful discussion as we reflect on a year...

So that’s a thing now. Rex Maurer has shown the world that even college-aged swimmers can drop nearly 7 seconds in their best event as if he hit a growth spurt. Maybe he did.

The Texas sophomore is only a summer and fall semester into his time in Austin following his transfer from Stanford where he had a solid freshman year. But this Longhorn mid-distance crew is different. It is stacked with hitters, as demonstrated with Carson Foster breaking the American Record in the 500 about an hour before Rex decided he’d like that title on his CV...

Make Swimming Fun!

Premier League Swimming is shaking things up down under, with a new type of fast-paced swimming competition in a league format that maximizes the fun and eliminates the boring.

Established in 2018, this independent swim league created a swimming product to bring swimming communities together from all around the world to enjoy a pool swimming experience like no other, which includes world-class swimmers like Linnea Mack and Mark Nikolaev, who join us for a fun, laughter filled episode sharing how the PLS works and some brainstorming ideas, including how to improve our draft...

That’s what we love about these high school swimmers. We keep getting older. They keep getting faster. Record smasher Rylee Erisman, at only 15, is a national record holder, Olympic Trials finalist, and has already donned the sought after black American flag finals cap to collect some gold medals for Team USA.

Shortly after the Olympic Trials, she swam a time that would have put her on the Paris Olympic team, and she’s only a couple tenths away from surpassing World Record holder Gretchen Walsh as the fastest high schooler ever.

We put on our...

They say ‘the game slows down’ for the best athletes in sport. Maybe that’s why Ryan Murphy always seems to bring out his best swims in the biggest moments, which have made him one of the best swimmers in the world over the last decade.

Team USA’s stalwart backstroke ace, Ryan Murphy became a superstar in Rio where he swept gold medals in the backstrokes and broke the 100m World Record leading off Team USA’s gold medal winning relay, helping to deliver Michael Phelps his final Olympic gold medal. Since then, the young star has become...

There’s enough space on this planet for everyone. Syrian refugee and 2x Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini had some of her life’s defining moments depicted in the Netflix film The Swimmers.

A member of the inaugural IOC Refugee team, Yusra has become a global figure advocating on behalf of refugees and displaced communities, and through her Yusra Mardini Foundation, helps advance access to sports and education for refugee communities around the world while also helping them excel as they rebuild their lives.

Yusra is now enrolled in film school at USC and while competitive swim...

Five Olympics and counting! Sprint master Kasia Wilk Wasick returns for another episode to catch us up on the World Cup, where she took the crown for winning the 50m Freestyle at all 3 stops and in the process dialed in her short course race execution that she will carry in the upcoming Short Course World Championships in Budapest. Kasia also shares her experience at the Paris Olympics, where she hoped to win a medal following her bronze medal performance and first time under 24 seconds at the World Championships earlier in the year.

The disappointment of not achieving...

Friend of the pod and now 2-time Olympic medalist Ilya Kharun returns to catch us up on his massive summer. Last time we spoke with Ilya a year ago he was making waves in his first college dual meets and training with Bob Bowman at Arizona State. A lot has happened since then.

The Sun Devils won their first NCAA team championship, Ilya became an individual NCAA champ in the 200 fly, then Bob Bowman left ASU for Texas, leaving Ilya among some of the prominent athletes that had to make a decision about their future during critical...

Mary-Sophie Harvey is a Canadian Olympian and one of the world’s most versatile swimmers. A two-time Olympian, Mary-Sophie has accomplished a feat that few swimmers do - swimming her best time in the Olympic final. However, for Mary-Sophie it was somewhat bittersweet because she left the Paris Olympics having finished in 4th place in 4 different events.

On the positive side, being 4th in the world is amazing, but Mary-Sophie will be hungry for a taste of her first Olympic medal as she looks ahead to Los Angeles 2028. Mary-Sophie has just completed a strong World Cup season wi...

Do you ever get bored swimming? He doesn’t. Do you ever get tired swimming? He doesn’t. Do your shoulders hurt swimming? His don’t. This man has swam 358.2km (222.6 mi) in a single week, earning him the Guinness World Record for most meters swum in a week in a 50m pool.

No stranger to ultra endurance mega efforts, Spyros Chrysikopoulos has also taken on gnarly open water marathon challenges that require him to swim for 30+ hours straight across the open ocean, and he has also once swum over 90km in a single day!!

So wha...

John Mason is a much sought after TV host and correspondent. His natural on-screen energy and versatility have established him as a regular personality in the European & international markets, particularly in Olympic aquatic sports.

John has been the face of the FINA Swimming World Cup Series for the last four years. In addition, he has covered some of the biggest events in the world for Eurosport, BBC Sport, Channel 5 and FINA TV including, the European Championships, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Diving World Series. John was born in Australia and after graduating from Charles Sturt University, he...

In this episode, we sit down with South African breaststroke sensation Tatjana Schoenmaker Smith, one of the most accomplished swimmers of her generation. At just 27 years old, Tatjana has already etched her name in swimming history, from breaking the world record in the 200m breaststroke at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to becoming a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a world champion, and the most decorated South African Olympic athlete of all time. We dive into Tatjana’s incredible journey, from her roots in Johannesburg to representing South Africa on the global stage at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.

Ta...

Going best times is all a swimmer can ask for right? Well, it may make a bittersweet Olympics, if you go best time at an Olympics (where few go best times) but you fall in your place from semi-finals to finals.

Pieter Coetzé had a bittersweet Olympics, but his young career has been far from bittersweet. Coetzé made the South African Olympic team at the age of 17, rising through the ranks and recently winning the 100 and 200 short course meters backstroke at the 2024 World Cups, earning him $56,500, not bad for 3 weeks of work.

Although Coetzé may mak...

Ice in his veins! Olympic finalist Keaton Jones only needed one year at Cal to bridge the gap from being an elite junior to one of the world’s best, as he snagged the 2nd Olympic spot in the 200 backstroke at the USA Olympic Trials.

At his first Olympic Games, Keaton put together solid performances through the rounds to finish 5th in the Olympic final in Paris, just shy of the podium. Not bad for a college freshman.

Keaton Jones is also a pioneer in the sport of Ice Swimming! He’s a multi-time world cham...

The Olympic champion in the 200 backstroke, Hubert Kos, takes a break from his busy gaming schedule to hangout with us on Social Kick.

For the second year in a row, the Hungarian superstar emerged from the biggest meet of the year with the gold medal around his neck, this time on swimming’s biggest stage at the Paris Olympic Games, adding to the storied legacy of Hungary as a swimming powerhouse.

The move to train under renowned coach Bob Bowman continues to pay dividends for Hubert Kos, who alongside training partner Leon Marchand, makes the mo...

In the midst of the 2024 World Cup season, we check in with the voice of the World Cup himself, broadcaster and former World Record holder Bobby Hurley.

Bobby has commentated for the last 7 World Championships as well as myriad other swimming events such as the World Cup. As a swimmer, Bobby Hurley racked up a list of accolades. A World Champion and World Record Holder, Hurley represented Australia from 2008-2017, becoming one of the world's most versatile swimmers.

He won 24 national titles in events ranging from the 50m Backstroke all the way up to the 1500...

It’s shades of orange everywhere for Dutch Olympic breaststroker Caspar Corbeau.

When representing The Netherlands, he wears a true orange and for Texas, it’s the burnt variety, but it was the medal he wore around his neck this summer in Paris that was a magical bronze. Already a many time NCAA finalist among the top breaststrokers and IMers in college swimming, the dual-citizen for the US and Netherlands, Caspar Corbeau, decided to change his scenery before the final year preparing for the Olympics and crossed the pond to train with compatriot and world-class breaststroker Arno Kamm...

Ever frustrated with turns and just wish you could swim in a straight line? For USA Olympic swimmer Mariah Denigan that is the dream. While the majority of her training still takes place in a pool and she has represented the USA internationally in longer distance pool races, Mariah Denigan has established herself among the best in the world in open water races. Mariah has represented Team USA at the last couple World Championships, including a 6th place finish in 2023 where she surged in the second half of the race and earned an invitation to the Paris Olympics.

Irish goodbye? More like Irish hello! Ireland made its presence known in the pool at the Paris Olympics with a huge swim for a bronze medal in the 100 breaststroke from two-time Olympian Mona McSharry, delivering Ireland's first medal of the 2024 Olympic Games. Along with compatriot Daniel Wiffen, Mona McSharry and team Ireland had La Defense Arena rocking as Irish flags dominated the crowd at moments throughout the epic week of racing.

A highly accomplished junior swimmer, Mona McSharry had an impressive resume with international medals before arriving at the University of Tennessee. In Knoxville, she continued her...

The NFL and swimming are not the same. In a world where coaches have a very short leash, a team that has a couple down years of performance along with some key high-profile athlete departures can be enough to sound the alarm. Thankfully, perhaps because its a sport based on longer term success over a 4-year period or greater, we were not robbed of the ultimate triumph we witnessed in Paris.

For Greg Meehan, the last few years have been anything but easy. The longtime Stanford Head Women’s Coach has been at the helm of some of...

Could you imagine having mononucleosis and COVID-19 at the biggest competitions of your life? What about missing the Olympic team by one spot in arguably your best event? How about missing the team by two spots in your next best event? With his back against the wall, David Johnston dropped over 10 seconds and finished second in the 1500 - meters to make his first Olympic team.

David joins us to share his remarkable journey to make his first Olympic team, but also his journey which has included numerous obstacles, which have shaped him, not shaken his self-belief. It...

Two time Olympian, by the age of 18, Katie Grimes joins us in the latest episode of Social Kick. Katie talks us through the experience of swimming at the 2024 US Olympic Trials, having already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the 10k. Was there less pressure? We talk Paris, from the river eels to the 1500 and 400 im swims in the pool. How did Sandpipers of Nevada Coach Ron Aitken prepare her for all of this?

We end on her talking college and her next choice.

Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe for weekly podcasts and...

2x Olympic Medalist Carson Foster returns to chat about making his first Olympic team, his performance in Paris, and how he’s adjusting to Bob Bowman workouts. Last time we spoke to Carson a couple years ago (Ep. 112), he was coming off a breakout meet winning individual silvers in the IMs at the 2022 World Championships and the stage was being set for his redemption after narrowly missing the Tokyo Olympic team.

Fast forward to 2024, the IM races at US Trials were Carson’s to lose, and he delivered by winning the IMs and adding a new credential to h...

Ever wonder how fast someone could swim if some of the rules were lifted? Nike believed someone could run a marathon under 2 hours, which Eliud Kipchoge achieved with the help of pacers, drafting, and carbon plated shoes.

A similar event took place in triathlon, with Olympic Champion Kristiaan Blumenfelt completing an Iron-distance triathlon in under 7 hours. In this episode, 2x 100 freestyle Swimming World Champion James Magnussen joins us to share his current pursuit - breaking the unofficial WR in the 50 freestyle in the Enhanced Games.

This time, a team of experts is testing the limits...

While she was only 8 years old when she chose her Instagram handle @alexandrathebeast, it’s clear now how a young Alex Shackell foresaw a bright future. In this episode, teenage Olympian Alex Shackell tells us what it’s like to return home to high school as an Olympic Gold Medalist.

Already a relay member of the World Championship team last year, Alex Shackell shared with us how her training changed over the last year that led to her earning an individual Olympic spot on Team USA in the 200 fly, and how that training and swimming at Trials in f...

In this episode, Michael Andrew joins us and reflects on the disappointment of not making the US Olympic team and explains what he feels led to that outcome - one of the best swimmers in the world for many years unexpectedly sitting at home instead of racing in Paris. Having given time to reflect on the necessary changes to get back on the right track to realizing his potential, Michael Andrew has made the difficult decision to change coaches for the first time in his life.

A hard enough decision for any swimmer-coach pairing that achieves Olympic...

In this episode, Regan Smith returns with her latest medal haul from the Paris Olympics, where she picked up her first Olympic golds, a few individual silvers, and came home with another World Record (Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay).

Reflecting on her 2nd Olympics, her first under coach Bob Bowman, Regan Smith reflects on how proud she is of her performances, while also speaking to the juxtaposition of being proud of silver medals while still wanting gold. The last time Regan Smith joined Social Kick (Ep. 107) was in 2022 from her Stanford dorm room. Since then, a lo...

In this episode, we chat with teenage swim phenomenon and Team USA Olympic swimmer Thomas Heilman after his first Olympics in Paris. At age 17, Thomas secured his Olympic berth with a decisive win in the 200 butterfly at the 2024 USA Olympic Trials, and put an exclamation point on the week in Indy when he finished 2nd in the 100 fly, earning him a 2nd individual event to swim in Paris with a new personal best time 50.80 behind legend Caeleb Dressel.

Thomas talks with us about it all in this one: his Paris experience, what he does in training that...

In this episode, we are joined by French Olympic bronze medalist Clement Secchi following his experience at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Clem tells us what it was like to experience the support of the home crowd as a member of Team France, including seeing all the hype behind other French swim stars like Leon Marchand, Florent Manaudou, and Marie Wattel. Clem surprised no one when he disclosed it was Flo Manaudou behind the now-infamous shirtless on-stage party at Champions Park and that humble Leon Marchand was the last to take his shirt off.

Clem also shares his swim...

In this episode, friend of the pod Cam McEvoy returns as the 50m freestyle Olympic Champion and reigning fastest man in the world.

The last time Cam McEvoy raced an individual Olympic final, he was the hot favorite to win the 100 freestyle following his then world textile best 47.04 from the 2016 Australian Olympics Trials. But in 2016, McEvoy’s speed from Trials did not make the trip to the Games, and he finished 7th in the 100 free and watched his teenage teammate Kyle Chalmers take home the gold medal.

Fast forward to Paris and a similar set of...

Kyle Chalmers is often called ‘King Kyle’ since he ascended to the top of the world at 18 years old to win 100 free gold in Rio, but we prefer the moniker ‘Classy Kyle.’ No disrespect to the King. That’s a fair description for someone who never misses a 100 free podium.

But at the ripe age of 26 (yes, Kyle Chalmers is only 26), he speaks like a pro with decades of experience, always friendly and thoughtful with fans and media, including how he responded to recent negative comments from competitor Pan Zhanle during the Paris Olympics. Look no further for an exa...

In this episode of the Social Kick podcast, we sit down with legendary swimming coach Bob Bowman, renowned for his role in shaping the careers of many Olympic champions, most notably Michael Phelps, but more recently with the swimming star of the Paris Olympic Games, France’s Leon Marchand. Bob’s group had quite an Olympic Games - shocker.

Beyond Leon’s medal haul in front of his home crowd, several other swimmers from the pro group training under Bob Bowman delivered in Paris, including Hubert Kos winning 200 backstroke gold, Ilya Kharun reaching the podium in both butter...

Aaron Shackell dominated the 400 freestyle to kick off an epic USA Olympic Trials, earning a trip to his first ever Olympic Games in Paris. Aaron joined us to chat following his experience in Paris, where he swam a personal best time in the prelims and qualified to race in his first Olympic final.

This season has been a journey for Aaron, as he changed training programs a couple times while searching for the speed he showcased as a junior, ultimately finding it in a big way at the right time. Aaron comes from a swimming powerhouse family...

We sit down with Luca Urlando, a 2024 US Olympian, for an in-depth discussion recorded before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Luca shares insights into his intense training regimen and his experiences at the US Olympic training camp. We also delve into his journey to recovery and ongoing shoulder health since his surgery, exploring how it has impacted his preparation and performance.

Discover Luca’s goals for the Olympics and get an inside look at what drives him as he prepares for this major milestone.

Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe for weekly podcasts and da...

Join Bryan Lundquist, Luke Paddington, and Dr. John Mullen, DPT, on this episode of Social Kick as they discuss into the most thrilling moments from the first half of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Our hosts break down the standout races, including the electrifying women's 100 backstroke, the intense men's 100 breaststroke, the competitive women's 100 breaststroke, and the gripping men's 200 freestyle.

They analyze surprising performances, both standout and underwhelming, offering insights into the current state of the U.S. Olympic swim team. The team also tackles the buzz around the pool's speed, exploring whether the rumors of sluggish times a...

Dive into an exclusive conversation with US Breaststroke swimmer Brian Benzing on our latest podcast episode! 🏊‍♂️ From his unique development journey in the world of swimming to finding high school success in Oslo, Norway, Brian shares insights into his athletic career and life.

We explore his recent successes at Towson University finishing second at the 2024 NCAA Swimming Championships and look ahead to his exciting future at Indiana University.

But that's not all—Brian takes on a fun challenge as we test his knowledge of ESPN's top 100 athletes and discuss the greatest breaststrokers of all time. Wh...

Join us on this episode of Social Kick as we welcome Olympic swimmer Shane Ryan! In an in-depth conversation, Shane opens up about his journey recovering from shoulder surgery and shares insights into how his unique 100 backstroke technique contributed to the stress on his shoulder.

Discover the adjustments he's making in his current training, with a renewed focus on freestyle, and hear about his ambitious goals for the Irish Olympic Trials and the upcoming Olympics.

Don't miss this inspiring story of resilience and determination from one of the swimming world's top athletes!

🔔 Subscribe for...

USA Swimming legend Brendan Hansen joins the Social Kick Podcast!. With multiple Olympic gold medals, world records, and a prestigious career both in and out of the pool, Brendan shares his insights on preparing for the 2024 US Olympic Swimming Trials.

From his memorable rivalry with fellow swimmers to the electrifying atmosphere of major swimming events like the Olympic Trials, Brendan paints a vivid picture of what it takes to swim your own race amidst the roar of the crowd. Get ready for a dynamic conversation filled with wisdom, nostalgia, and the excitement of swimming at the highest...

n this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, we sit down with Markus Marthaler, a former professional swimmer from Switzerland who has competed at both national and international levels.

Markus has transitioned into the world of Ironman competitions and is now taking on a challenge that has never been completed: swimming from Tobago to Trinidad.

Join us as Markus shares his journey from professional swimming to Ironmans, his training regimen, and the mindset required to take on such an extraordinary challenge. Despite Luke's skepticism, Markus is determined to prove that the seemingly impossible can be...

In this episode of Social Kick, we sit down with University of Texas swimming sensation Emma Sticklen. A two-time NCAA champion in the 200 fly, Emma shares her incredible journey in swimming, the challenges she faces, and her aspirations for the future. Join us as we dive deep into her training routines, her thoughts on competing at the highest levels, and her involvement in unique opportunities like presenting in the Kendra Scott entrepreneurship class.

Plus, hear about her favorite Austin taco spots, how she manages to balance school and sports, and her insights on NIL (Name, Image, Likeness...

Emma Weyant, 2020 400 IM Olympic Silver Medalist and University of Florida standout joins the conversation.

Emma shares her training regimen, experiences at the recent 2024 NCAA Swimming Championships, and preparations to qualify for her second Olympic team. Learn about her dynamic training environment alongside fellow champions like Bella Sims and Katie Ledecky, and gain insights into her approach to peak performance as she gears up for the upcoming trials.

Emma dives into the wrold of NIL and talks about her Sporti Swimwear affliation.

#swim #Swimming #Floridagators #SwimmingPodcast #RoadtoParis2024 #EliteSwimming #AthleteJourney #olympicdreams SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube...

Anna Peplowski, a formidable middle-distance swimmer, has been dominating the Big Ten conference representing The University of Indiana, and is on the brink of national glory, recently boasting silver and bronze medals in the 200m and 500m freestyle events at the 2024 NCAA Swimming Championships.

Join us as Anna shares her remarkable journey, including the confidence surge she experienced after representing USA at the 2023 World Championships. Get an exclusive peek into her rigorous training regimen and mental preparation as she gears up to tackle the fiercely competitive 200m freestyle event at the upcoming 2024 USA Olympic Trials.

...

University of Virginia's standout athlete Jack Aikins and their highly rated recruit Maximus Williamson join us as we unpack the thrilling 2024 NCAA Swimming Results We delve into their rigorous training routines, and explore the unique journeys that brought them to UVA. Maximus opens up about his recruiting experience and sheds light on why he ultimately chose to represent the Cavaliers.

Discover how the guidance of renowned mathematician and mentor Ken Ono has propelled both Jack and Maximus towards new heights of excellence in the pool. Plus, get insights from Maximus, one of the world's top Junior swimmers...