Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories

Australian Olympian and World Champion Isaac Cooper does things differently. Having tried a typical training program for swimmers, Isaac Cooper realized the norm is not for him. He doesn't keep up with results and happenings in swimming. He doesn't know the names of many of his competitors or the elite swimmers in the world today. He just likes to swim fast and for short distances. Isaac Cooper incorporates a lot of non-swimming activities into his program where he builds strength and aerobic fitness outside of the pool, and while he does some very hard training in the water, he doesn't swim a lot of volume. Seems to be working really well. This conversation is packed with nuggets of wisdom Isaac drops on us. One of our favorite conversations on the pod. Enjoy!

Olympic Champion and Team USA legend Nathan Adrian returns! Life looks different than the last time Nathan Adrian joined us on Social Kick. Nathan Adrian is an entrepreneur, managing a pool and swim lessons business, while also serving as an ambassador for several brands he trusts in the swimming space. Nathan shares with us some ways he's incorporating innovation into teaching young swimmers the fundamentals. One of these methods is his use of the FINIS Smart Goggle, and we had a fun chat talking about the role of tech in swimming. What exists now, and where there is potential in the future. Enjoy!

Abbey Weitzeil. American phenom. Olympian and American Record holder while she was in HIGH SCHOOL! Baller. Goes to Cal. Racks up points for the Bears. Wins an NCAA title. Then makes another Olympic team. That’s a hell of a resume. But she’s back for more after a down year where she missed the USA World Championship team. In 2023 she destroyed the field all season in the Pro Series meets. Her fastest in season swims ever. She’s engaged. Swimming under the new Cal staff. Life is good. BW Still photo Courtesy ISL / Mike Lewis @SocialKickSwim SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​

She’s the type of person who says “Yo!” in a text message when you’ve never met her. That’s Olympic Gold Medalist and many time World Champ and medalist Olivia Smoliga, who sat down with us for the 2nd time recently to talk swimming and tell us about her life training at Arizona State, things she’s working on as a 6ft 2in tall elite backstroker & freestyler, and even a humble brag about how many pull-ups she can do. (Spoiler alert: it’s more than you can do!) Olivia Smoliga is the 2nd tallest Olympic Gold Medal winning swimmer of all-time and she’s also the most decorated swimmer ever at a single World Championship meet from her 8-medal haul at the 2018 Short Course World’s which surpassed the record once held by Michael Phelps. Olivia Smoliga enters this World Championship season looking to rebound after missing the US team last year in 2022, and based on how things are going for her and her new training group in Arizona, our money is on her at Trials in Indy. Enjoy!

It’s World Championship hunting season for 50 backstroke World Record holder Hunter Armstrong. The aptly named backstroke and freestyle specialist, Hunter Armstrong, has continued to elevate his strengths and once again enters this championship season as a legit contender for multiple world titles. On the back of a strong Pro Series season where he racked up several wins, we sat down virtually with Hunter Armstong to hear about his move to Cal, being a very late bloomer in the sport, and the magician himself even blew our minds with an impromptu magic trick.

The Cal Bears rolled through NCAA Swimming Championships once again this year and we caught up with two of their biggest point scorers, 200 backstroke champion Destin Lasco and the 2022 400 IM champ Hugo Gonzalez. Life is changing a bit for the training partners, as Hugo Gonzalez has finished his collegiate eligibility and will now split time between training environments in Berkeley and his native Spain. Destin Lasco comes off yet another ridiculous short course season, having estabilshed himself as arguably the second best swimmer at the meet behind Leon Marchand, and turns to the long course pool where his event schedule may look entirely different. How is it that two training partners who both race the short course 200 IM and 200 backstroke swim completely different events in long course? Listen and find out!

At some point in time, the great swimmers cease competing against the field and ascend to a level where their performances are works of art, solely focused on what they can make their bodies do in the water. At 2023 NCAAs, we witnessed the transcendence of Gretchen Walsh. She became the fastest 100 yard backstroker ever, by a wide margin, with her ridiculous 48.26. Even her sister Alex (Olympian, World Champion) said she didn’t think that time was possible. Gretchen Walsh also nearly took down Simone Manuel’s 100 free record which hasn’t had anyone come near it since it was set in 2017. We caught up with Gretchen and share lots of laughs in this very casual hangout episode. Enjoy!

2nd Annual Men’s NCAA Championship Recap Show featuring Gabriel Jett (Cal), Brendan Burns (Indiana), and Hubert Kós (Arizona State). The dust settled after Cal’s successful title defense in the storied Minnesota pool, and some of the highest point scorers in the NCAA sat down for a cross-team chat about the meet and about college swimming. They dished on their coaches, talked about life in general, and we laughed. Brendan Burns scored 46 individual points, highlighted by his ridiculous 43.61 win in the 100 backstroke. That’s two years in a row the Hoosier Junior has won a NCAA title - in different events and strokes! Gabriel Jett also scored 46 individual points, a byproduct of making 3 A-finals and finishing 2nd, 3rd, and 6th as a Sophomore for the defending champion Golden Bears. Hubert (Hubi) Kós arrived at Arizona State mid-year as quite a weapon. The 19 year old Freshman walked on deck as the defending European champ in the 200IM and he backed up his reputation with 37 points at his first NCAA Championship meet and was one of many Sun Devils that delivered BIG for 2nd place ASU, the highest finish in school history!

Most good swimmers get asked the same questions: How tall are your parents? Do you play basketball/volleyball? Were your parents athletes? In Trenton Julian’s case, he has quite the validating answer: yes, my parents were both world-class swimmers. His mom Kristine (Quance) Julian was one of the best swimmers in the world in the 90s, a multi time Olympian and gold medalist, and his dad, Jeff Julian, an All-American and Pac10 conference champion (a 200 butterfly title that Trenton himself would replicate 24 years later). Now it’s Trenton’s turn. He’s a world-class butterflier and freestyler known for going out quickly and holding on. Trenton Julian is a veteran of Team USA relays and a key component to the US hopes of recapturing Olympic gold in the 4x200 in Paris. With many lessons to learn from his mom’s Olympic Trials experiences, Trenton can lean on her wisdom and his own experiences as he shoots his shot a the highest-pressure meet in the world next summer in Indianapolis.

No one has ever repeated as Olympic champion in the 200 free. Will Tom Dean be the first? Even if Ariarne Titmus defends her title, the men’s 200 final happens before the women’s. To accomplish a feat not even the likes of greats like Ian Thorpe, Katie Ledecky, nor Michael Phelps has done, Tom Dean will need to fend off some serious challengers like super phenom David Popovici, the current 100 meter freestyle world record holder, and British countryman Duncan Scott, among many others. But swimming fast in an Olympic final is something few people know how to do, and Tom Dean has proven he is one of those people, so you better believe that come 200 freestyle day in Paris, we’ll order up some Bangers & Mash and have a few pints to cheer on this jolly good fellow. Until then, we’ll keep up with him on his podcast, The Weekly Freestyle. Cheerio. (They do say that, right?) Enjoy!

On the heels of the best season of his career, World and Commonwealth 50m Freestyle swim champ Ben Proud is getting his mind and body right for the next 18 months before the push to Paris. What better place to do that than immersed in the ohana of Hawaii, with Aloha Aquatica sprint guru Elliot Ptasnik? Ben, Elliot, and 2x Olympic Champ Anthony Ervin spend their days on Oahu sprinting 8-15 meters at a time, nothing more, and building feel for the water and reducing load on their bodies by swimming in the ocean. Now, that’s the ultimate sprinter life, and we are SO here for it. Enjoy!

In the mid 2000s, Olympic Swimming Champion Roland Schoeman was on top of his game, winning several world titles, breaking world records, and being the first person to legitimately scare the iconic 50m freestyle world record of the great Alexander Popov. Roland Schoeman made a lengthy career as an elite sprinter, and changed the game for many others with his legendary start, a skill we go into in depth in this conversation. Roland Schoeman also tells the story of what led to the South Africans dominating win in the 4x100 freestyle relay at the Athens Olympic Games, one of the greatest moments in Olympic history. He may not be finished yet, as he recently swam 19.2 in a 50 yard freestyle at the age of 42! Enjoy!

Olympian and World Championship Silver Medalist Backstoker Phoebe Bacon is after those marginal gains to win medals as one of the world’s best backstrokers. Phoebe Bacon represented the USA at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing 5th in the 200 backstroke, then turned around the next year and nearly won a World Championship title in the same event but was barely touched out for gold, still 1.5 seconds faster than her Olympic swim. J ust a junior in college, Phoebe Bacon is shining under the tutelage of legendary coach Yuri Suguiyama, known for developing Katie Ledecky into an Olympic champion. No surprise to see Phoebe’s success and we expect more is on the way. Oh, by the way… too many national teamers said we should talk to Phoebe because she’s just awesome, and they were right! Enjoy!

Not many swimmers, or athletes for that matter, are willing to speak their mind publicly. Olympic Champion Lilly King, however, has generated headlines for years, and not just based on her insane resume of swimming accomplishments as one of the best breaststrokers of all time. Lilly has spoken openly against performance-enhancing drugs and competitors who have tested positive, unafraid of the spotlight her comments would bring upon her, and the subsequent pressure to perform well. See, Lilly King is a straight shooter, and she thrives in the highest-pressure situations. What might faze others seems to bring out the best in Lilly King. This is one of our favorite conversations ever on the podcast. Enjoy!

In the late 90s and 2000s, the road to an NCAA title went through Auburn. From 2003-2007, Auburn men and women won 9 out of 10 possible team championships. While that dominant era seems like the distant past, this year’s team, led by Aidan and Nate Stoffle, is out to prove Auburn is headed back to the promised land - ahead of schedule. Enter Ryan Wochomurka. In year two at the helm of his alma mater, Ryan’s Auburn Tiger men jumped from a 6th place finish at the Southeastern Conference Championships in 2022 to a solid 2nd place finish this year behind perennial winner Florida. Aidan and Nate Stoffle are prime examples of just how Auburn is rebuilding - developing solid, but not superstar-level, prospects into consistent finalists in multiple events and contributing to top-3 relays. The Stoffle brothers say Auburn is coming. Get your popcorn ready. Enjoy!

The Texas men never seem to have down years - they just reload. Their legendary coach Eddie Reese continues to develop NCAA point scorers. Jake Foster and Luke Hobson, both high school standouts that were destined to rack up points for the Longhorns, have certainly delivered on that promise. Jake Foster is a stalwart in IM finals, and in the past year has seen his breaststroke develop into a legitimate weapon, no longer just a “fun” event. Luke Hobson is an NCAA relay champion and 2022 500 free 3rd place finisher who seems to be on a similar improvement path to so many of the great Texas freestylers - he recently swam a 1:31.8 200 yard freestyle in a dual meet! Fast swimming is already here, and with Jake Foster and Luke Hobson, it's about to get even faster at the championship meets. Hook ‘em!

Heading into the 2023 championship season, the Georgia men’s team looks very different at the top than in 2022. Gone is NCAA and Short Course World Champion Matthew Sates, and following a shoulder injury suffered mid race at the Indianapolis World Cup last fall, the Dawgs are without NCAA & American record holder Luca Urlando. That’s a lot of points to replace, but 2021 NCAA 500 free Champion Jake Magahey will lead this UGA men’s team and both Jake and Luca Urlando are confident in the ability of the rest of the squad to step up, as evidenced by the level of training they showcase in Athens on a daily basis. Jake Magahey will look to take advantage of the absence of both Sates and Florida star Olympian Kieran Smith in the distance events. Luca Urlando is at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado doing rehab and preparing his body for a push toward the 2024 Olympic Trials. While many miles apart, these roommates stay connected and speak of the great impact Luca Urlando still has on his UGA teammates while he’s away. Enjoy!

A child of athletes and with close ties to the greatest Australian Olympian ever, Lani Pallister was destined to become a World Champion, a title she earned 4x in 2022 at the World Short Course Swimming Championships in front of a home crowd in Melbourne. Lani Pallister has dealt with a steady stream of setbacks in the past few years: heart surgery, eating disorder, and missing selection to the famed Australian Dolphins senior team by one spot for 4 years in a row. Lani Pallister could have easily fallen back on her roots as a world-class athlete in competitive Lifesaving (yes, it’s a sport, and she still holds a youth world record in it), but instead she has emerged as a legitimate medal threat in the swimming distance events in Paris. Enjoy!

Last year Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh won every event they swam at NCAAs. Alex went on to win the World Title in the 200IM last summer, and Kate raked gold medals at the World Short Course championships in December (Alex won her share there too). Superstars of swimming, Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh head into the college championship season ready to carry the momentum into perhaps a 3rd straight championship for the Virginia Cavaliers. Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh share about their versatility in swimming seemingly any event and how differently they train from one another even though they are teammates. Kate and Alex also recount their epic 200 IM battles from the 2020 Olympic Trials and the Tokyo Olympic final, tell us about their NIL experiences, and lament being teased about middle names. Enjoy!

The most consistently fast swimming sprinter of all-time, measured by an astounding 100+ swims under 22 seconds in the 50m freestyle long course, Tokyo Olympic Bronze medalist Bruno Fratus shares what he’s up to now. Bruno Fratus has dealt with several shoulder injuries and surgeries throughout his career, and is now almost back to 100% following the latest shoulder surgery; the side effects of training and racing sprint freestyle using a straight arm technique that is widely used by all the top sprinters today. We talk about a lot in this episode with Bruno Fratus: sprint freestyle technique and training, Olympic paper weights, and how the Olympic 50m free champion (Caeleb Dressel) isn’t really a sprinter.

Coming off perhaps the most impressive dual meet performances ever, including Leon Marchand breaking the NCAA 400 IM record, Leon Marchand and Grant House of Arizona State tell us what’s in the water in Tempe that has ASU swimming so fast right now. The Sun Devils are a decade removed from the program being cut and later reinstated - few could have foreseen this success. Legendary Coach Bob Bowman is building a high performance factory at Arizona State as the college team is among the best in the NCAA and some of the best professionals in the world have flocked to swim under his tutelage. Double IM World Champion Leon Marchand shares what its like to swim in an IM group with a combined 10 Olympic and World Championship medals, and Grant House, a 1:30 short course yards 200 freestyler who finished 2nd at NCAAs explains the mentality and the team chemistry that is the foundation for the success ASU is having right now. Enjoy!

As the first man in nearly 100 years to win Olympic medals in the 200, 400, and 1500 freestyle events, which he achieved in Atlanta in 1996, Daniel Kowalski is one of the greatest mid-distance / distance swimmers ever. A star in swimming-crazed Australia, in perhaps the golden era of Australia’s rich swimming history, it would be easy to think that after he won gold on the 4x200m relay at the Sydney Olympics that Daniel Kowalski would retire from swimming with zero regrets. But Daniel Kowalski battled depression as he struggled with a feeling of failure for his silver medal in the 1500 in Atlanta, developed an eating disorder, and endured the life of a closeted gay man still years away from coming out. In the years since, he’s been able to oust that negativity and is involved in swimming as a member of the Australian Olympic Committee and World Aquatics Athlete Commission where he serves the betterment of the sport and its athletes. Enjoy!

College championship season is around the corner, so we’re checking in with the teams who will tell the story of conference and NCAA championships in 2023. NC State is looking to build on their 4th place NCAA finish in 2022, led by NCAA 100 backstroke champion and newly minted Short Course World Championship Bronze medalist Kacper Stokowski and 2022 team high-point scorer and Tokyo Olympian Nyls Korstanje. Nyls and Kacper share thoughts on their season so far and their individual and team goals for NCAAs. Kacper was part of the controversial errant false start in the 50 backstroke at Short Course Worlds and shares his take on that craziness. We did our best to peek behind the curtain on some of NC State’s team secrets, including the meaning behind their signature diamond on the chest at meets. Enjoy!

How would you feel if what you love to do most might be taken from you? Christie Raleigh Crossley faced that potential when a traumatic brain injury changed her life forever. An accomplished swimmer with big goals, and a mom to boot, following her injury she returned to the pool with a different set of physical tools and abilities than she once had. But the sport that shaped her life would prove to be foundational for Christie, as she found a new community, and immediate success, as a para swimmer. Now, her sights are set on the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, and so are ours. Enjoy!

Team USA distance swimmers Charlie Clark and David Johnston know each other well, having raced since juniors and now against the best in the world. Today they join us from Melbourne, Australia ahead of the Short Course World Championships, where they’ll team up and go for a USA 1-2 finish against the likes of Italy’s distance legend Gregorio Paltrinieri. Both are coming off steady progressions to the elite level, Charlie having represented USA at the 2022 Long Course World’s, and David recently setting the American Record in the 800 SCM, good enough for 4th-fastest all-time. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to swim as fast as these guys do for as long as they do, listen. Might make your head explode. Ours did. Enjoy! Photo Credit Getty Images www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​

After winning so many crowns at the World Cup, Beata Nelson seems to have next year’s Halloween costume dialed. She’s also buying dinner after cashing giant checks worth $150k. But wait, there’s more. Her fiance locked it up with a proposal to cap the month of a lifetime for Beata Nelson, one of the best short course swimmers in the world, maybe in history. And with no more short course meets on the schedule, Beata Nelson turns her attention to long course, eyeing a spot on the US World Champs team next summer, but not before hanging out with us to share some laughs and the secret sauce behind the 200 back/200 IM double on day 3, for 3 weeks in a row, winning every race…. umm, what?

Before Magic5, the biggest innovation in goggles was…. goggles. Niklas Hedegaard is the co-founder of Magic5, the goggle brand featured on Shark Tank that is reimagining fit and performance by leveraging modern facial scanning technology and robotics to deliver personalized goggles custom molded to YOUR face! Finally! No more raccoon eyes or headaches, just comfort, so you can focus on the workout. Niklas and his co-founder Rasmus Barfred are former international-level swimmers who know all too well how personal goggle choice is to a swimmer. Ever tried to borrow your friend’s goggles because your strap broke? Instant leaks and that dizzy feeling adjusting to the new view. They started Magic5 to solve this problem and create the perfect goggles. Luke has been a fanboy of Magic5 for a while now and after learning World silver medalist Kasia Wasick (Ep. 113) wears Magic5 too, we had to, ahem, expand our view and learn more about this company. Enjoy!

Few have achieved success in so many different roles in the sport like Brett Hawke. A 5x Olympian who ushered in an era of Australian sprinting prowess, Brett would have had his place in history when he hung up his suit and goggles as the Aussie record holder, Commonwealth medalist, and Olympic finalist. But things were just beginning, as Brett would go on to coach the greatest sprint group of all time at Auburn and cement his legacy as an expert on world class speed. Today, he hosts the wildly popular and insightful podcast, Inside with Brett Hawke. Enjoy!

For many people, “doing a 10k” is an achievement on foot accompanied by a race bib and a finisher t-shirt. For Joe and John Zemaitis, however, it’s a sometimes 3x daily open water swim that takes an average 3 hours to complete! The Swim Brothers recently completed the “Ultimate Swim-a-thon” to raise awareness and money to promote water safety, drowning prevention and competitive and open water swimming. It was a double victory for the duo whose open water achievements include the English, North, and Catalina channel crossings to name just a few. The Brothers exceeded their fundraising target of $10,000 in partnership with the USA Swimming Foundation, and completed the monumental swim effort 5 days ahead of schedule by swimming an open water 10k in every US state in just 25 days! If that doesn’t make you feel lazy, we want to hear your story! Enjoy! @socialkickswim www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/

He’s the Olympic Champion, World Record Holder, World Champion and now Commonwealth Champion. Seems like the perfect mic drop moment for a 23 year old to swim like a frog off into the sunset. But while we’ll never understand the stroke, this guy loves swimming fast breaststroke, and he’s keen to take the WR even lower. Somewhat surprisingly, it may be his freestyle training that gives him the fitness to close faster than anyone in the field. Also, why is freestyle the only stroke that has events longer than 200m? Zac thinks he could be world champ at the 300m or even 400m BR. Sounds like a promoter needs to make this happen. There’s the challenge. Any takers? Enjoy our chat with Zac! SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​

“Hey Matthew, where’s the fire?” Olympics. Check. World Cup wins. Check. NCAA champ. Check. Goes pro. Check. Sure feels like Matthew Sates’ is on a mission to do it all quickly, and he pretty much has. The past year has been a whirlwind. He’s had 5 different training squads, and now he’s touring more as he learns from the best and makes a plan for his build toward Paris 2024. Why the moves? How fast does he think he could go in a 500yd free if he took it out? What’s his 400 free race plan for Commonwealth Games? Listen and find out! Enjoy! @socialkickswim www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/

If we could go back and buy stock in Brooks Curry, we’d be rich. Fewer swimmers have a hotter hand right now. Makes Olympic team (wins gold on relay). SEC champ (beats a Dressel meet record). Pulls the double at NCAAs 50/100 free. Earns individual swim at Worlds (makes final, 5th, goes 47). He just keeps getting faster, and is proving time after time to have great swims when it matters most. So, what’s the secret to Brooks’ success? Will LSU become a powerhouse? What inspired his infamous mullet? Listen as we go into the mind of Brooks Curry. Enjoy

The 50 free is the hardest race in swimming. Why? Details. No room for error. To be the best in the world, training for the 50 means knowing how to truly go ALL OUT. Over and over. Sure, we are biased sprinters. That’s why we asked Kasia Wasick what it takes to win a silver medal at Worlds at age 31 (after 4 Olympics and 1 retirement!). Let’s also give some love to masters swimming for helping Kasia find the sport again after retirement, and the ISL for extending so many careers like Kasia’s. Enjoy! @socialkickswim www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/

So many young phenoms burn out, but every so often, one of them becomes a star. After years of breaking national age group records, Carson Foster has arrived at the very top level of elite swimming. Safe to say he has more blue ribbons than anyone in history, but now has his sights set on medals. The World Championships were a breakout meet for Carson, winning silver in both IMs and gold on team USA’s 4x200 free relay. He’s arrived, but seems to be just getting started.

For the past two summers, Annie Lazor has delivered dramatic finishes during qualifying at US trials, first by coming 3rd in the 100 breast at Olympic trials, only to turn around and win the 200 breast and go on to earn bronze in Tokyo, then in 2022, finishing 3rd in her signature 200 at World Champs trials and coming back days later to finish 2nd and earn an individual swim in the 100. Talk about resilience. Annie’s story is one progress, but with many stops along the way (Ohio State, Auburn, retirement / Cal, then Indiana). That’s right! She once retired, and after some time off and inspiration from a friend, decided to jump back in the pool. Now she’s an Olympic medalist, and one of the best breaststrokers in the world. Annie is a great time, and is full of energy. We had so much fun with this one. Enjoy! @socialkickswim www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/

All athletic careers must come to an end, and frankly, it’s quite an achievement to become so good at swimming that your accomplishments can be summed up as a “career” from which you “retire.” A high school phenom turned Stanford standout and USA National Team member, Grant Shoults’ career had many highlights along with obstacles to overcome. A PAC-12 champion, Stanford record holder, and extra super senior (thanks to a medical redshirt + COVID year, he swam 6 years on The Farm), Grant recently made the difficult decision to walk away from competitive swimming as he enters medical school, but he walks away with his head held high, proud (as he should be), and he still makes time to get in and social kick. Although shoulder problems that often plague distance swimmers derailed his career at times, his retirement plan includes 3x chest days a week in the gym, so we may just see Grant back as a sprinter soon enough. Enjoy! @socialkickswim www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/

“You just gotta learn how to relax, dude.” Nic Fink may be the coolest cucumber on Team USA, but it wasn’t always that way. Success early in his career set a high bar, leading Nic to put expectations and pressure on himself to perform. After living through the 2016 Trials where he was a favorite to make the Olympic team only to finish 7th, Nic has had a career resurgence of late. He punched his ticket to the Tokyo Olympics where he made the final, then went to Short Course Worlds and won the 50 and the 200 (he now has the American record in all 3 short course meter breaststroke events), and recently earned a slot on the Worlds team in all 3 breaststroke distances with personal best times in the 50 and 100. Life outside the pool is clicking too. Nic relocated from his UGA base to Atlanta to attend grad school at Georgia Tech (he stills wears his red underwear though) and he’s navigating the life of a professional swimmer, juggling commitments, adapting training to his needs, and trying to fit it all in while performing at a high level. Seems to be working. Enjoy! @socialkickswim www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/

In this episode, we talk to Ilya Shymanovich, the breaststroke superstar who’s dominated in the short course pool, breaking the World Record multiple times, has close to 40 wins in his ISL career, is the 2021 Short Course World Champion, while also making the Olympic final. Ilya is from Belarus and athletes from Belarus and Russia have been banned from competing at this year’s World Championships and the European Championships, which would have been the “A” meets for Ilya, so his season plans are now in flux. We talked with Ilya about his stroke technique, which is somewhat controversial in that he’s among a group of breaststrokers who use an undulating hip motion paired with a very narrow and quick kick, which can look like a dolphin kick. We asked Ilya about the origins of this technique, the controversy around it, and also how he practices it to keep it within the rules. Enjoy! @socialkickswim www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/

She’s only 20, and Regan Smith is a Team USA veteran. A 3x Olympic medalist, 2019 World Champion (200 backstroke), and still holds the World Record in that event. Our chat with Regan comes on the heels of her great meet at the US World Championship Trials, where for the 2nd summer in a row she qualified for the US team in the 200 butterfly and 100 backstroke (also the 50 back) and, perhaps surprisingly, did not earn an individual swim in what many considered her signature event, the 200 backstroke. So which event was Regan most satisfied with at Trials? Her 200 back! Duh. Regan’s story is one of maturity and growth, as she had the brightest of spotlights shone on her in the lead up to the Tokyo Games, and has navigated the difficult transition from high school phenom to college swimmer (quite well given she won an NCAA title as a freshman!) Regan is such a delight. We hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did. Enjoy! @socialkickswim www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​

Fresh off his 5th year at Louisville and a recent round of MBA exams, butterfly star Nick Albiero joins us to chat about taper leading into USA World Championship Trials (his 3rd taper meet in as many months!). Despite Luke’s best efforts to convince Nick to compete for Brazil (where he has dual citizenship but “can’t speak Portuguese”), Nick is starting his pro swim career and looking to improve upon his 4th place finish in the 200 fly at the Olympic Trials and make the US team for Budapest. Nick is the 2021 NCAA 200 fly champion, and we talk about translating short course success to long course, race strategy, and ISL prospects. Of course, family has had a huge influence on Nick’s career, with a family full of swimmers and his father Arthur Albiero the longtime head coach of Louisville, he shares how lack of pressure from his parents gave he and his siblings the freedom to choose their own passion, which just so happen to lead him to swimming on his own terms. Enjoy! @socialkickswim www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​ • • • #swimming #swim #swimmer #cardinalswimming #socialkick #podcast #USASwimming

From practice, to prom, to the podium? Teenage super phenom Claire Curzan joins us to chat about her prep for the upcoming US World Championship Trials. Already an Olympic silver medalist and American record holder, Claire has been carving her name into the record books since she was a kid, and so far in 2022, the theme continues. Claire has dominated the Pro Swim Series with top times in the country in 3 different strokes, and will soon welcome all challengers to her “home” pool in Greensboro for a chance to represent the US in Budapest this summer. @socialkickswim www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​ • • • #swimming #swim #swimmer #socialkick #podcast #stanford #USASwimming

Auburn Head Coach, and former Auburn standout swimmer, Ryan Wochomurka joins us for a reflection on his first year leading the program. Ryan was a 21x All-American at Auburn in the early 2000s at the peak of Auburn’s dominance, and following his swim career he’s built an impressive coaching resume with success as an assistant at Louisville and as a head coach at Houston. Notably, Auburn has faded from prominence, and in this episode we talk openly about the challenge he faces to bring Auburn back and how he plans to do it. @socialkickswim www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​ • • • #swimming #swim #swimmer #coach #socialkick #podcast #ncaaswimming #auburnswimming #wardameagle #USASwimming

Storied swimming coach David Marsh joins us right after helping The University of California win the 2022 Swimming and Diving Championships. David talks about working closely with his old colleague and friend, Head Coach Dave Durden, what it took to be successful in the 6 weeks he spent there, and what value he thinks he added to their success. Bryan was part of David's legacy at Auburn when he won 12 Team Titles. They have a close relationship, capped off by Bryan being David's last Auburn Swimmer to be coached in a race- anchoring the 2007 400 Free relay in recording style! They talk a length at what it takes to build a team to glory, as David did with Auburn from 1990-2007. This is a must see for any coach in any sport, at any level. www.socialkickswim.com SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​

Elite swimmers from the top three teams at the 2022 Men's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships join us for a fun, teasing break down of the exciting meet. Olympian and Multiple National Champion Drew Kibler of Texas, Olympian and National Champion Björn Seeliger of Cal and Multiple National Champion Adam Chaney of Florida give us and each other their highs, lows and nerves from the faster NCAA meet ever. SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/socialkickswim/

Gold, silver and bronze, Maggie Mac Neil went to the Tokyo Olympics determined to succeed and impress us all. The Social Kick welcomes back the newly crowned Olympic Champion to talk all things Tokyo and more! Winning Team Canada’s only gold in the pool in the women’s 100m Butterfly, Maggie swam an impressive 55.59 for a new Americas Record. Now with the titles of Olympic and World Champion to her name, the 21-year-old was also part of the silver winning 4x100m Freestyle Relay and bronze medal winning 4x100m medley relay team. Having stood on top of the podium at the pinnacle of international swimming, we ask Maggie about Tokyo from an athletes perspective, the rush of winning and the buzz after and her recent decisions regarding University and the ISL. It’s not every day that Ryan Reynolds will reach out and congratulate you! With warm welcome back to The Social Kick, here’s the Olympic Champion, Maggie Mac Neil! SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​

Energy Standard Head Coach James Gibson and their Captain, Olympic Gold Medalist Chad le Clos, join for a preview of the 2021 season of the International Swim League. The ever-changing league has shifted once again and as heads of state for Team ENS, we get reactions from James and Chad on the impact of the draft and how much it helped teams like Aqua Centurions and DC Trident, the rule changes for selecting the SKINS and also why Chad wasn’t able to successfully lobby to have points awarded every 50 in the 200 fly. The whirlwind continues after an exciting Tokyo Olympic Games - it’s ISL time! SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​

As the Paralympics and the Season 3 of the ISL get underway, grab a beer (or a brew) and join The Social Kick on an official roundup of the Olympics to relive all the highs and lows. This is what The Social Kick is all about! Favourite races, best all-round athletes and biggest surprises, we cover it all, breaking down some of the biggest moments from the most anticipated swimming event on the calendar. Plus, we discuss some of the flops and pops of the meet and whether we think morning finals and COVID-19 restrictions were notable influences on those competing. After a short break and more than a couple of big changes, The Social Kick are back and kicking into the new season with a jam-packed episode! Enjoy and don't forget to comment your favourite Tokyo 2020 moment in the pool below. SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​

Whether you’re feeling inspired from the Olympics or want to start your own personal fitness journey, nutrition is key. Join us in welcoming personal nutritionist Erica Beine to the podcast as she gives us all the tips on what we think is right for our bodies and what actually is. A former college swimmer and D1 head coach, Erica stepped off deck to focus on her theory of personalized nutrition and hasn’t looked back since. Using genetic testing to understand what your individual body needs and reacts to; Erica’s business creates an accessible and personalized program to help you get the best results physically and mentally. Her focus on all-round wellness, by using scientific data and tailored plans, is a new and improved way in looking at and understanding what your body needs. Join us as we talk to Erica about her work and how she adapts for each individual, the negative effects of supplements and alcohol in athletes and just how bad goldfish crackers are for you!! Grab a water for this one, hydrate and learn about your body. SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​

Before she makes the journey to Tokyo, The Social Kick is joined by Australian swimmer and Olympic Silver medallist, Tamsin Cook. Tamsin swam an impressive anchor leg at the age of 17 to bring Australia home in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay for a second-place finish. An individual 400m swimmer, Tamsin has qualified for Tokyo in a packed event with the likes of Katie Ledecky and Ariarne Titmus. After retiring after the Rio Olympics to focus on school and due to an injury, Tamsin has made a Rocky Balboa style comeback in swimming this year. Within 12 months of training, Tamsin has moved from never believing she would swim again to qualifying for her second Olympic Games at the age of 22. In a discussion about the progression of the women’s 400m Free and the importance of being self-aware and listening to your body, Tamsin talks us through her swimming journey. Get ready for Tokyo and listen to her story, enjoy! SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​

Season 3 of the ISL is well underway and fresh from the drafting process, Team Iron’s Head Coach Luka Gabrilo joins us on The Social Kick. Currently Head Coach of the Israeli National Team, Luka will step down from this role after the Tokyo Olympics to concentrate on his new job with the ISL and Iron. His previous coaching experience includes working as Head Coach of the Swiss National team and with Team Elite and David Marsh in the US. In this episode, we discuss the recent ISL draft process and our overall thoughts on how it played out. An eye for statistics and numbers, Luka gives us insight into his tactics and responsibility as a head coach and goes through his newly packed roster for the season. A deeper look into the coaching and drafting process of the ISL and Luka himself, sit down, enjoy and get to know your coach! SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbmxjdMDo4UHcB9bEUWsQg LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-kick-podcast/id1478682639 FOLLOW: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialkickpodcast/​