The SwimSwam Podcast

The SwimSwam Breakdown is joined today by Elvis Burroughs and Dax Hill, AKA Night Swim, to discuss the first two matches of the College Swimming League.

Today on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we are discussing the Asian Games so far, UVA's SCM Pro Am Meet in October, and Shaine Casas coaching high school. 

Angharad Evans has had a heck of a summer, raking in 7 medals across the Commonwealth Games and European Championships. This included double individual gold (100/200 Breast) at Comm Games in Glasgow and Gold (100 Breast) and Silver (200 Breast) in Paris at Euros. Evans has not had a linear progression up to this point, and we dive into that journey in today's podcast. In 2021, at age 18, Evans came to the USA to train and study at the University of Georgia. Prior to her arrival, Evans hadn't visited UGA and didn't have much of a concept of what her experience there would be...

Today, we are previewing the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Tokyo, which start on Sunday, September 2026.

In this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam podcast we have Virginia Head Coach Todd DeSorbo. DeSorbo sits at the center of the most powerful women’s training group in swimming, led by Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass. We’ve already gone deep with both women. In this conversation, DeSorbo helps swim fans fill in the gaps, getting granular on training, tapering, and more coach-led details. We start with Douglass’ remarkable 2026 progression in the 50 free, going from 24.21 at the Fort Lauderdale Open to 23.59 at the Indy Pro Swim and ultimately 23.19 at the Pan Pacific Championships. DeSorbo breaks down what changed in tra...

This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we are discussing Worlds medalist Shaine Casas leaving Texas, what Russian sprint star Egor Kornev could have done in the NCAA, and the 2026 ASCA World Clinic in Orlando.

In this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam podcast we have Olympic Champion, World Champion, and 6-time 2026 Pan Pacific Championship medalist Kate Douglass. Douglass built her career on versatility, but the 2026 season complicates—in the best way possible—an already crowded schedule of events. At the Fort Lauderdale Open in May, Douglass won the 50 free in 24.21. Six weeks later at the Indianapolis Pro Swim, she exploded to a 23.59 world record. Nine days after that, Virginia teammate Gretchen Walsh lowered the record to 23.55. Douglass answered at the Pan Pacific Championships, ripping a 23.19 world record in the 50 free, lowering the mark by more...

19-Year-Old Nikita Sheremet had just about as good a sprint season as one can have. After becoming an NCAA All-American for Louisville in the 50 free as a freshman, Sheremet came into this summer's European Champs as one of the premier sprinters in the psych sheets. However, many didn't see what would come next. After clocking a PB of 216 earlier in the season, Sheremet dropped a 21.5 in prelims of the 50 free at Europeans. In semis that night, Sheremet furthered his PB with a 21.3. But in finals, the Ukrainian dropped the hammer, clocking a 21.1 to win his first European title and...

This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we are discussing Tomoyuki Matsushita's medley magnificence, the recently announced 2026-27 USA National Team, and the SCM qualifier, Jose Finkel Trophy. In actuality, we spent 30 minutes debating who will be the top-4 male and female swimmers in the World going into 2027. Let us know your list!

In this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast, we sit down with 8-time Olympic medalist Regan Smith after a 2026 season that has been fast, revealing and, at times, frustrating. At the Pan Pacific Championships, Regan came away with gold in the 200 backstroke, silver in the 50 and 100 back, and a fourth-place in the 200 IM. But the results don’t tell the whole story. In both of her signature backstroke events, Regan was faster in prelims than in the final. She went 57.86 in the 100 back prelim before finishing second in 58.11, then dropped a 2:04.13 in the 200 back prelim before winning the final in...

Lani Pallister had perhaps one of the most successful summers in history in terms of medals won. She went to the Commonwealth Games and was dominant, winning the 400-800-1500 Free and helping Team AUS to gold in the 4x200. She also earned silver in the 200 free behind her teammate, Mollie O'Callaghan. After her time in Glasgow, Pallister kept her momentum going in Irvine. On Night 1, she shocked Summer McIntosh by winning the 200 free, then finished 2nd in the 1500 Free to Katie Ledecky later in the same session. She went on to beat Ledecky in the 400 free and help...

In this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam podcast we have Head Varsity Coach at The Bolles School Jake Gibbons. This is Jake’s second time on the podcast. We skip most of the biography this time, digging into what intelligence Jake has gathered developing high-level swimmers inside one of the most storied programs in the sport. We start with the rapidly changing landscape of college swimming and recruiting. Jake supports Bolles talent in navigating the college process, giving him a ground-level view of how roster limits, the transfer portal, recruiting, and the changing economics of college sports are impacting hi...

This is a GMM takeover of the SwimSwam podcast. Joining us today is Van Mathias, one of the most fascinating comeback stories in American swimming. Mathias' path to becoming the American Record holder in both breaststroke sprints was anything but conventional. At Indiana, Mathias was primarily a butterfly and IM swimmer before breaking through in the 100 breaststroke, finishing second at the 2023 NCAA Championships in 50.60. Then he essentially disappeared for two years and eventually returned to Indiana as the program's director of swimming operations. In the summer of 2025, Mathias decided to race again. After roughly eight weeks of training, he...

In this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast, we have Gretchen Walsh, fresh off her haul of seven medals at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships: five golds and two silvers. And Pan Pacs was arguably her weakest overall competition of the year. In 2026, Gretchen made the choice to travel and race fast everywhere: Beijing, Rome, Fort Lauderdale, U.S. Nationals and Pan Pacs. She noted that she took for granted all the racing she did as an NCAA star, and she wanted that experience back. The results were impressive, but Gretchen is candid that she was not satisfied with her...

This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we are discussing how likely it is to see Leon Marchand competing in freestyle at LA28, US Pro's finding new training bases, and the return of the International Swimming League.

2024 Olympian and recent Pan Pacs silver medalist in the 200 Breast Josh Matheny has announced he's leaving Indiana University in search of a new training home. In June, after having a rough first season as a pro swimmer and not performing how he'd hoped at the Pro Swim in Indianapolis, Matheny decided he needed a change. He asked USA Swimming National Team Director Greg Meehan if he could train at the Olympic Training Center until Pan Pacs, to which Meehan agreed. After discussing this change with Indiana coach Ray Looze as well, Matheny spent his last 6 weeks of summer preparing...

Hungary's Hubi Kos had a triple-crown performance in Paris at the European Championships. Winning the 200 Back and 200 IM individually, Kos also swam on Hungary's winning 4x100 free relay. Kos' Hungarian teammate, fellow superstar swimmer Kristof Milak, anchored that relay in a historically fast split, 46.2.

Before the meet, Kos had publicly voiced his frustrations about Milak sitting out of the relays in the past. Kos wanted to earn a medal for Hungary in a relay badly and knew that Milak would be key to that success. However, to Kos' surprise, Milak ended up swimming on Hungary's free relay...

Jack Alexy joins this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast to break down his Pan Pacific Championships performance and where those swims place him in a very elite, very crowded global sprint field. Alexy won the 100 freestyle in a Pan Pac Championship Record of 47.14, took silver in the 50 free in 21.42, and delivered a pair of sub-47 relay anchors for Team USA. He split 46.78 on the winning 4x100 freestyle relay and 46.97 on the winning 4x100 medley relay. And, of course, Alexy owns the 100 free American Record at 46.81, set at the 2025 World Championships. But the international competition has only gotten faster.<...

2x Olympic medalist Carson Foster returned to the SwimSwam Podcast to debrief the recent Pan Pacific Championships and the 2025-26 season. At Pan Pacs, Foster hauled in 3 silver medals, taking 2nd in the 200 Fly, 200 IM, and 400 IM. He was notably left off of USA's 4x200 free relay, a relay he's been a big part of for Team USA for the last 4 years. He isn't shy about his desire to be on the relay, but also defends Team USA's decision. Foster also speaks on tapering with Bob Bowman and what the mood of the Texas Pro Group was like when...

Sam Short had a historic summer that saw him break numerous barriers and top the podium nearly every time he got in the pool. At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Short swept the 400-800-1500 freestyles and led off Australia's winning 4x200 free relay. Two weeks later, at the Pan Pacific Championships, he swept the same three events, breaking Ian Thorpe's 400 free meet record from 1999 and Grant Hackett's Australian record in the 1500 from 2001. 

Today, Short sits down with SwimSwam to reflect on his remarkable consistency throughout the season and dissect his best races. We also speak about J...

Join as we go IN DEPTH and discuss everything European and Pan Pacific Championships.

Join as we go through the psych sheets event-by-event and preview the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships that start this Wednesday, August 12, in Irvine, California

Join us as we compare the 2026 US National Championships and Commonwealth Games in detail.

Join us as we discuss the stars to watch in the upcoming US National Championships, including Anna Moesch, Ilya Kharun, Isabelle Stadden, and Caeleb Dressel.

In this GMM takeover the SwimSwam podcast we have Chris Plumb, Head Coach and CEO of Carmel Swim Club and Chris Webb, Director GAINswim. Our podcast topics are dryland and the 2026 GAINswim Annual Clinic, but we start with the genesis of the Plumb-Webb relationship, diving into their deep history. It extends back to 2006 when Plumb took over as head coach of Carmel.  Plumb and Webb were in their late 20s, trying to figure out how to build a top club in the country. That drive set them on an adventure around the United States and the world, seeking out t...

Join us as we discuss the stars to watch in the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, starting this Friday, July 24. 

In this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast, we sit down with 10-time Olympic medalist Gary Hall Jr. to discuss his new venture, Anchor Line Sports, a sports data company that supports betting in the Olympic ecosystem. Earlier today, SwimSwam published the news that Anchor Line Sports had entered into an exclusive partnership with ALT Sports Data, positioning the company to provide betting data, analytics, and market infrastructure for Olympic-category sports, beginning with swimming.

Ohio State Director of Swimming & Diving Bill Dorenkott joins this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast for a recruiting conversation built for swimmers, swim parents and club coaches trying to understand what college coaches value. 

This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we are discussing how Bob Bowman's Texas pros swam at the Austin Sectionals, Mollie O'Callaghan announcing a stress fracture in her back, and Shayna Jack retiring after this summer.

This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we are discussing how many world records Summer McIntosh can break at Pan Pacs, Kaylee McKeown pulling out of major meets, and recapping the European Jr Champs.

In this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast, we are going deep on one of the biggest questions in the sport: college recruiting. What do college coaches actually look for? What matters beyond the time on the board? How should swimmers handle the jump from club swimming to a major NCAA program? And what should parents understand before, during, and after the commitment post?

SwimSwam breaks down Summer McIntosh's revolutionary 2:01.65 200 Fly World Record from Montreal last night.

SwimSwam sat down with Hannah Saiz, the first-year head coach for Youngstown State University. Saiz was an NCAA DIII National Champion, Olympic Trials finalist, and member of the US National Team before her coaching career. She's coached DIII, DI, high school, and now is in her first foray as a DI head coach. She gives great insight into being yourself during recruiting, balancing student-athlete life, and why excellence isn't the norm.

Today on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discuss the insanity that occurred at the Sette Colli Trophy, Leon Marchand's swims at French Trials so far, and the IOC announcing a $10k per athlete grant.

Today on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discuss the Pro Swim in Indianapolis, Chinese Nationals, and the new *new* NCAA Championship meet format.

Today on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discuss the Australian and Russian Trials, Cal Poly's new $45M Football Facility, and preview the Indy Pro Swim.

In this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast, we sit down with Mike Orn, Olympic medalist, NCAA champion, and CEO of Malmsten Inc., the U.S. division of Malmsten AB. Mike was an NCAA champion in the 200 freestyle, going 1:36.02 in 1983, and later won Olympic hardware as part of Sweden’s 4x100 freestyle relay at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Now, more than four decades later, he is preparing for a very different kind of return to LA.  This time, Mike won’t be racing between the lane lines. He’ll be helping put them in. Malmsten is the officia...

Today on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discuss the ongoing Australian and Russian Trials Meets, the Longhorn Invite, and last week's many episodes of the SwimSwam Podcast. 

Greece's Apostolos Siskos is on a roll right now. At the 2026 Acropolis Open in May, Siskos dropped the #1 time in the world (1:54.12) in the 200 back this year so far and broke an 11-year-old Greek record in the 200 fly (1:56.13). We sat down with the 20-year-old and talked about his approach to racing, training on his own, and his decision to forego coming to Harvard to stay and train in Greece.

Jack Kelly has been making waves in the pool since graduating from Brown University last year. The 3x NCAA finalist in the breaststroke events decided he would give pro swimming a go and moved to Austin to train with Bob Bowman. Since making the move, Kelly has progressed immensely, not only going best times in all 3 breaststroke distances, but showing a ton of consistency throughout the last year. He broke the 1:00 barrier for the first time in December, but has since dipped under it on 6 different occasions. He's also been under the 27-second barrier in the 50 breast twice and...