Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories

British Olympian Eva Okaro joins Social Kick to talk about her breakout freshman season at the University of Texas, adapting to NCAA swimming, and why fun, confidence, and environment have fueled her early success. Eva shares what it’s really like moving from Team GB to Texas, adjusting to short course yards, handling tougher training, and surrounding herself with athletes who push each other dail...

Legendary coach Dave Durden joins Social Kick to talk culture, champions, and what really matters in elite swim training. As the head coach of the California Golden Bears, Dave has built one of the most successful programs in college swimming history, developing Olympic champions and sustained excellence. In this episode, he breaks down his coaching philosophy, why evaluating how athletes move in...

Dude, what a year.” In this year-end episode of The Social Kick Podcast, the full crew — Bryan Lundquist, Dr. John Mullen, and Luke Paddington — gets together to close out 2025 by debating the most unforgettable moments in swimming. We break down the races that defined the year, from Leon Marchand skipping the 1:53s entirely in the 200 IM to Katie Ledecky breaking the 15-minute barrier at a home i...

John Shortt is emerging as one of the most exciting young backstrokers in the world. In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, the Irish standout and World Junior Champion joins us to talk through his rapid rise on the international stage, including his performances at World Juniors and the European Short Course Championships. Known for his closing speed and elite turns, John breaks down the tec...

Will Modglin just delivered one of the fastest backstroke performances in NCAA history. In this episode of The Social Kick Podcast, we sit down with the new American record holder in the 100-yard backstroke after his 43.26 swim at the Texas Hall of Fame Invite. He also clocked the fastest 50-yard backstroke ever with a 20.00 lead-off split, coming within a touch of breaking one of swimming’s most...

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 skipp...

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, insightfu...

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 che...

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 y...

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 rema...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 abo...

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...

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 break...

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 r...

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...

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 selec...

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...

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...