Social Kick

Cal's Lucas Henveaux and Robin Hanson Episode 227

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 again arrive in March and remind everyone they know how to get it done in championship meets?

Only time will tell, but in the meantime, enjoy a wide ranging chat with Lucas and Robin including how high pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis can take the world record to who the greatest Belgian cyclist is and how swimming could adopt golf’s handicapping system. 

Stanford’s Aurora Roghair and Charlotte Hook Episode 226

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 recovery.

Julian Smith on Breaking a Dressel Record and Florida Speed. Episode 225

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 in a 100 yard breaststroke.

While his decision to move on to dental school after the season has already been made, we can’t help but wonder what might be if he were to keep going. Regardless, Julian Smith is putting on a show and honoring that Gator cap he wears proudly.

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

Jillian Cox Texas Distance Star Episode 224

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 NCAAs. We loved nerding out on swim stuff with Jillian.

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

Jordan Crooks, Gui Caribe, Nikoli Blackman and Lamar Taylor Tennessee Sprinting. Episode 223.

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 to the college championship season to continue their success and lift some trophies for the Volunteers to bring back to Rocky Top.

Noe Ponti - Chasing Fast Times & Mastering the Mental Game Episode 222

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 behind the scenes of his swimming career from his start as a natural butterflier, to the details of his training regimen, which includes very little sprinting despite Noe now being the fastest 50 butterflier in history. 

Josh Liendo on Speed, Setbacks & Success Episode 221

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 the 5th to ever do that, and at the same time making him the first black Canadian swimmer to win an Olympic medal. Josh nearly had 2 medals, with an under the radar 4th place in the 50 just missing the podium. The perfect Olympic results to feel major accomplishment, while still wanting more.

Taught to swim in Trinidad and Tobago til age 11 before moving north, Josh automatically ascended to the exclusive list of Luke’s favorite pod guests before we started, but cemented that place during this fun conversation.

Jonny Kulow The Wyoming Freestyle Rocket Episode 220

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 for weekly podcasts and daily shorts!

Owen McDonald is ready to smash NCAAs Episode 219

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 IU and Texas.

Don't miss this insightful and entertaining conversation with one of the brightest young stars in college swimming!

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

The Best Swimming of 2024 Episode 218

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 filled with incredible swims and unforgettable moments. Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe for weekly podcasts and daily shorts!