Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories

John Shortt: World Junior Gold, Elite Backstroke Turns, and Ireland’s Breakout Moment. Ep 278

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 technical details that separate his backstroke and how years of training in a 20-meter pool shaped his underwater skills.

We discuss his development pathway, confidence-building training sets, and how he balances racing multiple backstroke distances while staying technically sound under pressure. John also shares insight into life at Ireland’s National Training Centre in Limerick, why he chose to stay home rather than pursue U.S. college options, and what’s driving Ireland’s growing momentum in international swimming.

The conversation mixes detailed swimming insight with lighter moments, giving a clear picture of both the athlete and the person behind the results.

A must-listen for swimmers, coaches, and fans interested in elite backstroke, athlete development, and the next generation of international talent.

Will Modglin: American Records, the 20.00 Barrier, and Redefining NCAA Backstroke Episode 277

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 iconic barriers.

A junior at the University of Texas and a U.S. National Team member, Will breaks down the mindset behind those record swims, the training culture at Texas under Bob Bowman, and how racing in one of the deepest backstroke groups in the NCAA has shaped his confidence.

We also dive into his unusual versatility, including how he went 50.9 in the 100 breaststroke with minimal breaststroke-specific training, how he approaches event selection, and where IM and long-course goals fit into his future.

The conversation wraps with audience questions and a rapid-fire round covering training, competition, and swim culture as Will looks ahead to what’s next in a breakout career.

Sven Schwarz on 100K Weeks, Elite Distance Training, the Rise of Men’s Distance Swimming | Ep. #276

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.

Todd DeSorbo: Building a Swimming Dynasty at Virginia | NCAA, Olympics, & Men’s New Era | Ep 275

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: How Tennessee Built Champions, Culture & Olympic Stars | Episode 274

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 coexist in high-performance environments, and how personal loss reshaped his perspective on coaching and purpose. We talk about sprint mechanics, drag reduction, athlete mindset, and how to help swimmers make breakthroughs technically and emotionally.

This is a conversation about coaching, leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to help people become the best version of themselves — in and out of the water.

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Listen now to hear:

• How culture drives performance in elite swim programs

• What makes Jordan Crooks and Tennessee’s sprinters different

• Using empathy, structure, and purpose in coaching

• How personal loss shaped Matt’s approach to leadership

• The technical and human elements behind world-class swimming

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Whether you're a swimmer, coach, parent, or just love great conversations about growth, this episode will leave you thinking differently about what makes people better.

Just the Guys! Swim News, Records & Hot Takes | Episode 273

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 breaks a 13-year Asian Record 🇨🇳

• Egor Kornev’s 44.99 lights up Russian SC Nationals

• Summer McIntosh signs with Arena — what’s that deal worth?

• Cal vs. Stanford, NC State’s “Raleigh Rumble,” and the Power 4 Dual Meet Challenge

• Ironman 70.3 Worlds and swimmers leading the way

• High school phenom Luka’s blazing times and Bolles’ new relay record

🎧 Dive in for the latest swim news, wild speculation, and plenty of good vibes — it’s all part of The Social Kick Podcast.

Nikita Sheremet: World Junior Champ & Louisville Sprint Star | Episode 272

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, dryland work, and a few fun rapid-fire questions from fans.

If you love fast swimming, big goals, and the next wave of sprint talent — you’ll love this one.

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🎙️ Highlights:

• Training for a 21-second 50 freestyle

• Building power & explosiveness as a young sprinter

• From Ukraine to Louisville: a swimmer’s journey

• Rapid fire Q&A: pull-ups, Fortnite, favorite food & more

• Goals for 2025 Europeans and NCAAs

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Greg Harper, from Cal Swimmer to Pro Triathlete on Kona, Training & Triathlon Truths | Ep. 271

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 know to make a successful jump into triathlon

• Greg’s unfiltered thoughts on triathlon culture, prize money, and sponsorships

• Whether it’s ever OK to wear a watch in swim workouts

• Hot takes on the Enhanced Games, the T100 Series, and the future of the sport

Known for his honesty and humor as a co-host on The Triathlon Hour, Greg brings the same energy here — mixing insight, candor, and a swimmer’s perspective on the multi-sport world.

Whether you’re a triathlete, swimmer, or just love a good endurance sports story, this episode’s for you.

🎙️ The Social Kick Podcast — where swimming meets the rest of the world.

World Cup Recap: 5 World Records & Wild Finishes w/ Bobby Hurley | Social Kick 270

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 experience on the World Cup circuit and hear our full breakdown of what made 2025 one of the most exciting years ever for short course swimming.

Tommy Neill: The Aussie Olympian Finding His Fire Again | Episode 269

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.