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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
South Africa