5 Reasons to Listen to Swimcerely with Spindrift

by Cathleen Pruden

01 January 2016, 09:00am

By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern

I’d seen a few mentions of Swimcerely with Spindrift on social media but did not have a clue what it was. As I set out for holiday travel I discovered it was a free podcast. Free entertainment? Why not?

I was hooked within minutes and listened to every single one in a single day of travel.

I know that I’m a swim freak and over the years have become totally obsessed with the sport and other swimmers. Even if you don’t consider yourself a swim nerd and haven’t heard of all of the featured guests, every swimmer (and coach and parent) can identify with some of these stories and learn from this podcast.

Listen to learn more, but here is a little background: Spindrift Beck is a 24 year old swammer from Texas. Currently living in Los Angeles, she is interviewing swimmers to give us a better look at swimmers’ lives.

Here are 5 reasons to listen to the Swimcerely with Spindrift podcast:

1. Remember other swimmers are just people too.

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

“Olympians are normal people. Why couldn’t it be you?” said Jessica Hardy when she was a guest on the podcast.

Everybody realizes this at one point or another. These characters serve as a fabulous reminder.

Spin reminisces with her college teammates and it is refreshing. They are people too. They have their own crazy training trip stories, recruiting trip experiences, and battles with injury. No matter our level, we too often put other swimmers up on a pedestal, and assume it all always works out for them. Not true. Others battle injury and disappointment. Every swimmer is on a journey and has a story to share.

2. Take refuge in our shared experiences.

From ripped suits to ready room environments, the show’s guests discuss issues swimmers know all too well.

I’m not Cindy Tran. While she is famous for her underwaters, at age 21 mine are still abysmal. Both our swimming abilities and our backgrounds are very different. Yet, I identified so strongly with so much of what she shared. Tran and Spin had a serious conversation about how swimming develops into an undeniably strong part of our identity. They discussed the incredibly difficult transition into “Life 2.0,” and a world beyond swimming.

As I stare down the last few months of my senior year, it’s a transition I’ve recently feared. Every spring a new class of swammers emerges. We must navigate our way through the world without being drenched in chlorine. Some may struggle, but this issue is not discussed. Tran and Beck opened the door and got me thinking as they shared how they have coped and how they’ve found purpose and a passion beyond the water.

3. Be inspired.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Each of these athletes has a story to tell.

When Laura Sogar described the feeling she had winning her 200 breaststroke NCAA title, her teammates in the background said, “Ah I’m getting goosebumps”. I, meanwhile, don’t even know Sogar but had tears in my eyes. She was describing my dream.

If that doesn’t make you want to put down your phone and get in the pool, I don’t know what will.

4. Learn from the best.

Carol Capitani is a decorated coach. Katie Meili and Felicia Lee are professional athletes. These people spin in circles with the greatest of the great. They share advice they’ve heard and advice of their own. I was mesmerized listening to Capitani. As amused as I was listening to her swimmers describe her quirks, I was in awe listening to her discuss the sport. She has a great respect for the relationships that successful swimming is built on and you could sense her compassion in just this short conversation.

Arianna Kukors has spent time as a motivational speaker and that experience showed. I was moved by a number of things she shared, including her mom’s motto for her daughters: “You’re not a swimmer. You’re a person who swims.”

How often do we get to listen to people with this much experience talk our ear off for an hour? Not often. But, here it is for free. Nobody’s beliefs nor techniques are being forced on the listener, but they’re ideas to consider and stories to reflect on. Make of it what you like of it, but make something of it.

5. Reflect on the journey.

Photo Courtesy: Mike Comer and Shanda Crowe/ProSwimVisuals.com

Swimmers understand swimmers. There are so many seemingly insignificant details about our lives that non-swimmers and non-athletes will never understand. Some of them are things we talk about (jumping in a cold pool, waking up at 4:30 a.m.) with our teammates on a regular basis. Others (the incredible friendships we form with other swimmers nationwide) get less attention and can be taken for granted. Whether you think about these things regularly or rarely, they’re a huge part of what defines this sport.

It’s fun to think about how special our swimming lives are and to just take a moment to appreciate it. Many of the show’s guests talk about enjoying the journey. Taking a moment to reflect on the daily grind of that journey is a part of enjoying it.

You can listen to the episodes here:

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liquidassets

8 years ago

Does this mean Cindy Tran retired?? I just realized I haven’t heard anything about her lately. She was such an amazing swimmer, especially her underwaters. So many great swimmers retire quietly without anyone knowing about it. Since swimmers tend to leave interesting lives I hope Swimming World in general and Spindrift would do more “Where are They Now?” features. Thanks!

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