The Effortless Swimming Podcast

In today's episode, I wanted to talk about some of the key things I got from the other coaches and swimmers at the Maldives Camp.

01:13 Rotation 03:04 Front Kick Rotation Drill 04:45 S-Shaped Pull 08:39 Front Scull Drill 09:36 Kick Timing And Connection 12:29 Are You Swimming Enough? 14:02 Long-Term Goals 16:01 The Next Maldives Camp

In this episode, we welcome back Dr Jim Taylor, a renowned psychologist specializing in sports and performance. Dr Taylor shares his insights and strategies from his recent experience at the World Championships in Spain. We discuss topics such as adjusting intensity based on race distance, effective focus and mindset for training and racing, and the importance of being brutally honest with oneself for improvement. Tune in for an enlightening conversation with Dr Jim Taylor.

03:34 Balancing Athletic and Professional Life 04:50 The Range of Physical Intensity in Swimming and its Impact on Performance 08:27 Finding the Balance Between Relaxation and Intensity 15:13 How to Clear Your Mind for Better Performance and What Happens When You Overthink in Races 18:14 Focusing on Higher Cadence and Intensity in Training 20:17 Progressing through Different Levels of Swimming 22:11 Developing a Mindset Plan for Racing 25:49 Tapping into Physical Fuel with the Mind 27:45 Practicing Mental Imagery for Race Preparation 29:20 Applying a Reality Check to Race Results and Performance Evaluation 31:46 The Value of Testing and Assessing Performance 36:44Having a Coach Analyze Data and Provide Insights 38:23 How to Get in Contact with Dr Jim Taylor

Join us on today's episode as we interview Flynn Southam, a talented young Australian swimmer who has already achieved remarkable success at the age of 18. He's been in the Commonwealth Games team and won numerous gold medals at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships. We delve into Flynn's unique perspective on technique, exploring the key aspects he focuses on and the mindset he maintains during training and races. Discover the one phrase his coach told him that completely transformed his training approach, turning him into a dedicated and determined athlete. Tune in now!

02:12 Representing Team Australia at a young age 03:13 Australian Team Wins Gold in 4x100m Freestyle Relay at World Champs 07:05 Breakfast with Michael Phelps at the hotel 08:27 Chasing Olympic Dreams: Why Not? 10:22 The Moment Flynn Realized He Could Compete with the Best 11:53 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Making a Comeback 14:46 The Role of Mindset in Achieving Flow State in Competitive Swimming 16:10 Creating Art on Race Day: The Power of Rituals 17:27 Mastering Body Position and Front Catch 22:14 Core and Functional Movement Workouts 24:32 Flynn's Favorite Training Set 27:29 The Power of Anaerobic Conditioning 30:00: The Use of Swim Parachutes for Drag and Resistance Training 34:19 Training with a Great Group of Mates 35:20 Mentoring Young Swimmers: Common Struggles and Advice 41:13 What's Coming Next for Flynn?

In today's episode, I want to talk about five things that helped me break out of the swimming rut. For the last three months or so, since coming to the pool from our recent lockdowns, it's taking me ages to get back, much longer than what it had in the past. I want to share a couple of things that helped me finally get back down to the times that I was doing prior to the lockdowns.

01:06 Blow-Out Session 02:53 Sprint Session 04:00 Hard Massage 05:30 Kicking 06:29 Tune In To The Rhythm Of The Stroke

My guest today is American swimmer Ryan Murphy, who has achieved incredible success in the Olympics Games, winning multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals. Ryan discusses how his motivation and training have evolved over the past decade, enabling him to stay competitive. We explore his unconventional beliefs, the obstacles he has overcome, including an injury before the Olympic trials, and the rituals that have aided his success in major events.

01:29 Do any of those experiences stand out as your most memorable achievement? 04:20 What do you attribute your sustained success and longevity in swimming to? 06:15 Have you ever had a season where you didn't perform well and struggled to pinpoint why that is? 12:02 How has your motivation evolved in the past decade as you've continued to compete in swimming? 14:19 Can you explain more about the success-focused lifestyle you mentioned earlier, especially regarding areas outside of swimming? 16:48 As you get older and there's up and comers nipping heels, how do you maintain your confidence and mindset when you’re one of the older guys in the field? 19:20 Which up-and-coming swimmer has caught your attention and impressed you the most recently? 21:50 Did you encounter any unexpected surprises in your professional swimming career that were different from what you expected or imagined as a teenager? 24:24 What are the key fundamentals you would focus on while coaching backstroke technique to a 15-year-old swimmer? 27:27 What are the main differences between your swimming technique or style and that of Mitch Larkins? 29:05 Did you get a lot of feedback on your swimming technique as a teenager, or did you develop your stroke naturally? 36:34 Can you share a memorable or transformative experience from your swimming career that has had a lasting impact on you? 42:01 What things beyond swimming motivate and excite you the most at the moment?

For those interested in receiving coaching from Ryan, check out Skillest.