How Gabriel Jett’s Warm-Up Routine Changed the Entire Trajectory of His World Champ Trials

2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Recent Cal grad Gabriel Jett had a set warm-up routine that he had stuck to for most of his career: warm up until 30-40 minutes before his race, get out, dry off, and get warm before his race. However, the morning of the 200 fly at World Champ trials, he was running behind and ended up getting out of the pool only about 10 minutes before his race. That race, the 200 fly prelims, ended up being one of the best swims of his life.

Fast-forward to the next day. Jett keeps the new warm-up routine, goes a 1:45+ 200 free in the prelims, then drops a 1:44.70 in the final, qualifying him for his first world championship team in an individual and relay event and making him one of the fastest Americans in history.

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xman
6 hours ago

Anyone remember

1. Warm up
2. The half hour to put on leg skin

Jingleberry
6 hours ago

“Long course really never catches up” that represents about 95% of American swimmers.

Riccardo
8 hours ago

Someone with experience can correct me but I’ve always been told by coaches and friends that at World’s / Olympics you have to report to the call room pretty early.

maybe im wrong
Reply to  Riccardo
8 hours ago

Probably different at us nationals where you can probably find the swimmer easier

Riccardo
Reply to  maybe im wrong
7 hours ago

Yes, that i have experience with…I was just wondering if this same approach would also work at the international level.

oxyswim
Reply to  Riccardo
7 hours ago

That’s correct. If you aren’t in there by call times you can get disqualified and I can’t remember the exact time, but it’s at least 20 minutes unless you’re coming off a prior swim.

Aaron Piersol told a story on unfiltered waters about how he was floating in the warm-up pool for so long at an Olympics or world championships that they had to delay the start time on a race while they found him and it forced NBC to go to an extra commercial. So he thinks he’s primarily responsible for those requirements.

Entgegen
8 hours ago

It reminds of what Matt Fallon said in the past that he likes to swim until like right before he races

And Hubi Kos was told by Bowman to be last to the call room

Sitting around just gets in your head, with less time, you don’t have time to think things over and you just go autopilot

SwimCoach
Reply to  Entgegen
8 hours ago

Not only that but physiologically it doesn’t make sense.

SwimCoach
8 hours ago

Kind of shocking to see a top level athlete going that long. I always taught with my athletes that your warmup should generally be done between 10 to 20 minutes before your race.

It always killed me to see swimmers do a 45 minute warmup then sit around for an hour before their first race.

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