Ben Proud Breaks Down Intricacies of Sprinting, Winning Olympic Silver in the 50 Free

Ben Proud had won every accolade out there in the 50m free: LCM World title, SCM world title, Commonwealth champion, European champion. But in Paris, he finally earned an individual Olympic medal, touching second for silver. Ironically, it came at a point in his career when he wasn’t focused on the result of the race.

After Tokyo, Proud almost stepped away from swimming entirely. He knew something about his approach to swimming had to change and it did in 2022. In the last two years, Proud has loved swimming and now feels he can continue on for at least through the end of 2025.

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

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Daaaave
27 days ago

Ben is a class act and this was an insightful interview (good job again, Coleman). The 50 becomes more of a different beast the more we learn about it. It’s exciting to think there still might be loads of untapped potential in this event even after all this time.

It’s already been suggested elsewhere, but if Dressel finds a way from Gainesville to go all-in on a fundamentally different Proud/McEvoy-style 50-only focus, 2028 could be brain-breaking. Like 17.6-vibes, but at a home Olympics.

Khase Calisz
Reply to  Daaaave
27 days ago

Two questions:

1) Dressel mentioned in his interview with Mel that Nesty has a pilot program in store for him returning only in the 50s events. Would be interested to hear the detail of the pilot program.

2) What’s Troy doing these days? Someone on this forum mentioned he had plans to start a new pro group. Any updates?

oxyswim
Reply to  Khase Calisz
25 days ago

Troy was having some pretty serious issues with his eyesight that he was open about when he retired. I’d be shocked if he comes back to any full time role.

Cannonball
27 days ago

Stud 🥵

DK99
27 days ago

Top bloke, so glad he’s continuing his career. Hoping the SC 50m world record is incoming with 3 world cup stops and SC worlds still left this year.

RealCrocker5040
27 days ago

Deserved to win gold more than McEvoy though smh

snailSpace
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
27 days ago

That makes no sense.

Southerly Buster
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
27 days ago

Grow up.

RealCrocker5040
Reply to  Southerly Buster
27 days ago

nah

Coach
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
27 days ago

Honestly I see this take a lot in sports and never understand. Doesn’t the swimmer who touched the fall first deserve gold? Or are we considering other factors here? Help me understand…

Jeff
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
27 days ago

because you hate McEvoy. No other reason.

Robbos
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
27 days ago

Cry baby cry!!!! Love it. You gave Cam so much crap.

Sapiens Ursus
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
27 days ago

Total dressel fanboy – tf you on about?

RealCrocker5040
27 days ago

GOAT

So glad he put finally put it together at the Olympics

Jeff
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
27 days ago

not GOAT but agree with the rest.

Khase Calisz
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
27 days ago

Would be crazy if Max Litchfield pulls it off the next Olympics too. Very unlikely but we’ll see…

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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