Fresh off of leading Arizona State to its first NCAA team title in program history, Bob Bowman announced he would be leaving to head up the swim and dive program at Texas. A number of athletes left Arizona State following this announcement, either to follow Bob Bowman to Austin or pursue their swimming at other programs. One athlete who had trained under Bowman and was expected to follow him (from the outside) was freshman Ilya Kharun.
The Canadian national had seen vast improvement under Bowman in just one year, capping his season with an NCAA title in the 200 fly. However, having built a life and community in Tempe already, Kharun opted to stay and train under newly named head coach and ASU alum Herbie Behm. It seemed to work for the rising sophomore, as he qualified for his first Canadian Olympic team and left Paris with 2 bronze medals in the 100 and 200 fly.
In this podcast, Kharun discusses his decision to stay at ASU, what training with coach Behm has been like, and how he managed his event load in Paris and wound up on the podium twice.
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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
ASU record board is gonna look daunting after this year
I have a feeling that the new sprint group with Herbie and now Salo have something in store for us at the next world trials; specifically Johnny and Patrick in the 100m free next year
Interesting side note: He was interviewed 2 years ago – the memorable part of the interview was he mentioned doing 60 100’s on 1:02. He specifically said then that Herbie was who recruited him and he made a point to indicate Herbie was his coach, not Bob.
Hmm I don’t remember that part of the interview (although I do remember that interview), but interesting! I do know that when I went to film at ASU in December ’23, Ilya was in Bob’s group for all the practices I attended.
Yeah, I’m pretty sure Ilya was not coached by Herbie until after Bob left. I saw another interview I believe, not sure if it was one Coleman did, where Bob and Herbie talked about Ilya going 18 in the 50 with just Bob’s training.
let me clarify: Ilya wasn’t on campus yet. In the interview he was walking through his recruitment process and he made a point to say he was recruited by Herbie, not Bob. So I was incorrect when I said “herbie was his coach.” What I meant: he seemed to indicate it was Herbie, not Bob, that drove his decision to go to ASU.
When you get that bond with the assistant, it’s really a trust and and a friendship that lasts a lifetime!
A little disappointed you didn’t ask him explicitly whether he plans to continue representing Canada Coleman, but I do like that he said “we’re not there YET” when talking about making the podium in medley relay, makes me think he wants to stick around. Fingers crossed!
I don’t think he’s going to stop representing Canada, it doesn’t make sense – he’d have to give up 3 years of international competition and would have a much tougher path towards making the US team
Agreed. While I do recognize that this was a missed opportunity on my end, it didn’t even occur to me to ask because Ilya seems so on board with the teams he is currently part of (ASU & Canada). I’d be surprised if he pursued representing another country for 2028.
In terms of this “tougher pathway”, let’s not forget he finished well in front of the top Americans in both fly events in Paris. In the 100 he would have tight competition to make teams, not unlike facing Liendo up north. But he’s got clear water in the 200 for sure.
some people like their country and see no need to change.
Oh and about the not breathing at the end thing: Milak in particular breathes almost every stroke, and it worked out great for him, so idk if it’s a rising trend or not (I believe he was breathing every stroke when he produced his 49.68 ER with the 26.03 second 50 – the fastest ever in a 100 fly).
I really believe that breathing every stroke for a great race is the exception, not the rule. Phelps and Milak both famously breathe every stroke… and they are also both famously just about as good as it gets in terms of technique and aerobic conditioning.
Not breathing is absolutely faster, It’s why most people don’t breathe for a 50 fly.
It’s just finding a balance of the amount of oxygen deprivation your body can handle while maintaining speed. Which I think more and more athletes are starting to push the boundary on (see Dressel, Liendo, and now Kharun)
Pretty sure Summer breathes every stroke for fly too.
That’s fair. But I think it’s an exception that’s going to regurarly occur from time to time, when the best of the 200 fliers venture down to the 100.
Correct.
I would also add that the elite of the elite, best in the world, also have additional skill sets / strengths that even most very fast swimmers don’t have. Thus, Phelps & Co. can get away with more breathing because otherwordly strengths make up for the tiny slowdown of taking a breath. Great core strength, insane walls, catching and holding water, efficient kick, name it, allows for the constant breathing.
“See, Michael Phelps breathed every stroke. I should too. I need more breaths!!” ~ said every age grouper ever, as they swim uphill, desperately seeking their next gulp of air.
I feel like I remember Austin Staab not taking a breath on the final length of his 100 yard fly American Record.
Video quality of that race is poor but I confirm the no breath final 25. I believe I read somewhere that he blacked out for a few seconds after the race.
Its also interesting to note that Pan breathed pretty much every stroke in his 100 free, and Chalmers is famous for breathing every stroke right up to the finish.
Its definitely not required to go “no-breath” to be fast.
freestyle is not butterfly
Gretchen breathed every stroke in her WR 100 Fly too.
Ponti also breathes every stroke in the 100
He really embraced being Canadian.
Coleman…
Nice interview. A pleasure to be following your continuing growth as an interviewer as well as the folks you chat with.
It’s grand!
Very informative interview! Well worth listening to!