Grueling Training Continues as Olympic Darkhorse Episodes 7 and 8 Drop

The next updates to the Olympic Darkhorse series are here, with episodes 7 and 8. In between episodes, Ilaria Cusinato announced her withdrawal from the International Swimming League, where she had initially joined the Rome-based team the Aqua Centurions.

In Episode 7, we see more action from the pool as Cusinato and Zsombor Bujdoso continue their workouts. A lot of the footage is of the two swimmers and Tusup in the indoor pool working on start technique and body entry into the water. They also head out to the outdoor pool, pushing through more grueling sets and doing some swims for times. At the end of the video, Tusup tells Cusinato that he wants her to break the World Record, not just win gold, though it’s unclear which event he’s referring to (probably the 400 IM, which has felt like their focus, and which is arguably Cusinato’s best event). They high five at the end of the set and video after Tusup calls her performance in the set she had just done a ‘breakthrough.’

EPISODE 7

Episode 8 has a lot more gym footage of the swimmers training and lifting. It’s week three, and Tusup notes their soreness and how broken down they are. He says they’ll curb the weights a bit so they can let the muscles recover and focus a little more on work in the pool.

EPISODE 8

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Becky D
5 years ago

Has anyone else watched episode 9? I haven’t been so anxious to see new episodes drop since _Serial_ was a thing.

leisurely1:29
5 years ago

He’s literally the European version of Sean Hutchison

13 % Chinese person
Reply to  leisurely1:29
5 years ago

Considering he is not even European thats s big call .

Teddy
5 years ago

What a weird music video

CBswims
5 years ago

These videos have the smell of phlex swim all over them.

CBswims
Reply to  CBswims
5 years ago

looked it up. She definitely would have been disqualified if swimming in Alaska.

Bayliss
5 years ago

I am enjoying these. If there are any other olympic training videos, practice with pancakes, I am here for it.

I’m concerned watching them in the weight room. Seems like Shane is pushing them pretty hard, and its pretty obvious that they don’t have a strong lifting background. If Ilaria gets injured Shane is toast.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Bayliss
5 years ago

That’s my prediction. She’s going to get injured or quit from burnout. The worst was one of the earlier episodes where she had serious unilateral hip pain after squatting and he said it was just muscle soreness from lifting. This is not going to end well.

Jimbo
5 years ago

I try not to join in on this stuff but he acts like an entitled brat

Captain Ahab
5 years ago

After watching these videos. Shane is actually a really good coach. I believe Ilaria Cusinato will break the world record in the women’s 400 meter IM at Tokyo 2020 Olympic.

Bullet67
Reply to  Captain Ahab
5 years ago

I don’t think you can draw that conclusion (that he is a good coach) from these videos. There’s not actually enough content to show his coaching. To me, looks like he just wants to be their friend. Makes for great entertainment, but definitely not quality coaching.

Tm71
Reply to  Captain Ahab
5 years ago

And my dog will participate in next year’s Kentucky derby…

Steve
Reply to  Captain Ahab
5 years ago

Tusup guaranteed it -:)

Honest Observer
5 years ago

The women’s 400 IM in Tokyo has become a soap opera.

Confused
Reply to  Honest Observer
5 years ago

I’m here for it with my popcorn in hand.

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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