Lilly King Details Up and Down 2020 Olympic Games, Lilly King Competition Pool

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman HodgesGarrett McCaffrey, 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.

We sat down with Olympic champion and Breaststroke queen, Lilly King, to discuss the brand new pool in her hometown of Evansville, Indiana and her swimming in the last couple of months. King walks us through her time in ISL this season and how she got back into the swing of racing coming off of the Olympics, as well as what her “off-season” looked like and why she like to stay in the water for the majority of that time. King also describes her experience at the 2020 Olympic Games, where she went into the meet as the defending Olympic champion in the 100 breast and heavy favorite to win gold. King goes into what she felt after winning bronze in that race, then coming off of the surprise loss and earning silver in the 200, her first Olympic medal in that event.

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Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.

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Podcast fan
2 years ago

Great interview !!

Would love to see Michael Andrew talking about his olympic experience as well.

Let’s Go Brandon!
Reply to  Podcast fan
2 years ago

I’d also welcome a post-Olympic interview with Michael Andrew. To me, he was one of the big stars of 2021.

Think back to January, 2020. It was questionable whether he’d even make the US Olympic team. He’d be fighting for the 2nd spot in the 50 with Nathan Adrian, and the 100 breast was also a tossup. No one penciled him for a 200 IM slot.

Fast-forward to US Olympic trials 18 months later and he wins 3 events (including an American record in the 100 breast). He didn’t quite hit his taper in Tokyo but he final-ed in all his individual events and got just-out-of-the-medals finishes. Then he earned a gold medal (and a WR) with an outstanding… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Let’s Go Brandon!
Walter
Reply to  Let’s Go Brandon!
2 years ago

You realize his “unique training style” means he doesn’t taper?

Troyy
Reply to  Walter
2 years ago

He dropped quite a bit from time from in season to trials this year.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Let’s Go Brandon!
2 years ago

After his Trials, would you not also categorize his Olympics a disappointment?

Would’ve come away with two individual silvers and a bronze if he hit his times from Trials. Maybe some will quibble with the word “disappointment” but it was definitely underwhelming.

Sorta had the same meet he had at Worlds in 2019 – making finals in all the 50s was good as hell, but I’m pretty sure even he and his dad has said they were disappointed not to come away with a medal.

Unknown Swammer
Reply to  Steve Nolan
2 years ago

I’d probably call it bittersweet. Wou’ve been great to repeat Trials times and get some individual hardware, but very solid performance on the relay at the end. Yes, he was arguably the weak link on that relay, but the US needed a step up performance from someone the breaststroke leg and he delivered.

Last edited 2 years ago by Unknown Swammer
Swim Bob
Reply to  Let’s Go Brandon!
2 years ago

I agree generally. But it did seem like the limitations of his unique approach were exposed a little. I would be interested in hearing from him about any training adjustments in light of his experience.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Podcast fan
2 years ago

I think he would be the only one whose Olympic experience included rigor mortis.

PhillyMark
2 years ago

Good interview. Seemed pretty candid.. Glad she was able to fight through whatever funk she was in for the 100 to drop under 2:20 in 2Breast.

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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