Olympic Champion Regan Smith Opens Up About Mindset Shift That Saved Her Swimming Career

Heading into the 2024, Regan Smith had been one Olympics, won 3 medals there, won 9 world championship medals, won an NCAA title, and set 3 world records. But none of it was enough to make Smith feel good about her accomplishments in the pool.

Since the 2022 season, Smith has been slowly working on changing how she views her swimming and the success that comes with it. For much of her career, she would enter a race and feel immense pressure to win, to the point that she would derail herself before she even hit the water. Heading into her races in Paris, she was able to see herself as a fan might, as pure entertainment, and with that came the freedom to swim her own race.

Regan walked away from Paris with 3 silver medals in her individual events and 2 gold medals as a part of Team USA relays. Listen to the growth Smith has made as she describes taking control of her swimming and having pride in her accomplishments.

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sjostrom stan
1 month ago

this episode got a clean rating on Apple podcast LOL

Swimcoach24
1 month ago

This is by far one of the best podcasts Swim Swam has put out. Great work Coleman! Incredible to see Regan in this mindset. I hope this translates into some onward and upward moments!

Cam’glam dam
1 month ago

The american Lazlo Cseh, the female Lochte, the silver Queen of USA

Last edited 1 month ago by Cam’glam dam
David
Reply to  Cam’glam dam
1 month ago

Perhaps but she’ll have her day. Like Cseh and Lochte, she’s up against one very formidable opponent. Nothing to hang your head down about other than keep striving.

LelloT89
1 month ago

That 200fly was indeed amazing to watch, as a Summer fan that last turn from Regan Smith made me watch the last 40m holding my breath, but Regan doing such a good race made Summer’s win even more satisfying

lex
Reply to  LelloT89
1 month ago

I think summer doing such a mind blowing race probably made Regan’s best time and beautifully executed race even more satisfying

LelloT89
Reply to  lex
1 month ago

Probably the downvotes I got are because people misinterpreted what I meant using the word satisfying. I wasn’t going against Regan Smith at all, on the contrary I meant that she made the race (and Summer’s victory) even better. I like a rece when my favorite swimmer has to earn it with a super performance thanks to an amazing opponent far more than a race when a race when she dominates the field

jeff
1 month ago

solidly a top 6 female swimmer in the world and yet not the best in any even is such unfortunate timing

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  jeff
1 month ago

*solidly* top 6 female swimmer?

I don’t know about that.

This is my top 7 in no particular order:

Sarah Sjostrom, Katie Ledecky, Summer McIntosh, Kaylee McKeown, Ariarne Titmus, Mollie O’Callaghan, Kate Douglas.

Jeff
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
1 month ago

Regan is a great swimmer but struggle to think she is currently better than any of those.

jeff
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
1 month ago

Ledecky, McIntosh, McKrown, Titmus are very clearly above her. I wouldn’t put Douglass ahead of her and would probably only put one of MOC/Sjostrom above, depending on the criteria (ie, does Mollie get a bump because she *should* be the best 100 freestyler in the world right now)

Across the last 4 years, Regan ranks #1, #2, #2, #3 in her best 4 events

Last edited 1 month ago by jeff
NotHimAgain
Reply to  jeff
1 month ago

Molly would have Olympic gold for the 100m freestyle if she hadn’t over-celebrated her 200m win. That was a mistake she’ll never repeat.

David
Reply to  NotHimAgain
1 month ago

No 50, 100, 200 freestyler is above Reagan Smith.. Smith could almost make 800 relay..those short free sprinters can’t swim back or fly.

Jeff
Reply to  David
1 month ago

Molly can actually swim back.

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  jeff
1 month ago

Then, she is not *solidly* top six female swimmers, no? Not when there’s 7 other swimmers who can arguably claim to belong in the top six.

*Solidly* indicates *without a doubt* or *surely*

Last edited 1 month ago by Thomas The Tank Engine
Swimmerfan
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
1 month ago

I think that Huske deserves to be without a doubt (swimmer higher in the medal table after Marchand)

1. Mcintosh
2. McKeown
3. Sjostrom
4. Titmus
5. Huske
6. Ledecky
7. Douglass
8. Sckoenmaker
9. O callaghan
10. Smith

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  Swimmerfan
1 month ago

You’re not consistent with your own criteria.

If relay medal count, then O’Callaghan with 5 Paris Olympic medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) should be above most those swimmers.

Also, this isn’t just about Paris.

MOC broke 200 free WR last year, Huske has not broken any WR.

MOC has won 3 World Championship individual gold, Huske 1

MOC 1:52.48 200 free worth 1009 WAQ points, far greater than any swim that Huske has done.

Huske has a very good Olympics, but her overall results in the past year is below Douglas, let alone MOC and Ledecky.

Swimmerfan
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
1 month ago

You can also see how Huske managed to stay close to gold in the 100 meters in Paris, a category in which Mollie has been world champion twice

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  Swimmerfan
1 month ago

One swim does not make someone best swimmer

David
Reply to  Swimmerfan
1 month ago

No way..Smith is much higher

Jeff
Reply to  jeff
1 month ago

are you forgetting that Molly has both broken a WR and won an individual gold at Olympics.

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  jeff
1 month ago

Mollie won 3 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze in Paris.

Mollie defended her 100 free title and won 200 free in WR time in Fukuoka

Mollie won 5 gold and 1 silver in Fukuoka

She swam 1:52.48 200 this year

Overall, MOC achievements in the past 2 years is greater than Regan’s

Jeff
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
1 month ago

quite clearly actually

Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
Reply to  jeff
1 month ago

The depth of talent used to be the strength of USA Swimming. The aforementioned depth of talent has been eroded thanks to University of Texas women’s head coach Carol Capitani (Jacoby, Sullivan). Even freshmen Jillian Cox (W 800 FR) and Erin Gemmell (W 200 FR) regressed during the 2023-2024 LCM season at the University of Texas. Furthermore, the NCAA Division I women’s head coaches have miserably failed to develop women’s 200 meter freestylers that can seriously compete on the world stage.

Olympicfanficfesalhdsoau
1 month ago

You’ll keep having amazing races!! You’re so talented!!

Chris Breedy
1 month ago

Totally THRILLED when she broke that 100 back OR💗

Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
1 month ago

We are proud of you, Regan!

Just have fun!

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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