Olympic Medalist Regan Smith NCAA DI Championships Top Seed in 3 Events

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.

3-time Olympic medalist and Team Speedo Athlete Regan Smith has shouldered challenging years since her star-turn at the 2019 World Championships.  Her 100 and 200 backstroke world records earned her the white-hot spotlight of swimming fame.  With the added pressure more stressors followed, the pandemic, deciding on college, and managing NIL.  It was simply a lot.  Regan made it through, earning Olympic hardware, a Speedo partnership, and a place on the Stanford Cardinal team.

In this podcast Regan hints at the challenges, but mostly she smiled, having recently dropped the top seeded times for Women’s NCAA DI Championships in the 100 and 200 backstroke, and 200 butterfly.  At PAC 12 Championships Regan kept Stanford teammate Torri Huske honest in the 100 butterfly, pulling up second with a 49.87.  Regan broke the 100 back PAC 12 record, dropping a 49.5, then followed up with a 49.23 medley relay lead-off leg.  In the 200 butterfly Regan snapped a 1:50.99, good enough for the win.

SwimSwam sources have been telling us Stanford Head Coach Greg Meehan isn’t fully resting his elite talent at NCAA Champs, saving some steam for the International Team Trials in late April, however, Regan slid past my question effortlessly without answering.

SwimSwam also reported that at NCAA Champs Regan’s swimming the 100 back and taking on the tough Day 4 double, 200 back/200 fly.  Again, Regan pushed off, not confirming her NCAA schedule…though I would love to see that herculean effort.

Follow Regan Smith on Instagram here.

Thanks to Speedo, a SwimSwam partner, for supporting this podcast episode.

Follow Speedo on Instagram here.

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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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Jackson
2 years ago

It will be interesting to see how being favored on all her races affects her swimming this time around.

Team Regan
2 years ago

She’s got a great. chance at gold this summer in the 100 BK

redradiant
2 years ago

Cringe comment section

Pool
2 years ago

She never mentions her boyfriend Tim but she also got to spend a lot of extra time at home with him during Covid.

Owlmando
Reply to  Pool
2 years ago

dang tim u good bro

mr mcswammerstein
2 years ago

Stanford Head Coach Greg Meehan isn’t fully resting his elite talent at NCAA Champs, saving some steam for the International Team Trials in late April”

I used to have a teammate that would fake injuries in warm up at big meets so if he did bad, he blamed getting injured in warm up but if he did well, then hed brag about how he did that after getting injured in warm up. I noticed more and more swimmers and coaches pulling this when talking about training and tapering before meets. I think it comes from a lack of self confidence or nerves, but its getting old.

Fleur
2 years ago

“Not fully rested” –> “if we lose against UVA, it’s because we’re actually saving ourselves for trials”. But the UVA women swim fast year round and always deliver amazing swims for the fans. An I’m saying this as a Stanford fan.

Grimes/Mcintosh combo is the future
2 years ago

“…however, Regan slid past my question effortlessly without answering…”.

Honestly, i don’t like how some elite swimmers avoid answering questions about their taper or what events they’re going to swim at a certain meet. Like come on, you’re in a niche sport and swim nerds are interested in those details and you’re still trying to keep secrets.

Those type of swimmers need to learn to be open and make themselves marketable. That’s what i like about track and field athletes since they’re vocal about their goal times, chasing WRs and which meets they’re going to target and whether they’re rested or not.
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Grimes/Mcintosh combo is the future

I love how Bolt was open about everything in interviews and being vocal about that he’s the best of all time, even before he got there. I hope Dressel does the same thing in the future and be more open to the public.

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Last edited 2 years ago by Grimes/Mcintosh combo is the future
Grimes/Mcintosh combo is the future

“I am number one” Bolt in 2008.

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Dotty

Agreed. And then when they swim poorly they have no problem giving giving all the intimate details of why they did swim poorly.

Walter

not everyone has that personality.

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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