Todd DeSorbo Reflects on Trials That Saw 4 UVA Swimmers Make 2021 Olympic Team

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 the head coach of the University of Virginia, and now Olympic assistant coach, Todd DeSorbo. DeSorbo wanted to make clear out of the gate that his athletes put him on the team and not the other way around. But no matter how you look at it, UVA swimmers were on a roll at the 2021 Olympic Trials as 4 athletes that train in Charlottesville made the US Olympic team and many more registered lifetime bests. DeSorbo breaks down the Olympic-qualifying performances of Paige Madden, Alex Walsh, Kate Douglass, and Catie DeLoof as well as what he’s looking forward to in Tokyo.

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Aquaman
2 years ago

Paige Madden- Augie Busch should be proud!

10U Dad
2 years ago

Big achievement, love the UVA program, but the Sandpipers were more impressive at the OT.

Samuli Hirsi
Reply to  10U Dad
2 years ago

that…. is like your opinion……. it is endless swamp to argue which did better, we do not know everything behind these swimmers, small things like just bit too hard set on that last training day etc…. can have serious consequences on your performance

Cavalur
2 years ago

DeLoof the biggest achievement for DeSorbo. She was not suppose to make a team and was not a collegiate superstar like the others. Well done

SUNY Cal
Reply to  Cavalur
2 years ago

I agree about Catie Deloof. I wonder if her other sisters will come train at Virginia with her now?.

West Coast Swammer
2 years ago

And on the heels of winning NCAA’s – what a year for UVA!

Bill
2 years ago

Kuddos to Todd for not trying to take credit for Emma Weyant like other colleges do with their incoming freshman.

Swimfan
Reply to  Bill
2 years ago

Check their Instagram. They are claiming her

Huh
Reply to  Swimfan
2 years ago

Todd is not taking credit for coaching her. That is what he meant.

Swimswummer
Reply to  Bill
2 years ago

They’re absolutely claiming her on social media accounts

DMSWIM
Reply to  Swimswummer
2 years ago

I don’t see a problem with UVA claiming her on social media as she is a future Hoo. The school community can be excited for her and happy for her accomplishments. Also, UVA can be proud that an Olympian is choosing to go to school at there. I don’t see any social media posts that claim that Todd coached her.

Coach
Reply to  DMSWIM
2 years ago

I respect the way they use the phrase “incoming freshman”. That recognizes her as having an affiliation with the school without giving a false sense of developing her.

RCP
2 years ago

Can you please simply provide a transcript? The video are too long. Thanks.

Ragnar
Reply to  RCP
2 years ago

But the videos provide the click to help pay SwimSwam through YouTube. We get everything through this site for free, which is far better information than anything we’d get on ESPN, which now has a paywall for lots of stuff. I suspect if we want to keep SwimSwam free forever and mostly ad , YouTube support is probably important

Saw Guerra
2 years ago

At what cost?

Coach
Reply to  Saw Guerra
2 years ago

What does this mean?

Swimpop
Reply to  Coach
2 years ago

Hard work?

Always learning
2 years ago

Awesome interview. What is the breakout that Todd is talking about?

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