Torri Huske on Winning Gold, Relay Starts, and The Public Under-appreciating Silver/Bronze

Torri Huske finished 4th in the 100 fly at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. A year later, she won the world title in the same event. At the next year’s world championships after taking on an extreme course load at Stanford, still managed a bronze in the event. And finally, in Paris, Huske topped the podium once again… plus much, much more.

It’s no exaggeration to say the Paris Olympics was Torri’s best international competition to date. Not only did she score gold in the 100 fly (55.5), but she also won silver in the 100 free (52.2) and as a part of the 400 free relay (52.0) as well as gold in the mixed 400 medley relay (Free, 51.8) and 400 medley relay (Free, 52.4). Huske breaks down the training she did leading into the Games, how her less-than-ideal experience last summer helped her learn moving into this year, and what she did to improve her relay starts.

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

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

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Michael B
1 month ago

Torri anchored both the Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay and World record-breaking 4×100 medley relay. In the mixed she swam 51:88 an incredible swim to hold of China. In the women’s medley Regan Smith led off with the Olympic record for the 100 back! That race also sealed the US overall medal win over Australia.

What I would like to know what does she think when she looks back at those races, videos and wild crazy on-deck celebrations. The camera is capturing the other 3 swimmers and incredible joy and accomplishment while Torri is coughing up a lung hanging on to the side of the pool after delivering two great performances. I kept thinking – hello there is a 4th… Read more »

Lifeguard
2 months ago

Great interview. Torri made a great decision to redshirt and go all in with her training for the Olympics. The results speak for themselves. I hope she has an amazing season this year. She is such a bright and kind young woman.

Swimswammmmmmmmmm
2 months ago

So proud of her! Has improved a lot these past few years!

Last edited 2 months ago by Swimswammmmmmmmmm
Jonathan
2 months ago

I’m really surprised that Torri Huske is still getting a lot of hate in the comments section after her stellar meet in Paris.

She was honest about her failures at last year’s World Championships, and put in the hard work necessary to set herself up for huge meet in Paris. What more can you ask of her?

Meathead
Reply to  Jonathan
2 months ago

shes getting no hate….her relay starts are improved, not good. And shes swimming great. Where do you see hate?

Buffalo Joe
2 months ago

Her relay starts are now average

Her swimming is best in world

Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
Reply to  Buffalo Joe
2 months ago

She’s a top 5 swimmer in world. Not best in world.

But her relay exchanges are not good enough for DIII championships

Bob
Reply to  Buffalo Joe
2 months ago

Best in the world?….is this her mom or dad talking?

Meathead
Reply to  Bob
2 months ago

she won gold in an individual event…makes a strong claim to be best in world…how would you quantify it?

Jeff
Reply to  Meathead
2 months ago

Summer won 3

Meathead
2 months ago

Torri had an incredible Olympic Games. She crushed it in the 100 fly and was outstanding in the 100 free

I have tremendous respect for Torri addressing her weakness in her relay starts. USA swimming needs athletes to be able to compete in relays. Torri’s relay exchanges hurt her. Massive respect to address it.

She still has some work to do. 52.2 flat start should be 50.9-51.5 flying start. Hopefully, she will continue to work on this and reach her full potential come LA ’28. I’d love to see America reclaim the top of to podium in all relays.

Torri further improving her relay start is step 1 to this process

smglsn12
Reply to  Meathead
2 months ago

52.2 to 50.9 would be a ridiculous differential. I think 51.4 is about as fast as anyone should reasonably expect (if her flat start stays a 52.2, of course)

Last edited 2 months ago by smglsn12
Meathead
Reply to  smglsn12
2 months ago

Tell that to Jason Lezak. He follows your rules of start physics, and America is at least a full second slower in the 2008 4×100 free relay, which causes them to get second. Phelps does not get his 8th gold, and only Dr. Brown can predict how the world changes going from that point forward

Thank God Jason didn’t consult you in the training camp heading into the Olympics

smglsn12
Reply to  Meathead
2 months ago

I… am having trouble wrapping my head around why you are expecting everyone to match Jason Lezak in perhaps the most incredible swimming performance of all time. I stand by my statement that 52.2 to 50.9 would be a ridiculous differential, 47.5 to 46.0 was ridiculous too! An otherworldly performance that shouldn’t be the standard all of team USA is held to

Robbos
Reply to  smglsn12
2 months ago

I thought Ian Thorpe, a 17 year 400 free swimmer, who just won the 400 earlier in the evening, mowing down Gary Hall Jr, a sprinter in the last 50 metres of the 4x 100 in Sydney was better.
Thorpie did without drafting or a supersuit.

Robbos
Reply to  Coleman Hodges
2 months ago

Coleman, you know that was not a supersuit, yes he had a textile suit on, but it was year 2000.
The Supersuits were in 2008/09.
I know you love Lezak, but lets keep with facts.

NoFastTwitch
Reply to  Meathead
2 months ago

Lezak’s start wasn’t the difference. It was his finish.

Meathead
Reply to  NoFastTwitch
2 months ago

or was it the relay hype machine? Hunter Armstrong threw a massive swim in the 4×100 free relay. Dropping 1.0 seconds is very realistic. Perfect swim (Jason Lezak) anything is possible

Troyy
Reply to  Meathead
2 months ago

That was a drafting masterclass just like Scott in 2019.

Swimgeek
Reply to  Meathead
2 months ago

Um wut? A good relay exchange should give 0.5 and that’s it. 0.6 flat start to 0.1 relay start.

Big Purple Dinosaur
Reply to  Swimgeek
2 months ago

The reaction time is only a portion of the equation. Depending on the person, the ability to use momentum to replace a lack of explosiveness can matter too.

A good start is made up of two things: reaction time AND power off the blocks. Generating power from a rolling start should, in theory, require less athleticism than generating power from a flat start.

Troyy
Reply to  Meathead
2 months ago

You’re seriously expecting her to drop 1.3 seconds with a relay exchange?

Meathead
Reply to  Troyy
2 months ago

expecting? No…possible, yes

Teamwiess
2 months ago

I think Torri often gets underestimated. She has been very solid for team USA except for maybe one meet. So happy she did so well in Paris. Always a good interview.

RealCrocker5040
2 months ago

I Am grateful that Torri “Terrific” Huske finally silenced Relay Names Guy about Greg Meehan

Last edited 2 months ago by RealCrocker5040
Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
2 months ago

Feel like this is less about Meehan not failing and more about Torri being great

Troyy
Reply to  Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
2 months ago

So it’s just a coincidence that the US’ only 52 low freestylers were both coached by Meehan?

Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
Reply to  Troyy
2 months ago

If Douglass focuses on 100 she’s 51.9

Yikes
Reply to  Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
2 months ago

If if if

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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