Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories

“Have you had any major roadblocks along your journey?”

The hosts ask this after discussing successes to understand how the athlete handles adversity.

“Is your positive mindset something you've worked on or were you born with it?”

This question explores the origin and development of an athlete's mental game.

“What's it like in Australia seeing the Americans swim so fast at their meets?”

Used to probe the international rivalry and dynamics from the athlete's point of view.

“What does 'being fit' mean to you in terms of body comp, practice times, or other metrics?”

Asks the guest to clarify their personal definition of peak physical condition beyond just race results.

“What do you think is your best race ever?”

This question is used to identify a peak career moment from the athlete's own perspective.

“What's your favorite [non-swimming interest like song/band]?”

This serves as a common icebreaker to build personal rapport before diving into technical topics.

“Can you walk us through your training and racing over the last nine months?”

Aimed at getting a detailed, chronological breakdown of the guest's recent process and journey.

“What was the hardest part of swimming for you this past week?”

This seeks a current and specific example of a challenge, grounding the conversation in the present.

“How do you prepare and taper for multiple important meets during the season?”

This question targets the specific, high-level training strategies of elite swimmers.

“Why do you [do specific, noticeable technique] when you swim?”

Often asked early to address a viral or widely-discussed part of the guest's craft, like Josh Matheny's breathing.

“What are your fondest memories as a [high school/club] swimmer?”

Typically sourced from the audience, this question is used to explore a guest's origin story and formative years.