Unveiling the Mind of an 8-Time Olympic Medalist: Regan Smith's Thoughts Unfiltered
In this captivating GMM podcast, we had the pleasure of chatting with the incredible Regan Smith, an eight-time Olympic medalist, fresh from her impressive performance at the 2026 Austin Pro Swim Series. Her results speak for themselves:
- 100m Backstroke: 1st place, with a time of 57.98
- 50m Backstroke: 1st place, clocking in at 27.67
- 100m Butterfly: Another gold, finishing in 56.18
- 200m Butterfly: A dominant win, crossing the finish line in 2:05.29
Four events, four victories, and she managed to fit in a color-set and a workout session in the same week! But here's where it gets interesting...
Regan is not your typical elite athlete. She's refreshingly transparent and open to discussing a wide range of topics, offering unique insights into the world of competitive swimming. That's why we're excited to present this episode, titled "What Does Regan Smith Think?"
During our conversation, we covered a diverse range of subjects, including:
- In-depth discussions about her training regimen
- Her performance in the semis at the Pro Swim
- The impact of prize money on her motivation (did it make a difference at her current level?)
- The debate: Should Regan focus solely on backstroke, or does racing in multiple events support her long-term goals?
- Her upcoming racing schedule and event choices
- USA Swimming's Short Course World Championships Trials: Is it a good, bad, or meh experience?
- The recent APA increases (a financial boost for USA Swimming National Team Members after 15 years)
- The USOPC's decision to block foreign athletes from training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center during the 2028 Games
- Regan's thoughts on the LA2028 Olympics and her potential journey to Brisbane 2032
- And much more!
Despite being under the weather during the recording, I didn't want to miss out on this incredible opportunity to interview Regan. Coleman Hodges stepped in to provide support, and although we drifted off-topic for the first few minutes, the conversation really heated up once we got into the swimming-related content.
The podcast clocks in at around an hour and fifteen minutes, and we hope you enjoy every minute of it. If you have any questions you'd like us to ask Regan in a future episode, feel free to drop them in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you!
Be sure to follow Regan Smith on Instagram [link] and Gold Medal Mel on Instagram [link].
A special thanks to Swimoutlet.com for their long-standing partnership and support of swimming news and media for over 14 years.
This Gold Medal Media production is brought to you by SwimOutlet.com. Your host, Gold Medal Mel Stewart, is a three-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a leading swimming news website. Please note that the opinions expressed by the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC, or our advertising partners.
In this story, we feature:
- Regan Smith [link]
- Gold Medal Mel Stewart [link]
About Gold Medal Mel Stewart:
MEL STEWART Jr., also known as Gold Medal Mel, is a three-time Olympic medalist from the 1992 Games. His specialty was the 200 butterfly, and he holds the distinction of being a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in this event. As a writer, producer, and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to various platforms, including Yahoo Sports and Universal Sports. He continues to inspire and educate through his work in the swimming community.
