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Step into the realm of resilience, endurance, and achievement with ”The Greg Bennett Show.” Hosted by Greg Bennett, an Olympian, former world number one triathlete, and one of the most prolific figures in Triathlon, this podcast embodies Greg’s career-defining mantra, ”Success comes to those who endure just one moment longer.” On ”The Greg Bennett Show” Greg blends his wealth of 27 years of professional experience, having won over 100 international races from 500 starts and held the title of the world’s number 1 ranked triathlete for three consecutive years, with profound, insightful dialogues featuring the world’s leading athletes, coaches, entrepreneurs, and high-performers. These conversations traverse sports, business, entrepreneurship, and entertainment sectors, providing a rich tapestry of stories about the relentless pursuit of success, mental resilience, and the art of endurance. A balance between Greg’s remarkable career and the inspiring journeys of his guests, ”The Greg Bennett show” serves as a beacon of inspiration for those daring to strive, persist, and endure just one moment longer in their pursuit of greatness.
Episodes
Apr 11, 2022
Apr 11, 2022
1hr 16 min
AnyQuestion - https://Anyquestion.com/RyanMurphy
When Ryan Murphy was just eight years old, he dreamed of becoming an Olympic swimmer and breaking world records. Thirteen years later, at the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio, his lifelong dream came true. There, Ryan not only became an Olympian, but he crushed his Olympic goals by winning three gold medals in the 100 meter backstroke, the 200-meter backstroke and the 4×100 meter medley relay, setting a new world record for the 100-meter backstroke. In 2021, he did it again winning gold in the 4×100 meter medley relay, silver in the 200-meter backstroke and bronze in the 100-meter backstroke.
Ryan comes from a family of swimmers. His sister Shannon and brother Patrick were both competitive swimmers growing up, and naturally as most younger siblings do, Ryan followed suit. Ryan emerged from follower to leader quickly; speeding past his siblings and countess competitors.
A six time Olympic medalist - four Gold, a silver and bronze.
7 time World Champion
World and Olympic record holder for the 100 m Backstroke
12 time NCAA Champion
28 medals total whilst representing the USA.
Timestamps
0:00 - Montage of Ryan Murphy swimming wins - audio clip
1:17 - Introduction to show.
3:39 - Interview starts.
5:30 - While at the University of California, Berkeley, Ryan won both the 100 and 200-yard backstroke events at the NCAA Championships for four straight years. He holds the American Record in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke, 50-meter short course backstroke, 50-meter long course backstroke, 100-meter long course backstroke. In his Olympic debut in Rio, Ryan won three golds medals, sweeping the backstroke events and helping the U.S. win gold in the 4x100m medley relay, where his backstroke lead-off set a world record. In 2017, he turned pro, earned the PAC 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year award and completed his B.S. in Business Administration from the prestigious Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. As one of the most dominant swimmers in the world, the 23-year-old swept the backstroke events at the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, won six medals (three gold and three silver) at the 2018 Swimming World Championships in Hangzhou, China, and was named the 2018 Male Athlete of the Year by USA Swimming at its annual Golden Goggle Awards. In 2021, he shined in Tokyo winning gold in the 4×100 meter medley relay, silver in the 200-meter backstroke and bronze in the 100-meter backstroke. A native of Ponte Vedra Beach (Jacksonville), Fla., Murphy is passionate about giving every young child the opportunity to learn how to swim and being a role model for young swimmers. Ryan currently trains in Berkeley, CA with the goal of making his third-straight Olympic appearance in Paris.
8:28 - Why don't we have any 50 metre races (apart from freestyle) at the Olympics?
9:34 - What's harder, the 200m butterfly, or the 400m individual medley?
10:44 - Bolles High school, Jacksonville Florida has an alumni from Ryan Murphy to Caeleb Dressel to Joseph Schooling who secured Singapore's first ever Olympic gold in 100 fly at the Rio Games. What is the secret sauce to Bolles High School, how does it produce so many Olympians?
17:09 - As a Captain in the US Swimming team, what role, aside from turning up and swimming your best do you have to perform?
19:09 - Did swimming choose you, or did you choose swimming? How did you find your passion for the sport?
23:15 - As a youth, you had anxiety before race meets. So much so that you would throw up then go and swim the race. How did your parents, peers, and competitors handle this?
26:27 - What was the moment you felt you had a chance at an Olympic medal?
35:44 - You both seem to stand out in the way you explode off the wall. What are you and Caeleb Dressel doing underwater at those turns?
41:47 - What is the feeling of qualifying for an Olympics like?
47:00 - The RIO Olympic Games could not have gone much better ... Gold in the 100m, Gold in the 200m, set a World Record in the lead-off for the medley relay alongside Michael Phelps, Cody Miller, Nathan Adrian. Boxes ticked ... drop the mic ... where do you go from there?
49:07 - Explain the race plan for the 200m backstroke at the RIO Games. Despite not being in a medal position at the half point turn, you came off the wall to start that third 50m and opened up a half-body length gap, then went on to win Gold.
1:06:46 - You are one of the great Olympians now ... How has the success that you've had so far, affected your life?
1:10:38 - What do you love about swimming?
1:11:52 - What's on the calendar for Ryan Murphy in 2022?
01:15:40 - Interview ends.
Links
Find Greg on social media:
website: ryanmurphy.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RyanMurphy
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryanmurphyswim
twitter: https://twitter.com/ryan_f_murphy
Apr 4, 2022
Apr 4, 2022
1hr 20 min
James Gibson, MBE is an English former competitive swimmer who represented Great Britain in the Olympics, FINA world championships, and European championships, and in the Commonwealth Games. He is a former world, European and Commonwealth champion in the men's 50-metre breaststroke event, and now serves as the head swimming coach at the Energy Standard Swim Club.
As a Head coach of the ISL Championship winning team - Energy Standard he’s led the team to win the 2019 and 2021 titles and was 2nd in 2020.
He’s coached some of the greatest swimmers on the planet. Sarah Sjostrom, Chad Le Clos. and Florent Manadou to name a few.
Timestamps
0:00 - Florent Manaudou Wins Men's 50m Freestyle Gold -- London 2012 Olympics - audio clip
0:54 - Introduction to show.
3:05 - Interview starts.
11:30 - The ISL - International Swimming League was formed to create a team sport out of what has historically been an individual sport. Swimming is one of the most participated sports in the world, so the ISL is aiming to both monetise and create exciting events that showcase the elite swimming athletes.
21:11 - Greg and James rewind the clock and chat through James' journey to swimming and how he found the passion for the sport.
24:58 - Work and talent are important, however it's crucial to have the opportunity. James discusses how and when he made the decision to focus on the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and then The Olympics.
28:22 - 'Relaxing and enjoying the racing experience' is what a modern coach tries to create for each athlete. It's not easy as Greg and James talk through the coaching process. Understanding 'identity' (who you are) is not linked to the success in the pool.
38:14 - What is the definition of 'passion' ... James gives possibly THE best answer you'll ever hear.
41:30 - How is 'belief' carved and created by a coach? James explains his term, 'the searchers'.
45:08 - What was James' belief and mindset when he became the world number 1? His answer will resonate with you no matter where you are on your life journey!
50:15 - Using 'positive attitude', how do you help an athlete before a race?
54:23 - James explains his craziest risk for a marginal gain with Flo Manaudou prior to the 2012 Olympic Games.
1:01:33 - James gives his view on the future of swimming ... sit down for this answer ... he gives us both barrels!
1:04:31 - Greg asks the BIG question ... is Caeleb Dressel beatable? And if he is ... how?
1:06:51 - James gives his Top 5 Coaches of all time.
1:13:04 - Can we keep getting faster times in the pool, or will we peak and plateau at some stage?
1:16:54 - What's next for James Gibson in 2022 and beyond?
01:20:03 - Interview ends.
Find James Gibson on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesgibson
twitter: https://twitter.com/energy_standard
Mar 28, 2022
Mar 28, 2022
1hr 22 min
Simon Whitfield made history in his Olympic debut at Sydney 2000 where he unexpectedly became the first ever Olympic champion in men’s triathlon. An outstanding runner, Whitfield moved himself from the middle of the field after the swimming and cycling legs to the top step of the podium. He used his sprint speed to catch and pass the leader, German Stephan Vuckovic, less than 300 metres from the finish line before pulling away for the victory.
After an 11th place finish at Athens 2004, Whitfield and his team decided he needed a new strategy at Beijing 2008. Teammate Colin Jenkins willingly took up the role of domestique, which was a tactic borrowed from road cycling. Jenkins’ job was to get out of the water at the front of the pack and keep the leaders close during the cycling leg, chasing down and reeling in anyone who attempted to break away. That set the stage for Whitfield to shine during the 10-kilometre run. Fourth heading into the final lap, Whitfield picked up his pace for another sprint to the finish line, coming away with the silver medal.
For his fourth Olympic Games at London 2012, Whitfield was selected as Team Canada’s flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony. But he was unable to finish his last Olympic race when he crashed his bike going over a speed bump and suffered a small break to his collarbone. The two-time Olympic medalist announced his retirement in October 2013.
Whitfield’s success at multi-sport games also includes the bronze medal won at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg as well as the first ever gold medal awarded in triathlon at the Commonwealth Games in 2002.
During his 16 years as an elite international competitor, Whitfield earned 14 ITU World Cup victories and was a 12-time national champion. He received Honourary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Guelph and the University of Victoria. Whitfield was inducted the ITU Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
Timestamps
0:00 - audio snippet
1:28 - Introduction to show.
3:47 - Interview starts.
8:38 - Where in the world is Simon Whitfield?
10:18 - The relationship between sport and competition can be detrimental. As athletes we were always peering over the edge of our ability, however Simon realised something startling about his need for adventure once he retired.
17:14 - The journey for Simon from first finding Triathlon is extraordinary. His message is to say 'yes' to every opportunity and go out into the world and 'explore'.
31:07 - Simon describes the feelings that happen for an elite athlete during an Olympic Games event. From the hurt box, to the mindset that is uncomfortable, explorative, addictive ... present. He describes it as the 'most alive' you'll ever be.
48:58 - The champs chat sport and politics ... particularly as it relates to the current situation in Europe.
52:34 - The sport of Triathlon has changed over the decades and with so much wisdom between them, Greg and Simon chat through the science, the modern athlete mindset, the gadgets that now measure and quantify performances.
1:09:49 - Who is the greatest athlete of all time? (what a list!!!)
1:15:45 - Some wonderful book suggestions from both men. (see below for links and details)
1:19:53 - What's next for Simon Whitfield?
1:22:18 - Interview ends.
Books mentioned
The Paper Menagerie - Ken Liu
The Last Neanderthal: A Novel - Claire Cameron
Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder - Nassim Nicholas Nicholas Taleb
Find Simon Whitfield online:
website: https://www.simonwhitfield.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonwhitfield
Mar 21, 2022
Mar 21, 2022
1hr 22 min
Phil Liggett MBE is affectionately referred to as the “Voice of Cycling”. Phil was last on The Greg Bennett Show back in episode 28, almost two years ago!
He truly is the “Voice of Cycling”. In fact, the recent documentary film of his life is called exactly that.
This year is the 50th year that he’ll be working at the Tour De France - what a fantastic achievement that is. Add to that his 16 Olympic Games, and you get an understanding of why he is held in such high regard.
In 2009, he was inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame.
Phil is currently residing with his wife Trish on a game reserve in South Africa where he helps with efforts to protect rhinos from poachers.
Timestamps
0:00 - audio snippet from Phil Liggett - The Voice of Cycling Documentary
0:53 - Introduction to show.
2:55 - Interview starts.
4:55 - When you live in a remote bush location, beware the clever baboons!
8:15 - When you work in the sport of pro cycling ... you must be prepared to work with the animals.
9:05 - The Collins Cup can be a good reason for an old-athlete's reunion.
11:03 - The dangers of staying in too many hotels can be you never remember where the loo is ...
12:49 - The world of commentating live sports has changed dramatically these past two years and Phil explains how and why it might never go back to the way it once was.
17:14 - The Voice of Cycling documentary is a journey of Phil Liggett's personal life, as well his involvement and impact within cycling. It was created by an Australian film crew and has been over 2 years in the making. However it has not been without challenges, Phil explains some of the back story.
21:01 - Phil is incredibly philanthropic and is involved in saving rhinos in South Africa and also building a Vocational School offering quality and relevant skills training programs to vulnerable girls in an area where life opportunities are limited.
The Paul Sherwen Project was established to support the good that Paul was enacting in Uganda and across East Africa – empowering local people to drive progress and economic development through education, job skills, and personal training, while promoting & protecting the unique culture and environment of their communities.
If you feel this powerful project resonates with you, you can donate here
27:43 - Phil managed to turn his hobby of cycling into a career ... and it all started with his first job for ₤15 (approx $25) Listen in for the clues to Phil's success in life ... his incredible work ethic.
33:37 - Phil greatest career failure was not becoming a pro cyclist ... however it led him to his career for the past 50 years ... commentating pro cycling.
43:44 - Phil describes his greatest career highlight ... The 1989 Tour de France call. Extraordinary!
51:47 - Phil's well known in broadcast circles for his attention to detail in research and preparation. This story from Phil around Eric Zabel who was celebrating his birthday within the peloton proves why Phil Liggett is so loved as a commentator.
54:10 - So where did all the Phil Liggett quotes come from? Liggett-isms are a thing! "Dancing on the pedals ... The Rollercoaster of pain ... He's wearing the mask of pain ... Once again, they've stretched the elastic. ... It's rather like holding back the flood with a little finger ..." Phil explains how all these quotes (and more) came about.
57:46 - Paul Sherwen was a cherished friend and colleague in Phil Liggett's life. Paul Sherwen was an English professional racing cyclist and later a broadcaster on cycling, notably the Tour de France. He raced in seven editions of the Tour, finishing five, and gained a reputation for his ability to suffer over long mountain stages. Paul Sherwen passed on December 2, 2018.
1:05:08 - Phil names his three living people (non-family), that he'd invite to dinner. * Spoiler alert * The story Phil tells of his experience with the warden of the prison that incarcerated Nelson Mandela is fascinating.
1:14:22 - Phil gives us his exclusive predictions for the 2022 Tour de France.
01:18:08 - What's next for Phil Liggett?
01:21:41 - Interview ends.
Links
Be sure and check out bennettendurance.com
Find Greg on social media:
Twitter Greg Bennett Show
Instagram The Greg Bennett Show
Find Phil Liggett on social media:
AnyQuestion - https://anyquestion.com/phil
Paul Sherwen Project website: https://www.paulsherwenproject.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhilLiggett
Mar 14, 2022
Mar 14, 2022
1hr 18 min
Christian Vande Velde raced bikes at the highest level throughout his 15-year professional career from 1998–2013, competing at the 2008 Summer Olympics and 18 Grand Tours. With two top-10 performances and multiple team victories including a 4th place in the Tour De France in 2008, and a year-out from retiring he had a brilliant win at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.
Post-retirement, Christian has built a 'second life' in cycling through his role as an NBC sports commentator ... quote, "I rode bikes now I talk about them on NBC."
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to show.
1:55 - Interview starts
3:52 - COVID changed so many things in regard to broadcast commentary, particularly the ability to work from home studios via television feeds, Christian explains how he has adapted to this new way of working and how he feels it will be in the future for major international events.
7:39 - Christian's relationship with the late Paul Sherwen goes back decades to when they were both in grade school. He tells us some beautiful stories about Paul and his gift of language.
11:58 - Christian explains a not-so-typical day working commentary on the Tour de France.
13:57 - Greg turns the clock back with Christian and they talk about how he found his passion for cycling.
19:34 - Growing up in Chicago, at what point did Chris realise he had some talent for this cycling thing?
21:10 - Christian tells the story of winning his first junior worlds team race as he studied under a scholarship at a small arts school. This was a major turning point for him, but he was berated by the head coach for winning.
25:32 - The high amount of training miles back in the late 90's while in camp in Adelaide Australia had an impact on Christians entire career. He explains both the pros, and cons of the training and nutrition from back then.
29:07 - Being an elite athlete meant missing out on friend and family time back home ... Christian explains the sacrifices and the life of an athlete is not always as glamourous as it's perceived to be.
30:50 - Having so much success on the track, Christian explains why he switched to road racing.
32:07 - Christian describes the feeling of getting his first big pro contract. Wait till you hear how much it was worth!
34:24 - In road racing, a 'domestique' is a rider who works for the benefit of their team and leader, rather than trying to win the race. In French, domestique translates as "servant". Christian explains how this works within a pro cycling team, including his time riding with Lance Armstrong.
39:43 - Christian gives some insight in regard to Lance ... with, or without drugs, was Lance still the best rider in all those events?
43:26 - Christian's best grand tour was the 2008 Tour de France. He explains why, and how his mind and body turned up for this event.
51:55 - Christian has publicly stated that the worst event for his career was the 2005 Giro d’Italia - he explains in detail why and what happened before and during this event.
54:41 - What embarrassing moments stick out for Christian?
56:02 - Why did he decide to retire, and what was the transition into commentating for NBC like for Christian.
01:05:50 - Christian gives his view on the sport of professional cycling and explains some big factors that have changed the sport for the better.
01:08:30 - Who was the greatest cyclist you ever competed against?
01:10:49 - Who is Christian Vande Velde's G.O.A.T cyclist?
01:12:30 - If you could sit with any 3 people for dinner, who would they be, and why?
01:14:31 - What's one piece of advice that you could give to people now to help them optimize their lives?
01:16:02 - What's next for Christian Vande Velde?
01:18:18 - Interview ends.
Links
Find Greg on social media:
Find Christian Vande Velde on social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristianVDV
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianvdv
Mar 7, 2022
Mar 7, 2022
1hr 2 min
Dr. Dena Garner is a professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, the Director of Undergraduate Research and the Assistant Provost for Research and Policy at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Garner is best known in fitness circles for her work with performance mouthpieces, including helping to develop the technology behind the AIRWAAV mouthpiece.
Dena started working at The Citadel in 2004 while completing her post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina, also located in Charleston. Before her move to Charleston, she worked at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon where she also received her doctoral degree in exercise physiology. She received her Master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in exercise physiology and an undergraduate degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.
Dr. Garner has been working in the area of mouthpiece use and effect on human performance since 2005 with studies that have focused on reaction time, lactate, and cortisol and the effect of mouthpiece use on these parameters. In addition, her research has focused on mouthpiece use during steady state exercise and effects on oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange as well as the proposed mechanisms for positive effects on airway dynamics in a healthy population.
In addition to research in the area of mouthpiece use and effect on human performance, Dr. Garner is involved in a research study which encompasses testing and evaluating physiologic neuro-assessment devices in healthy versus traumatic brain injury populations. Related to this research she was awarded a multi-year grant from the Henry Jackson Foundation to assess neurologic assessment devices in healthy populations.
Backed by 15 years of research conducted with athletes at cadets at The Citadel – the AIRWAAV Performance Mouthpiece offers a more efficient way for high-intensity and endurance athletes — including lifters — to open their airways and optimize their performance. Learn more at airwaav.com.
Dena started working at The Citadel in 2004 while completing her post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina, also located in Charleston. Before her move to Charleston, she worked at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon where she also received her doctoral degree in exercise physiology. She received her Master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in exercise physiology and an undergraduate degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.
CT Scans prove the mouthpiece increases the width of your airway an average of 9%.
INCREASED ENDURANCE Reduces respiratory rate by 20%, resulting in less lactic acid production.
FASTER RECOVERY TIMES Reduces cortisol build-up by up to 50% after intense workouts, improving recovery times.
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to show.
2:55 - Interview starts
4:37 - The Citadel is a Military College in South Carolina, how did you end up at a Military College?
6:46 - Your expertise in the area of airways for runners, cyclists, and Triathletes is well documented. Where did your desire to research and understand human performance start?
11:58 - Were you an athlete growing up? Do you come from an athletic background?
15:42 - When it was first brought to you to research the airways, were you skeptical or unsure if this was work that you could find the passion and desire you clearly have now?
21:24 - Who first had the concept that a mouthpiece could be a gamechanger in the way we breathe?
23:09 - Dr Garner explains the science in how a mouthpiece can help us breathe better in particularly when it comes to strength and endurance performance.
25:52 - How does nose breathing compare to mouth breathing? Is one better than the other?
27:00 - Have you been testing on elite athletes?
33:51 - Dr. Garner explains how the mouthpiece helps the recovery process.
35:24 - How can an athlete test their training and compare their exertion rate using a mouthpiece?
37:31 - How has the mouthpiece evolved over the 17 years you've been researching and developing?
40:10 - Where do you see this technology going in the future other than within the elite sports arena?
44:29 - What are some of the research data numbers that you have seen pre and post exercise?
49:24 - Dr. Garner explains the research into concussion recovery and how the mouthpiece enhances cerebral blood flow.
53:13 - Some fun questions to wrap up this conversation and to get to know Dr. Dena Garner even more.
-
If you could sit with three living people, who would they be and why?
-
What advice would you give to listeners to help them optimize their own lives?
-
What's next for Dr. Dena Garner?
01:01:43 - Interview ends.
Feb 28, 2022
Feb 28, 2022
1hr 22 min
It’s been 37 years since he reached the apex of the sport, mining three gold medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. In the time since, he has etched out a highly successful broadcasting career and has been a model of unselfishness, whether providing youth clinics, through his fundraising efforts or simply promoting the sport.
His given name is Ambrose Gaines. Those who have been around the deck know him by one name: Rowdy.
Often referred to as “Swimming’s Greatest Ambassador”, Ambrose “Rowdy” Gaines didn’t start swimming until he was 17, but improved rapidly within two years to earn a swimming scholarship to Auburn University.
Gaines had broke 11 world records leading up to 1980 and was favored to dominate his events at the Olympic Games Moscow 1980, but the United States boycotted the Games that year.
Despite taking a year-long hiatus from swimming upon thinking his athletic career might be over, Gaines returned to the water in 1981 and made the U.S. team for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984. He won an individual gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle and anchored the gold-medal winning teams for the 400 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay.
Despite being inflicted with a life-threatening neurological disorder at the age of 31, Gaines made a comeback to his sport and was the oldest swimmer to qualify for the 1996 Olympic Trials at 35. He decided not to compete, but instead became the swimming commentator for NBC.
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to show.
2:36 - Interview starts
6:42 - Rewinding the clock, Rowdy explains when his passion for swimming first came about.
8:18 - A 'pat on the back' at a certain stage of our life can make ALL the difference.
9:19 - Rowdy started swimming at age 17, which was (and still is) considered somewhat old. However what he accomplished in the next few years was nothing short of extraordinary.
10:42 - Mentoring and acknowledging a young athlete can be crucial to their 'stick-ability' in a sport. Rowdy explains how impactful it was for him.
13:26 - To become a champion it takes a lot more than simply 'turning yur hands over'. It takes mindset, attitude, work ethic ... Rowdy discusses how his parents guided him and made a real impact in his first few years in the sport.
16:00 - At what point did Rowdy decide that 'swimming' was what he was going to do?
19:07 - Managing your mental game is crucial for any elite athlete. The tough times are when you can learn and grow the most, Rowdy explains his least fondest memory.
20:40 - On March 21, 1980, President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States was boycotting the Summer Olympics to be held in Moscow in response to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan on Dec. 24, 1979. Rowdy explains how athletes first heard about the boycott and how it affected him and his team mates.
23:55 - Gaines said he experienced mental-health issues after missing out on the 1980 Games and had "some real trouble post-Olympics, and ... some big struggles, especially the year after." Rowdy explains how he got himself motivated and out of the funk of disappointment of not competing in 1980.
29:34 - Rowdy's fondest moment in his career to date. (clue: there have been a few)
31:50 - Managing the stress and anxiousness of heading into the next Olympics as World record holder, World Champion. There was added pressure in the 1984 Olympic Games for Rowdy. He talks us through his experience in the lead up and even through the 100m freestyle experience at the 1984 Olympics.
36:11 - A story about the start of the race that ensured he didn't get left on the blocks.
42:11 - After his career, Rowdy had no real idea on what he would do next ... certainly not a long and respected career in sports announcing.
43:37 - is there more pressure in commentating an Olympic race, than there is in 'competing' in an Olympic race?
46:37 - Wanna know what a typical day commentating at the Olympics looks like? Rowdy has done 8 Olympics!
49:13 - Is there one race call that Rowdy feels is THE best of all time?
55:05 - The world record for the 100m free has dropped and kept dropping for 40 years. How low can it go?
1:02:57 - Who is the GOAT?
1:08:07 - What Rowdy believes is the future of swimming?
1:13:54 - Which 3 people would Rowdy invite to dinner?
1:17:14 - What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone to help them optimize their life?
1:19:20 - What's next for Rowdy Gaines?
01:21:30 - Interview ends.
Feb 21, 2022
Feb 21, 2022
1hr 21 min
An icon of Australian sport. Michael Klim is a three-time Olympian, multiple world champion and 21-time world record holder. He was the greatest relay team swimmer the world has ever seen.
His resume is remarkable:
Six Olympic medals, Two gold,
25 World champ medals, 12 gold,
54 medals at major competitions, 25 gold, 19 silver, 10 bronze
Michael transitioned from sport to business in 2008, and his pursuit of excellence did not stop. His businesses have all been extraordinary.
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to show.
2:08 - Interview starts
5:41 - Breaking a World record in a short course pool swimming 100Fly without a crowd at the AIS.
9:02 - Where are you and what are you up to currently?
12:49 - Why did you turn to open water swimming after retiring?
16:13 - Michael Klim was part of the true golden era when Australian swimming was going through a really special. Did you know it at the time?
20:53 - Kieran Perkins won a gold medal from lane 8 in 1996 just scraping into the final, you were his room mate at the Olympic Village, tell us how you saw that time?
23:57 - The 4 x 100m relay at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney where the American team had never been beaten in this event. The Americans were the favourite. Talk us through the race, the win, that special moment.
32:03 - Was there a time in your career where you had some pretty significant struggles?
35:56 - 1996 was the catalyst for your career. You changed your stroke to straight arm, you were one of the first to use the underwater dolphin kick, that decade of swimming that you did has left a mark. Talk us though the records and that time?
43:34 - What was the transition out of swimming for you?
57:34 - You beat your body up at such an intense level, for such a long time ... how is your body now?
01:05:06 - If you could sit with any 3 people for dinner, who would they be, and why?
01:14:56 - What's one piece of advice that you could give to people now to help them optimize their lives?
01:18:15 - What's next for Michael Klim?
01:20:42 - Interview ends.
Feb 14, 2022
Feb 14, 2022
1hr 22 min
In this episode of BE with Champions, Greg Bennett chats with Dr. Tommy Wood.
Dr. Tommy Wood was on episodes 30 and 53 and you really need to do yourself a favor and go check those out.
A quick recap of his background - Dr. Wood received his bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, a medical degree from the University of Oxford, and a Ph.D. in physiology and neuroscience from the University of Oslo.
Tommy is currently the assistant professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington. His research program focuses on factors associated with brain health and function across lifespan.
Add to that, he competes in Powerlifting and Cross fit and understands the benefits of physical activity for overall health.
Check below for the timestamps and some great quotes.
Timestamps
4:06 - What is a Strongman competition?
9:36 - Is there any truth to the myth that humans only use 10% of the brain?
12:09 - How much negative input can affect the life of our brain and does it weaken our brain if we surround ourselves with negative impact?
15:46 - We are drawn to negativity as a survival mechanism, can we remove stresses in our life?
20:37 - Can we control our thoughts and minimise our stress so that our behaviour and attitude towards stress is more favorable?
26:48 - The term 'Mental Health' seems to be thrown around and generalized a lot these days ... is this a new human thing, or is it simply that we are starting to acknowledge and talk about mental heath a lot more?
29:44 - We're living in a society where we rarely get the chance to 'turn off'. Normal and ecological stresses have changed and we know that the human body becomes more physiologically resilient when it's exposed to brief periods of stress that it's able to recover from. We have to create these stresses like heat or cold or fasting, the body drives adaptation, where in past times these stresses have happened more naturally.
33:12 - Can finding 'purpose' help our mental health?
36:16 - Success is a word that conjures all sorts of different thoughts and can help or hinder our mental health. Is there a way we can train our brains to ensure success is a powering word that creates less stress?
44:47 - The quote that "We become the sum of the 5 people we most surround ourselves with". How true is this?
47:16 - How has Dr. Wood manage the influence social media has?
50:20 - What foods we put into our bodies clearly affect our brain health, how much should we as individuals focus on what we eat from a macro and a micro perspective?
58:23 - EMF's, Wi-Fi, 5G ... electromagnetic devices are around us constantly, what effect are these having on our brain health? When you sleep, what does Dr. Wood do with his phone/ipad/etc?
1:05:02 - What is happening to our bodies chemistry when we physically move our bodies and how does it benefit our brain health?
1:13:42 - Some quick rapid fire questions. If you could sit with three people and have dinner, who would you choose?
1:19:52 - What advice could you give listeners on how to optimize their lives?
Feb 7, 2022
Feb 7, 2022
1hr 20 min
Bruno Fratus is one of the fastest swimmers in the world. No one has gone under 22 secs for 50m more times than this man. He’s approaching 100 sub 22’s. To put that in perspective, that has him winning or on the podium nearly every major swim meet for the past ten years.
But, his story hasn’t been all sunshine and roses. He’s had mental and physical setbacks, but he keeps rebuilding and coming back stronger.
He’s the epitome of perseverance.
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to show.
1:54 - Interview starts
5:24 - Watching you and Michelle (your wife and your coach) at the Tokyo Olympics celebrating your medal win was extremely special, tell us about that moment and also tells us about how integral it has been to your success having Michelle coach and be by your side through the journey of the past few years.
9:40 - This morning, before this interview, you've already worked out ... what was your training today?
10:52 - Your attitude going into Tokyo, compared to London and Rio had changed, talk us through what happened.
15:00 - Give us a guide book on how you hit the 'state of flow'
16:01 - Can you sense what time you are swimming mid way through an event?
17:08 - Have you ever felt in practice that that was a World Record time?
17:39 - In such a powerful sport where 10ths and 100ths of second matter ... you are swimming faster now than anyone in history ... is it doable to race under 20seconds?
24:37 - When did you first fall in love with swimming?
33:23 - Your vulnerability and authenticity with your fans is inspiring, talk to us about when you were bullied as a kid and how your view on bullying has matured.
39:56 - You've been to three Olympics so far, is there one fond memory that stands out for you?
46:44 - Are you someone who visualizes regularly?
51:28 - Have you found yourself swimming more easily in a race, then making a final and swimming the exact same time, but it feels much harder?
58:56 - What does Swimming need to do to become a bigger sport where you guys are making bigger income, sponsors are larger and more attractive, what's it gonna take?
01:08:48 - What do you have next, what is the future for Bruno Fratus?
01:13:04 - Who's the greatest of all time athlete in the world according to Bruno?
01:15:19 - What advice could you give to listeners of this podcast, on how to optimize their own lives?
01:20:22 - Interview ends.