What Are the Insights of 8-Time Olympic Medalist Regan Smith?
In a recent episode of the GMM podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Regan Smith, an impressive eight-time Olympic medalist who just delivered outstanding performances at the 2026 Austin Pro Swim Series. Her achievements included:
- 100m Backstroke — 1st place with a time of 57.98 seconds
- 50m Backstroke — 1st place finishing at 27.67 seconds
- 100m Butterfly — 1st place at 56.18 seconds
- 200m Butterfly — 1st place with a personal best of 2:05.29
Four events and four triumphant victories! Remarkably, she also managed to fit in a color-set and some weightlifting during the same week.
We were eager to have this conversation because Regan is known for being one of the most engaging figures in the swimming community. Unlike many athletes who might stick to safe, rehearsed responses, she offers candid insights that provide a glimpse into life inside the elite sports world. This is why we've titled this episode "What Are Regan Smith's Thoughts?"
During our discussion, we explored a range of topics including:
- Various training techniques and methodologies
- Her experiences at the Pro Swim semi-finals
- The impact of prize money at competitions (Regan earned $7,500 at the Austin Pro Swim—does this financial incentive influence her at this stage of her career?)
- Whether Regan should concentrate solely on backstroke or if competing in multiple events benefits her overall goals
- Details about her upcoming races and the events she plans to participate in
- Her thoughts on the USA Swimming’s Short Course World Championships Trials—are they beneficial or not?
- A significant increase in Athlete Performance Awards (USA Swimming National Team Members received a financial boost for the first time in 15 years)
- The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee's decision to restrict foreign athletes from accessing the U.S. Olympic Training Center before the 2028 Olympics
- Regan's long-term focus—are her sights set on LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032?
- And so much more...
Despite being under the weather during our recording, I was committed to not missing out on this enlightening interview. Coleman Hodges stepped in to provide support, and while we meandered off-topic during the first few minutes, we got back on track by the 4:30 mark. The total length of this informative podcast is approximately an hour and 15 minutes, and we hope you find it enjoyable. If you have any questions you'd like us to ask Regan in future episodes, feel free to leave them in the comments section!
You can follow Regan Smith on Instagram here: Regan Smith Instagram.
Also, check out Gold Medal Mel on Instagram: Gold Medal Mel Instagram.
A big thank you goes out to Swimoutlet.com for their ongoing partnership and support for over 14 years, which has made this swimming news and media possible.
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This podcast is a production of Gold Medal Media, brought to you by SwimOutlet.com. Your host, Gold Medal Mel Stewart, is a three-time Olympic medalist and co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a prominent swimming news website.
Please note that the opinions and perspectives shared by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC, or SwimSwam's advertising partners.
In This Episode
* Regan Smith
About Gold Medal Mel Stewart
MEL STEWART Jr., also known as Gold Medal Mel, triumphed with three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games, excelling particularly in the 200 butterfly event. Once a holder of World, American, and NCAA records in the same event, Mel has also made his mark as a writer, producer, and sports columnist, contributing to platforms like Yahoo Sports and Universal Sports.
