Off The Blocks Swimming Podcast

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 89 - Special Guest Host Justin Rothwell

With Shannon off to Japan with the NSW team, this week we have a special guest host helping fill his chair and it's none other than one of NSW and Australia's best coaches, and Manly Head Coach Justin Rothwell.

In this podcast we discuss his success at Manly Swim Club, as well as his own history with Shannon and working with him over the years.

We discuss successful team culture and Justin gives us his thoughts on the fundamental of how to build them within your club and team.

Set of the week, Quote of the week and of course song of the week are all back again with a Justin Rothwell twist to them, so don't miss this great episode with one of the best on deck

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 88 - The Standards You Walk Past

This week on the Podcast we discuss more coaching movement with Peter Bishop heading over to the Netherlands, as well as the who is the new coach of Belgium swimming.

We discuss standards within your team, on the back of the NRLs West Tigers handing breach notices to 5 players who have not been complying to the standards set and agreed upon.

Shannon gives us his take and why it's best to move people on if they don't uphold your team standard and culture.

Song of the week, Set of the week and a new Quote of the week. All that and more, don't miss it

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 87 - Quotes For The Whiteboard

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 87 - Quotes For The Whiteboard

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 86 - Aussie Smashing It At World Cups

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 85 - NSW Heading to Japan

This week on the podcast, Shannon and I discuss the big news that NSW Swimming is sending a team over to race in Japan for the first time in 5 years. Here Shannon's thoughts, and how this all came about.

We also discuss the World Cups and the first stop in Shanghai, how much did the swimmers make and what was the competition like in the pool.

Shannon's set of the week is back, and it's not what you may think

Song of the week and a whole lot more

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 84 - Should Elite Swimmers Pay For Their Own Support Staff?

Welcome back to the Shannon Rollason Podcast for another week.

This week with prize money in swimming going up and the upcoming World Cups having up to 1 Million USD up for grabs, should elite Aussie swimmers be paying for their own support staff, much the same as Golfers or Tennis players have to? It's a great topic of conversation and one that I'm sure will have divided opinions.

Shannon also takes us through his Sprint Set of the week, and discusses the reasons behind it and how it can be progressed as the season moves forward.

We talk about the news that Zac Stubblety Cook will be moving down to train with Mel Marshal in the new year, and why this is a good move for Zac at this stage of his career.

All that and a whole lot more, of course song of the week as well. Don't Miss it

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 83 - International Coaches in Australia

Back from holidays and ready to go, Shannon and i get stuck into 2024 Australian Short Course Champs. 

How did his team go?, what did he learn from the week? And of course we discuss Kaylee's amazing World Record in the Women's 100m Backstroke.

We discuss the influx of international coaches to Australia in the lead up to 2032, and what's positive about it and what are some of the potential negative impacts that come with it as well. 

We talk about Shannon's holiday, song of the week and a whole lot more

 

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 82 - REWIND with David Marsh

This week while Shannon is enjoying is well earned week off tasting wine in Adelaide after another successful Australia Short Course Champs, we look back and revisit a great chat Shannon and I had back in 2022 with International Swimming Hall Of Famer and one of USA best ever coaches David Marsh.

Shannon and David discuss his recent success with the Men's Cal Bears team at the NCAA's, as well as their take on what makes USA swimming the powerhouse that it is. David gives us his favourite swimmers of all time to watch as a fan of the sport, as well as his top tips when it comes to Sprint Freestyle, Breaststroke and Tapers. 

David speaks to us about what continues to drive him as a coach and mentor as someone who has coached over 50 Olympians during his hall of fame career. We also discuss emotional control as a coach and how important it is during a big week of racing at big meets.

Shannon and David continue to talk on a range of topics, and it's a must for all coaches and fans of our sport as these two legendary coaches bring the knowledge and experience. DONT MISS THIS ONE

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 81 - Glasgow 2026 Here We Come

This week on the Shannon Rollason Podcast, Shannon and I gear up for Australian Short Course Champs next week in Adelaide. We talk about the change in QT for making the World Champs team, as well as what we can expect from the week not long removed from Paris 2024.

We talk about Glasgow hosting the 2026 Comm Games, how exciting it is to see the games continue, as well as The Shannon Rollason Podcast heading over to Scotland to cover the big event.

Bob Bowman named sports illustrated 50 most influential people in sports, Swim Australia Awards night and of course song of the week. It's all here this week, don't miss it

Off The Blocks with Kaylee McKeown

This week on the podcast we sit down with the newly crowned Swimming Australia Olympic Program Swimmer and 9 time Olympic medallist Kaylee McKeown.

Kaylee talks to us about her amazing Paris 2024 experience and how she went back to back in the Women's 100 and 200m Backstroke events. We discuss what it took both Mentally and Physically going from the 200m Backstroke final into the 200m IM semi final, and what Kaylee learned from this experience.

We talk about her coach Michael Bohl and what makes him one of the best to ever do it. Some of her favourite sets getting ready for Paris, and of course what is next for her and the program with Bohly's departure at the end of this year.

All this and so much more, don't miss this great chat with an Aussie Superstar

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 80 - With Bob Bowman

This week we have the absolute honour of sitting down with one of the best to ever do it Mr Bob Bowman.

Shannon and Bob talk all about Paris 2024, Leon Marchands amazing Olympic games as well as Bobs other athletes who performed well over the week as well.

We talk about college swimming, and Bob's transition to Texas as well as what Bob is still learning about at this stage in his legendary coaching career.

Bob gives us some of his best underwater and kick sets, and gives us some of his tips to help your program and coaching.

I could keep writing more, but to be honest all you need to do is click play and listen to these two legendary coaches talk about swimming at the highest level. Enjoy

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 79 - With Rohan Taylor

This week Shannon and I  sit down with Australian Dolphins Head Coach Rohan Taylor to discuss all things Paris 2024, including the teams success, and what he learned from the experience that he'd like to take forward looking ahead.

We discuss LA 2024, and Rohan gives his advice to coaches around what to look for if you have aspirations of getting swimmers on the team. Whether its in your programming, or event selection, or even around preparing your athletes to be at their best at all times.

We talk about the "silly season" and how it's important to get all coaches and athletes in their programs and roles before we starting planning too far into the future, and we talk about the success the Aussie Paralympic team is having at the moment and what we can learn from then heading into Paris with a different preparation strategy.

All that and a whole lot more

Off The Blocks with Tim Lane

Former World Record Holder and Expert Commentator Bobby Hurley and I sit down with Olympic Gold Medal winning Australian coach Tim Lane.

Tim talks to us about his work with Cam McEvoy and that 50m Freestyle Gold medal winning performance from Paris, how they got there and of course what the experience was like for him as a coach over at the games.

We also talk to Tim about how he transitions his coaching philosophy around training and sprinting for Age group swimmers and what that program looks like week to week, following his success at Junior Pan Pacs with Josh Conias.

We are very lucky to have Tim sit down and share his coaching ideas and programming with us and can't wait for everyone to hear it 

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 78 - Pull Your Socks Up

This week on The Shannon Rollason Podcast, Shannon and I look back at the weekends NSW State Short Course Champs and some of the super fast swimming we saw in the pool. Shannon also gives us his thoughts on his own athletes performances over the 3 days.

We discuss Junior Pan Pacs in Canberra and the USA teams dominance with 44 medals in total. Where Australia did well, and where we can improve looking ahead.

Looking ahead to Brisbane 2032 what do we need to do to get our best athletes prepared? And who needs to pull their socks up to help us get there? The Coaches or the Governing Bodies?

All that and of course song of the week, don't miss it

Off The Blocks with Kyle Chalmers

Off The Blocks is back for a new season and what better way to kick off than with the KING and 3 time Olympian      Kyle Chalmers.

Kyle sits down with me to look back on a massive Paris Olympic Games and the road he was on to get there including, change of coach and program, back injury and pain management and finding confidence.

We talk all about his incredible Men's 100 Free Final where he placed 2nd, what that experience was like, and was he happy with his performance. We break down his heats to semis to finals progression success and why he is so good at making it look so easy, as well as what he felt he could have executed a bit better from the final.

We discuss how much the relays mean to him, swimming for the boys and his country and how the Men's 4x100 free from Paris gave him all the confidence back he needed to know he could try and win the Men's individual final.

Kyle talks about setting goals moving forward and how he is far from done in the pool, with many more new and exciting mountains to climb.

This chat more than shows why Kyle Chalmers is one of the greatest Australia Swimmers of all time, with so many great take away pieces of advice from a man who has podiumed at 3 Olympic games in a row, thats why they call him King

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 77 - Michael Bohl

This week two of Australia's greatest ever coaches sit down and talk all things Paris Olympics when coaching legend Michael Bohl sits down with Shannon for a chat.

Bohly takes us through his thoughts on his teams performances in Paris, including Kaylees 200 IM and where he feels she can still improve and be even faster.

The two discuss coaching and programming for Kaylee also, looking at some of the sets she does to prepare her for competition.

And Bohly gives us some great advice that all coaches out there need to here around finding your own identity as a coach and what works best for you and your program.

It's a big week on the podcast, dont miss it

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 76 - Do The Greats Think Differently

Welcome back to the Shannon Rollason Podcast for another week.

This week we talk Junior Pan Pacs in Canberra, and NSW State Short Course coming up.

Shannon talks to us about his chat with Patrick Miley, coach and Dad of the team GB legend Hannah Miley. He tells us about how improvements can be made in the race model, and pacing areas.

We get into a chat about how the greats of any sport think differently. Do they lack empathy for those who aren't as talented? Do they lack the ability to understand how everyday people think when it comes to competition and steely focus? We get into it.

And of course the world famous song of the week 

 

Its all here this week, don't miss it 

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 75 - Post Olympics Merry-Go-Round

This week on the podcast Shannon and i discuss the post Olympics merry-go-round that happens within the coaching ranks and the flow on effect it has onto our elite athletes.

We also talk about opportunities for coaches to make changes, take risks and even move to coach overseas leading into LA2028.

We talk about the Aussie team as well, who needs to take a break for a while to freshen up, and who needs to capitalise on the momentum off the back of Paris.

Shannon gives us his surprising race of the week from the games, and also we discuss the pool again and theories as to why it quickened up at the end of the week.

All that and of course song of the week, don't miss it

Off The Blocks - Merci Paris ft Meagen Nay and Bobby Hurley

The Olympic A team are back together as Bobby Hurley and Meagen Nay join us to go through all of the triumphs and tears that were the Paris Olympic Games in the pool.

We discuss Michael Phelps and his disappointment in team USA results over the 9 days, and what that means for the direction of the team leading into LA 2028 and a home games.

Adam Peaty and Phelps have called out WADA on their stance on doping violations for athletes, both wanting much tougher punishments for those who test positive. We get right into all of this, including the commentary around the Chinese team and PANS world record.

We go through the immergence of some generational superstars in Leon Marchand, Summer McIntosh and David Popovici, and what we can expect of them in the next 4 years.

 

The Aussie teams amazing results, as well as Coach Bob Bowman and Dean Boxalls incredible medal haul as coaches.

The team give us their MVP of the week, Biggest disappointments and biggest surprises of the week that was in the Paris pool.

 

Dont miss it

Off The Blocks - Paris Olympics Night 6&7 Finals REVIEW

Bobby Hurley and i talk all about the amazing action from Paris on night 6 and 7 finals.

Including Leon Marchand and his 4 Gold medals with todays 200 IM performance, as well as our own Kaylee McKeown and going back to back doubles winning the Women's 200 Back. Cam McEvoy wins the first Gold medal for an Aussie male in 50m Freestyle, and we congratulate him and his coach Tim Lane on the incredible journey they've been on to get to this Paris victory.

We look back on Night 6 as well, with Sarah Sjostroms amazing 100 Freestyle win, Marchands incredible 200 Fly, 200 Breast double up. And of course we discuss PAN and his unbelievable 46.40 WR in the men's 100 Free

 

 

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 74 - We Just Witnessed History

Shannon and I couldn't wait until next week to discuss all of the history making moments of Night 5 Finals action.

From the unbelievable 46.40 NEW WORLD RECORD from Pan, and Kyles courages Silver medal which make 3 Olympic Podiums in a row. Or the greatest female sprinter of all time Sarah Sjostrom upsetting the Aussie party and winning Gold at her 4th Olympic Games.

What about Leon Marchands moment of history also winning the 200 Fly ahead of one of the greatest butterfly swimmers of all time Milak and then backing it up by winning the 200 Breast again defending Olympic champion Zac Stubblety Cook an hour later. Bravo Leon, and Bravo Coach Bowman.

All this and more, we couldn't wait another week, we were too excited 

Off The Blocks - Paris Olympics Night 3&4 Finals REVIEW

Bobby Hurley and i go through all of the action in the pool from Paris in Nights 1 and 2 of finals competition.

We discuss Kaylee McKeown's amazing 100m Backstroke title defence going back to back, as well as Dan Wiffens impressive 800 Free gold medal. We touch on the massive night French star Leon Marchand has ahead of him with the 200 Fly and 200 Breast double against stars Milak in the fly, and Stubblety Cook in the Breast, Can our Zac spoil the Paris party? Also we preview the blue ribbon events with the Women's and Men's 100 Freestyle, will we see a night of Green and Gold on the podium with stars Kyle Chalmers, Mollie O'Callaghan and Shayna Jack in action, or is there an upset coming our way with strike power coming from everywhere chasing the Olympic Gold.

We also look back on the amazing finals that were Night 3, Ceccon's Gold in the 100 Back, Smith winning 100 Breast and of course the incredible Women's 200 Free between the two Aussie stars Ariarne and Mollie.

We discuss covid being in the village, and what that means for the athletes trying to stay healthy and fit for their races to come.

 

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 73 - Slow Pool, Exciting Races

Shannon gives us his thoughts on all the action so far in the pool at Paris 2024 Olympics, including all of the exciting close finishes we have seen.

We discuss the slow pool theory, how to combat it and how it is actually making the racing more exciting with finishes coming down to a touch.

Don't Miss it

Off The Blocks - 2024 Paris Olympics Night 1&2 Finals REVIEW

Bobby Hurley and i go through all of the action in the pool from Paris in Nights 1 and 2 of finals competition.

We discuss Leon Marchand and his dominating win in the Men's 400 IM which got the home crowd loud and proud. Italian Breaststroke star Martinenghi and his upset win over Breaststroke legend Adam Peaty in the Men's 100 Breast. Speaking of upsets, Torri Huske beating home her USA Teammate and World Record holder Gretchen Walsh in the Women's 100m Butterfly.

We also look back on night one and the massive success that it was for the Aussie team. Ariarne winning Gold in the Women's 400 Free over Young Canadian Summer McIntosh and US legend Katie Ledecky, as well as the 4 peat for the Australian 4x100 Free Women's team taking another Gold ahead of the US and China. And of course Elijah WInnington's stand out performance in the Men's 400m Free taking home the Silver Medal just behind German star and Olympic Gold Medallist Lukas Martens.

Slow pool? we discuss some factors that may be making the pool in Paris a little slower than we had hoped for.

 

The Shannon Rollason Podcast Episode 72 - IT'S SHOWTIME IN PARIS

This week on the podcast, Shannon and i talk all about the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Shannon gives us his tips for Athletes and Coaches during these Olympics, including getting enough sleep, not letting the big name stars around you in the village be a distraction and even being cautious of too much bed hopping. Yes we really cover it all haha.

We go through the relay events in Paris and Shannon gives us his thoughts on who's looking good, who's got question marks around them and who needs to get team selections spot on for success.

Shannon gives us some of his predictions as well as the old favourite song of the week.

It's Games time baby, you wont want to miss this