On SwimSwam Podcast, we’re giving you an in-depth listen at all things swimming. Host Coleman Hodges welcomes guests and guest co-hosts alike to get perspective on our ever-changing swimming universe and break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.
We sat down with Chris DeJong, a Michigan team captain and elite swimmer who trained with the likes of Michael Phelps, Peter Vanderkaay, and Erik Vendt, to name a few. DeJong described the environment at practice in Ann Arbor leading up to the 2008 Olympics and even indulged in telling his epic story about Phelps buying him dinner for kicking the unofficial fastest time in history in a 400m kick – 4:56. DeJong also dives into his life after swimming, when he delved into the business side of swimming with Big Blue Swim Schools.
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Music: Otis McDonald
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Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.
I watched Joseph Schooling kick a 4:44 400m dolphin kick with a board. I don’t think anyone could ever touch that!
To me it is weird that Michigan’s swimming got no ncaa trophies during his time when he was captains with PVK and Davis Tarwater. (Only 4 teams get a trophy).
They had a great crew of middle distance types. Their 800 finished 2nd at NCAAs in 2006. But…you’ve gotta have sprinters to win championships, and that’s where Michigan struggled. They were 17th in the 200 free relay in 2006 with Dejong and Vanderkay matching with 19.75s for the teams’ best times. Yes, 19.75 was still a good 50 free time back then, but there were already teams with four swimmers going 19.5 or better, plus multiple 18-second relay splits.
didn’t they win it in 1997 without sprinters?
They were 7th in 1997. Auburn won in 1997. The Tigers had a few sprinters on that team…6 in the top 16 at NCAAs (big eyes emoji), including Brett Hawke.
Before 2013, their last win was in 1995. Gus Borges was a senior that year, so that’s the sprinter. We don’t have the full 1995 results yet (if anyone does, please send them over!) I don’t *think* they were all that deep in sprinters that year, not like Stanford and Texas were, but they were good enough for Dolan, Wouda, et al. to carry the rest of the load.
They had some guys that could fill in on the sprints to help Borges but he was like have two studs on a relay. Jason Lancaster, Derya B were good enough. In 1995 Michigan was so dominant in 2free, 5free, 4im and mile that their relays didn’t have to be that great. Those results are so hard to find!
Chris has built an empire from the ground up. These guys started in a small 4 lane pool at OLPH and have grown their business into a franchise.
Congrats Chris and John. Go Blue!
https://youtu.be/Ld9Iy1EEGMA
Here’s a video of Charlie Houchin kicking a 4:56 long course at Bolles
So seems like they are co-unofficial fastest 400m kickers
Zach Poti could have kicked it faster no doubt in my mind. Kid could cruise 35’s LCM w a board
Bob coached Zach also so let him chime in. He probably had a 400 for time kick here and there! Kicking back is a bit different…easier to “cheat”.
Is it just me or 4:56 doesn’t seem that fast for the worlds fastest 400 kick.(No hate or anything just a thought I had)
It was meters
What was the 400M kick time?
4:56
Definetly not the fastest ever also depends on the stroke but I’m willing to bet some college swimmers who have never done this could beat it in backstroke kick, butterfly, or free.
Coleman, you attached wrong link