You are working on Staging1

SwimSwam Podcast: Why Matt Biondi Almost Didn’t Go to the 1984 Olympic Trials

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 Olympic icon Matt Biondi, to dive into his story as a late-blooming athlete and advocate for financial improvement among swimmers. It is common knowledge that Biondi was a late-comer to swimming, but we didn’t realize that leading up to the 1984 Olympic Trials, Biondi almost didn’t go altogether, as he didn’t see himself making the team and wanted to go camping with a friend instead.

However, his coach Nort Thornton urged him to go to just to get the experience, and Biondi agreed. He placed 8th in the 200 free, but surprised himself and everyone else when he finished 4th in the 100 free, making the US Olympic team as a member of the 4×100 free relay.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

RECENT EPISODES

 

7
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

7 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
ERVINFORTHEWIN
4 years ago

My Idol of the 1988 Games with Jaeger & Janet Evans . Always interesting to hear Matt talk about the Sport & his particular experiences back in the day .

Sam
4 years ago

wow, this has been the best podcast so far, I knew so little! Fascinating stories!

Sam
4 years ago

he is a sprinter legend, only comparable to Mark Spitz

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Sam
4 years ago

and comparable to the Great Popov .

Xman
4 years ago

Biondi’s and Jager’s history of pushing to allow swimmers to be professionals reminded me a lot of Steve Prefontaine who would organize track and field contests with the best in the world outside of the Olympic Governing body and had the same challenges. This was also at a time when running / jogging for recreation was just becoming a thing but it was still weird.

Phil Knight (Nike founder) covers him at length in his biography.

I think now with CrossFit style contests, and popularity in short triathlons provides opportunities to make money for appeal and equipment companies with swimming is in a much better place then 10 / 20 years ago.

My guess is the next swimmer… Read more »

Ragnar
Reply to  Xman
4 years ago

The difference being “underground swimming” as you suggest and MMA is that literally everyone at a bar would be interested in watching MMA, because fighting is just in humans DNA. It’s why we keep watching the new fast and the furious no matter if space travel sounds crazy, and why gladiator stadiums were a financial success. Swimming is appreciated by other swimmers, parents of swimmers, sports historians, and weekend triathletes. I honestly rather watch at fight on TV at a bar than a swim meet, because it’s simpler to follow. And Advertisers know that, which is why swimming will grow slowly through ISL etc but depend on the Olympics for broadstroke showcase to the masses. The richest swimmer will remain… Read more »

Xman
Reply to  Ragnar
4 years ago

It’s not going to be a swim meet that people watch, it will be a contest that involves swimming. Just like MMA includes wrestling.

And it doesn’t always have to have spectators but a lot of participants to generate revenue, and appeal sponsors who have products to sell sure premium prices to adults who have disposable income to pay for it. I would say Mizuno probabaly has the best chance at this.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

Read More »