SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side.
Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers which swimming star they’d most want to see in a behind-the-scenes docuseries:
Question: If Netflix did a behind-the-scenes docuseries on swimming, which athlete would be your #1 pick to be included?
RESULTS
- Summer McIntosh – 19.4%
- Caeleb Dressel – 17.5%
- Katie Ledecky – 12.7%
- Leon Marchand – 10.9%
- David Popovici – 8.0%
- Sarah Sjostrom – 7.3%
- Kristof Milak – 6.4%
- Other – 5.7%
- Ariarne Titmus – 4.9%
- Kaylee McKeown – 4.6%
- Adam Peaty – 2.6%
Netflix has invested heavily in the sports documentary game over the last few years, with the massive success of Formula 1’s Drive To Survive leading to releases of Full Swing (golf), Break Point (tennis), and most recently, Sprint, which follows track and field.
Given its relative popularity among Olympic sports, it’s not out of the question that swimming could get a series of its own at some point—if Michael Phelps was racing right now perhaps it would’ve already happened, not only because of his dominance, but the magnitude of his rivalries, which is somewhat lacking in the sport today.
Although no one can match the popularity that Phelps had at his peak, our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers which swimmer they’d want to see featured if the sport got its own docuseries.
We listed out some of the sport’s biggest stars, and coming out on top was the youngest of the 10 options, Summer McIntosh.
The 17-year-old has taken the sport by storm over the last three years, first coming onto the radar at the Tokyo Olympics when she placed 4th in the 400 free at the age of 14.
She’s exploded since then, having won four individual world titles and shattering the once-vaunted world record in the women’s 400 IM. McIntosh also held the 400 free world record for a few months last year, and is one of the fastest in history in the 200 free, 200 fly and 200 IM.
The Canadian native is currently based out of Sarasota, Florida, where she trains under coach Brent Arckey with the Sarasota Sharks, a club that is home to several prominent American age group swimmers.
A docuseries could take a look at the training environment in Sarasota and hype up the friendly rivalry between McIntosh and Katie Ledecky, who also trains in Florida which has led the two to having some interesting in-season races.
Ledecky was the third-most-voted option in the poll, trailing McIntosh and Caeleb Dressel.
A seven-time Olympic gold medalist and 15-time world champion, Dressel brings plenty of intrigue to the audience as one of the most dynamic sprinters we’ve ever seen, leading him to be one of the poster boys for the United States at the Tokyo Olympics.
Dressel and Ledecky both train at the University of Florida, so the two could be combined in an episode of our hypothetical series while also featuring other Gators such as Josh Liendo and Bella Sims.
The international swimmers followed the three North Americans in the poll, as Frenchman Leon Marchand picked up under 11% of votes while David Popovici, Sarah Sjostrom and Kristof Milak all finished with between 5-10%.
The time for a look behind the curtain of what Marchand’s day-to-day is like is right now, as he’s coming off another record-breaking NCAA season and headed straight into a hometown Olympics where he’ll have more eyes on him than ever before.
Popovici, Sjostrom and Milak would also be interesting to see—Popovici has always delivered thought-provoking quotes, Sjostrom has been at the top of the sport for 15 years, and Milak has been up-and-down at times and has a good rival in the pool in Dressel.
Australians Ariarne Titmus and Kaylee McKeown, along with British breaststroker Adam Peaty, were also in the poll, while more than 5% of readers voted for ‘Other’—if that was you, let us know in the comments below.
We don’t know if we’ll ever see this type of series, but perhaps if there are fireworks at the Paris Olympics, with some intriguing rivalries bubbling to the surface in addition to incredible racing in the pool, we’ll see one soon.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks: From a swimming perspective, which Olympics stands out to you most?
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The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner.
A few of the swimmers getting votes are too old. Chalmers would be interesting but – agan – getting too old.
A camera crew following Boxall’s squad would be worthwhile though.
I voted Kaylee. Can’t believe she’s so low on the list. She is interesting personality wise and I’d love to see her training.
I don’t understand why anyone would want to watch that. With all due respect to their careers, they (esp. Dressel) are kinda boring. All the top 4 picks are. Personality-wise, it doesn’t get interesting until Pop. And if you want a bit of drama thrown in there, make a documentary about Milak, the St. P squad, maybe Peaty.
What exactly is so exciting about Popovici lmao.
He’s very stoic and philosophical, rare traits these days. It may not make for riveting junk TV most people like but personally I’d find a glimpse at his life interesting
Snoozerama. Jesus. One rich white kid from Canada who’s never had adversity in her life against another white kid from USA with similar background. Summer (a minor) is now pushing Red Bull which is a very unhealthy product just to grab $$$. All the little kids who admire her for her accomplishments may wish to reconsider her moral compass. At any rate, NetFlix seems to gravitate to sports docs that are basically aimed at the rich and white (F1, Golf, Tennis). What’s next… skiing?
If you really want something swimming related and interesting, look at hazing at the NCAA level or Safe Sport. Don’t waste time featuring people who frankly are kinda boring outside of their accomplishments in the sport.… Read more »
gr8 b8 m8 i r8 8/8
Ain’t no way you’re trying to virtue signal moral outrage over energy drinks being unhealthy. If you haven’t noticed, American sports media and orgs are promoting shameless sports gambling apps everywhere with athletes featured. And for regular tv, tune into any commercial break, and you’ll see drug ads. Getting all high and mighty over energy drinks is laughable.
Ain’t no way you’re trying to virtue signal moral outrage over energy drinks being unhealthy. If you haven’t noticed, American sports media and orgs are promoting shameless sports gambling apps everywhere with athletes featured. And for regular tv, tune into any commercial break, and you’ll see drug ads. Getting all high and mighty over energy drinks is laughable considering how screwed up just the norm is.
Only so much a person can write about. This was an article about swimmers being featured on Netflix. And if all you got out of my comments was Red Bull = bad, you missed the point.
You mentioned the color of their skin 3 times.Nice look.As if it means anything.I question your moral compass.
Was mentioned twice. Are they not white? Third time was a broad description of what typical Netflix docs focus on.
But since you’re bringing up the topic come to think of it,, I don’t see too many black swimmers sadly. Profoundly underrepresented. Sort of like female coaches.
I observe a lack of perspective and a bitter tone from this so called “0bserver.” Not one of those kids you mentioned in your judgmental commentary has any choice in what they were born into…and EVERY one of those kids has also maximized and WORKED HARD at their NATURAL GIFT.
I wish you the best and hope your working hard at being a better observer and even a better more compassionate human.
Ain’t swimming kind of a rich kids sport though?
It is.
I cannot speak for Summer but do know she’s had to overcome much adversity. You should probably watch the docuseries that will obviously be created after the Olympics about one of the greatest swimmers on earth and learn not to judge a book by its cover.
You could get Brent to talk about swimming for Mitch. I’m sure he has at least 1 good story that will surprise some viewers.
Imagine this show but set in 2004 following Phelps, PVDH and the Australians on the mens side. And Beard, de Bruijn, Manadou on the womens. That would have been pretty cool to see
2008 probably should’ve been omitted from the next poll. No objective fan would vote for something different
Practicing at the water cube is so fun, it’s where MP won 8 gold medals and where Jason Lezak split 46 flat!! I feel honored…
Why can’t the swimming the community come together and push Netflix to make this a reality?