What Does 8-Time Olympic Medalist Regan Smith Think?
In this GMM podcast, we caught up with Regan Smith, an 8-time Olympic medalist, fresh off her impressive performance at the 2026 Austin Pro Swim Series.
- 100m Backstroke — 1st, 57.98
- 50m Backstroke — 1st, 27.67
- 100m Butterfly — 1st, 56.18
- 200m Butterfly — 1st, 2:05.29
Four events, four wins, and she even managed to do a colorset and lift weights in the same week.
We wanted to chat with Regan because she's one of the most engaging and transparent athletes in the sport. You can ask her about anything, and she doesn't resort to clichés. That's why we're calling this episode 'What Does Regan Smith Think?'
We covered a range of topics, including:
- Training routines and questions
- Performances at the Pro Swim Series
- Prize money at meets (Does it impact Regan's motivation at her current level? She earned $7,500 at the Austin Pro Swim.)
- Should Regan focus solely on backstroke, or do her diverse race events support her long-term goals?
- Upcoming races and events
- USA Swimming's Short Course World Championships Trials: Good, bad, or meh?
- Increases in APA (USA Swimming National Team Members received a financial boost for the first time in 15 years)
- The USOPC's decision to block foreign athletes at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (during 2028)
- Regan's long-term planning, from LA2028 to Brisbane 2032
- And much more...
I was under the weather when we recorded this, and my voice might not be the best, but I didn't want to miss out on this interview. Coleman Hodges stepped in to support. We did veer off-topic for the first four minutes, but we got back on track at 4:30. The podcast is approximately an hour and 15 minutes long. We hope you enjoy it.
If you have any questions you'd like us to ask Regan in future episodes, feel free to drop them in the comments.
Follow Regan Smith on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/regansmith4/?hl=en].
Follow Gold Medal Mel on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/goldmedalmel/].
Many thanks to SwimOutlet.com for their 14-year partnership and support of this swimming news and media.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production, brought to you by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a swimming news website.
The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC, or SwimSwam advertising partners.
In This Story:
- Regan Smith
Regan Smith
About Gold Medal Mel Stewart
Gold Medal Mel Stewart
MEL STEWART Jr., known as Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. His specialty was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the same event. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, and more.
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