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Olympic Medalist Hali Flickinger Intimately Details The Past Two-Year Grind

n the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman HodgesGarrett McCaffrey, and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

We sat down with two-time Olympic medalist and Team Speedo athlete Hali Flickinger.  This Cali Condors swim star has been busy since Tokyo.  In this podcast Hali dives into the past, detailing her journey to the Olympic podium since her days competing at YMCA Nationals.  Hali’s a workhorse, grinding in practice to compete on the biggest stage in sport in the 200 butterfly and 400 IM.  The move to train under iconic swim coach Bob Bowman paid off, but she did not expect to train through a pandemic on her road to the Olympic Games.  Hali gets raw and real in this interview explaining the ups and downs, and how she managed her mental health.  Her Speedo MAKE WAVES moment includes her mental health management. She leaned into her swim-family, her Olympic teammates, a special crew that assembled nightly during the Games. Listen for the name of this unique group of elite women. You’ll appreciate the power of this sisterhood.

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Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

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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.

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cynthia curran
2 years ago

I think she made the right decision to stay in Maricopia County. Its gone up in housing pricing in result years but still cheaper than Austin. Its warmer than PA where she came The difference between elite swimming and masters swimming. Is top 200 flyers in masters just need to be able to do it/ not swim the 400 Im’s like elite swimmers in non-masters swimming. In one age group the world record in the 65 to 69 year old age group is held by a woman that was a freestyle sprinter as a kid, so masters is very different than USA swimming.

Steve Nolan
2 years ago

throw me into a ravine hali

swimswamswum
2 years ago

Have always loved Hali for her tenacity and really appreciate her vulnerability in this interview. A constant role model for everyone, especially the more vertically challenged.

Ghost
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
2 years ago

First of all it was choice. Secondly, Dressel (and others) went right into it, but Hali went 3 months later….not the same!

50M Pools Rule
2 years ago

She’s the best.

I win, you lose
2 years ago

When exactly did she start training with Bowman?

Rafael
2 years ago

Off topic: Junior Pan Am Games just finished and here are the highlight would be Balducinni (Turned 17 now) who went 54,63 on the 100 free

Swimfan
2 years ago

That 200 fly WR will require a „Kristof Milak type of talent“ on the female side to get broken.

Mr Piano
Reply to  Swimfan
2 years ago

A Mary T talent

Aquajosh
Reply to  Swimfan
2 years ago

I think Yufei can do it if she’s not spread so thin at a meet. Her roots are in the 200 fly and now she has the 55+ 100 fly speed it’s going to take for someone to do it. To me, it’s going to take three things to get it:
1. A 55+ 100 fly
2. Someone who trains for the event rather than just goes up to it from the 100
3. You have to actually like the 200 fly

Yufei ticks all three boxes. As a 52 second 100 freestyler, she chose to swim three rounds of the 200 fly instead, with the final the same night as the 800 free relay. She clearly… Read more »

Troyy
Reply to  Aquajosh
2 years ago

She actually didn’t know she was swimming the 800 free relay until after the 200 fly final.

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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