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Olympic Champion Chase Kalisz’s Journey From Michael Phelps Protégé to ASU Pro

Gold Medal Minute presented by SwimOutlet.com

At the Westmont Pro Swim Olympic Champion Chase Kalisz won the 400 IM in 4:13.52 and tied for the first in the 200 IM with a 1:57.76. Chase also grabbed silver in the 200 fly with a very respectable in-season 1:56.67.

Chase, now 30 years old, is swimming fast considering he’s been on this journey a long time in grinder events–painful events.  Mentored by Michael Phelps and coached by (much of his career) Bob Bowman going back to the North Baltimore Aquatic Club era, Chase has always been in the center of the action.

In this interview, Chase details his mentorship on the ASU squad, notably with ASU Pro Drew Kibler, who popped a lightning 1:46.02 200 free to win in Westmont. Drew drops in on this interview sharing his side, but, to say the least, Chase has encouraged Kibler to get out of his comfort zone–out fast, and it’s clearly working.

PREDICTIONS

Looking ahead to U.S. Olympic Trials, I see Chase making his third Olympic Team in the 400 IM.  I see Chase on his 2022 World Championships pace, 4:07.47 (bronze, behind Leon Marchand and Carson Foster).  Despite being a veteran, Chase touches the wall in Indy at 4:07.5.  My calculus? Chase is healthy.  Sure, Chase won Olympic gold back in 2021 with a 4:09, but he was nursing a shoulder injury, really coming back from that injury. Not anymore. Chase, under Coach Bowman, is putting in the base-work to make the opening night of the U.S. Olympic Trials exciting.

But who cares what I think. It’s all about what you think.  Drop you comments below.

Chase Kalisz PBs:

200 IM – 1:55.40 – 2018 Pan Pacs

400 IM – 4:05.90 – 2017 World Champs

Follow Chase Kalisz on Instagram here. 

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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented 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.

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Bigfriendlyswimpodcast
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
7 months ago

Oooo that is an interesting metric. How old was David Verasszto (I apologize for the name butchering I did my best ) when he last one a medal?

On the topic of oldest, assuming my math is right, Hosszu won gold in the 400IM at the gwanju worlds in 2019 at age 30

Hank
7 months ago

Jay Litherland 4IM spoiler?

go team go
Reply to  Hank
7 months ago

his free leg is so exciting. I think someone is getting mowed down on the last 50 by a charging Finke or Litherland

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
7 months ago

I will bet the chalk:

Foster
Kalisz

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
7 months ago

What’s that Chase? Boyz will be Boyz!

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
7 months ago

Regan is too sweet to be a trash talker.

Pineapple
7 months ago

“But who cares what I think. It’s all about what I think. Drop your comments below.”

Can’t tell if this is a simple typo or an overtly honest Mel-ism

Liam Thompson
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
7 months ago

Here’s a real “What do you think, Mel” question.

What’s the likelihood that Great Britain swimmer Matt Richards drops the 200 free from his Olympic program so that Tom Dean can swim it?

GB announces their Olympic swim team next week.

Richards qualified in the 50, 100, and 200 free. Dean finished 3rd in the 200 free at GB trials last Sunday.

Whadya think, Mel?

Reply to  Pineapple
7 months ago

Por que no los dos?

Liam Thompson
7 months ago

“Poise,” the word used to describe Chase is apt — from the way he swims his races to the manner in which he presents himself in interviews.

RealCrocker5040
7 months ago

Kalisz, Finke, Foster, Litherland, and Johnston are gonna make this 4IM race at trials brutal

WV Swammer
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
7 months ago

One of these is certainly not like the others…

Boxall's Railing
Reply to  WV Swammer
7 months ago

Finke because he should be focusing on the 400 free instead? 😉

Aragon Son of Arathorne
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
7 months ago

I dont see it. Foster and Kalisz will. The others, not so much.

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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