Elite Athletes Guide to Lifemaxxing

What's up everybody?
Welcome back to another week of Unfiltered Waters.
And if you are watching, you see that I am overlooking the IUPUI pool here at the Indie Pro Series.
I've just wrapped up some awesome conversations and similar to the past awesome pro series, we uh put together some mini episodes all into one.
And this week we are all about life maxing.
So I got to talk to Alex Walsh, Kate Douglas, Patrick Salmon, and Quentin McCarty all about how they life max in categories like health, mind, swim, looks.
When I tell you that all of their answers were so different from each other, it was crazy, but also really, really cool to see because that is kind of the theme of this episode is that you know people maximize their life in a variety of different ways.
There's not one specific blueprint that works.
And so just hearing just the human side, as always, true to unfiltered waters form.
That is what came out from this episode.
There's so many relatable moments, um, so many funny moments, and so I'm excited for you guys to see.
And I know for a fact that I will be taking some nuggets from each of their answers in order to maximize my life even further.
So share your favorite moments, hit that subscribe button, and without further ado, enjoy Life Maxing with Alex Walsh, Kate Douglas, Patrick Salmon, and Quentin McCarty.
Come with me, I'll show you the top three ways that I use my endless pool.
So the first way is obviously my favorite way, which is just straight up swimming.
I am now eight months pregnant, and so having any type of gravity on me is a no-ko.
And so being able to literally use this remote, turn it up to my pace, and swim breaststroke, swim freestyle at whatever pace I want has been a godsend.
Number two, treadmill.
There's an underwater treadmill in this pool.
My husband has been using it, I've been using it.
You can turn it up to whatever you want, I believe five and a half miles per hour.
And let me tell you, five and a half miles per hour with resistance is no joke.
But again, like not having any weight on my joint, feeling weightless, whether you're recovering from an injury or just wanting to do some cross-training or pregnant, it is a massive benefit.
Number three, kicking.
I love kicking with a kickboard.
I love being able to just, hey, on a day where maybe I don't want to get my hair wet and I just want to get in a good lower body workout, I can kick freestyle, I can kick breaststroke.
Um, and for me, again, just being able to feel that weightlessness is huge.
Or maybe you're a triathlete and you really need to work on your kick and you really want to specialize there, all of these things can be done here, right in my backyard.
So if you'd like to do the same, use code unfiltered or use the link below to get a thousand dollars off your purchase.
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It's so hard to breathe at night.
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And of course, you know I'm gonna talk about dream tape classes when it comes to mouth taping.
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Okay Douglas, welcome to Unfiltered Waters Life Maxing Editions.
Love it.
Yes.
Um, so we talked earlier about kind of there's different categories in order to maximize your life.
Yeah.
The first one is around the mind.
Um, so meditation, do you feel like it's life-changing or a waste of time?
I do enjoy meditation.
I think I find it very hard for myself to like sit down and meditate and like put my phone away, put the electronics away.
Like that is very hard to do.
But every time I do meditate or try to just like relax my mind, I just feel so much better after.
And so I try to use that as motivation to do it more often.
Do you use an app or do you just go like whole turkey?
Just you?
I've used apps before, yeah, because yeah, I think just me, I wouldn't really like know how to do that, but I like apps or like YouTube videos.
Yes.
Like sometimes my therapist sends me YouTube videos to watch and do, and I find those pretty helpful.
Yeah, same actually.
Yeah.
Um, one belief that you've completely abandoned in the last five years.
Wow, a belief I've completely abandoned.
That's a hard one.
It's really hard.
I like can't really.
I don't know.
Might have to come back to that.
Okay, we'll come back to that one.
Um, what is your actual reset when you feel like life just gets really overwhelming?
Reset.
I feel like I really like to just reset, like honestly, like in my apartment.
Like, you know, those like TikToks where it's like apartment reset, like Sunday reset, where it's like they just clean everything and then you make your apartment all neat, and then I feel like that kind of helps relax my mind is when I'm like in a very clean, neat space, and you know, I can bake or watch TV and cook in my apartment, just like by myself and chill out.
Like, I think that just helps me really reset and just relax and forget about everything else going on.
Are you like, are you better resetting just like fully solo or like if your boyfriend's there, does is that does that disrupt it?
I definitely think like a solo reset is great for me.
Yeah.
Um, I mean I definitely like enjoy all my boyfriends there, but I do long distance with my boyfriend, and so I'm alone a lot, which I'm used to, and so I think I just love being alone.
Like it's my favorite.
Oh, I need I need I really want to enjoy being alone, but I'm not good at it.
I know I've gotten pretty good at it living alone for a while now.
Yeah, yeah.
Um, are elite athletes more or less emotionally intelligent than normal people?
I mean, I think we're way more emotionally intelligent than normal people.
Agree.
Like when you think about like the pressure that we feel going into meets and how we handle ourselves, you know, before a race, during a race, after a race, like I have so many like negative thoughts, crazy things creep into my mind, like while I'm swimming or while I'm about to get up on the blocks, and I'm able to, you know, still do my job and do it well, even with all that happening in my mind.
And I think a lot of people like wouldn't know how to, you know, handle themselves with all of that pressure and the craziness that comes with our sport.
I agree.
What um what's the craziest thing that's popping into your head pre or during 200 im?
I mean, I would say a lot of times during the 2 IM, I think about getting out halfway through.
Not anymore.
Yeah.
But definitely back in the day, like I would hit the backstroke and I'd be like, I don't think I can keep going.
Like, what if?
Like what if what if I just stopped?
Yeah.
Like, what if I just got out?
I don't think I ever did that, but that creeps into my mind sometimes.
I think it creeps into people's heads more than people watching would think.
Yeah, yeah.
No, it definitely does, especially in practice.
I'm like, what if I just stopped?
You know, what would the consequences be?
And again, you have to be really emotionally intelligent to be able to just push that out of your mind.
Yeah, agreed.
Okay, moving on to health maxing.
What is the worst health habit you just cannot kick?
Worst health habit, I mean, I don't know if this is like a bad health habit.
Like, I guess habits that come to like like my eating habits.
I have coffee like twice a day, every single day.
I don't know if that's a bad thing or not.
I don't think it's bad.
I always joke that like I feel like I'm addicted to coffee, um, but I feel like I could be addicted to a lot worse things, and so I don't think it's that bad.
Um, and I like to have dessert every single day.
I just I crave dessert after every meal, but it could be worse, you know?
Yeah.
So way worse.
I don't think it's that bad.
No.
I mean, you're also burning thousands of calories a day, so maybe if you had a desk job from nine to five and you just sat there all day, maybe the dessert would be the how bad it's.
Um, okay, what is the most useless health trend that you actually tried?
Well, the useless health trend.
Okay, I do feel like I've been on that side of TikTok lately where they're like, everything you're eating is bad for you, like, you know, the way they make it is bad for you.
And so it's like these TikTok influencers who make like everything from scratch, and I've like tried making like bread from scratch, and like I've tried like shredding my own cheese, and I'm like, this is just so much work, I'd rather just buy the pre-packaged stuff just for convenience.
So I've I've tried to like make more things from scratch because they are better for you, but I don't have the time or the energy for that.
So yeah, you have to like really be passionate about it for that to happen.
It's gotta be like your full-time job to be able to do that.
Well, influencer that's doing it for it is their full-time job.
Um, what is the most indulgent thing you do that has zero productivity attached to it?
I mean, I guess like when I let myself just like lay on the couch and scroll TikTok for like an hour, the best.
Like, yeah, nothing good comes out of that, but sometimes like when I am just like allow myself some time to do it, it's nice to just be able to not care that I'm not being productive or anything.
Just escape.
Yeah.
What's your so I feel like I'm seeing your algorithm right now.
What is what's mainly coming at?
Is it the making things or making your space clean, or what else is in there?
I definitely would say, yeah.
A lot of the like day in my life videos, Sunday reset videos, yeah.
Again, the the health videos, a lot of things on my TikTok about also how like everything that you use is plastic and it's bad for you.
Yeah.
So I'm like, need to get rid of like all my plastic cutting boards and all that.
So probably, I guess, like a lot of things about how to like you know live healthier, but again, it's like how realistic is all that?
Yeah.
I feel like it's finding the things that like you can consistently do for a long time and everything else you just throw out the window.
Yeah, yeah.
Okay, one thing you do for yourself that would just genuinely surprise people.
I don't know.
I don't know what would like surprise people.
I know because I feel like you put out your day in the lives, you you put out your I mean I guess like I guess I do like cook a lot now.
Like I kind of am not the best cook, but I do like the meal delivery like prep services like HelloFresh.
Yes.
And so like I come home from practice and I enjoy like spending an hour like cooking my dinner because it always ends up better than like if I I don't know, Door Dash made some yeah, DoorDash or like made something from like a frozen meal.
And so yeah, I definitely enjoy like coming home from practice and like just making a home-cooked meal for myself.
Like it's pretty good.
That's good.
Okay, moving on to looks maxing skincare routine.
Is it locked in or are you still figuring it out?
You know, I feel like yeah, my skincare routine changes all the time.
But right now I'm in a pretty like minimalistic skincare routine where I literally, I mean, I just put lotion on like in the morning and night.
I try to put sunscreen on every day.
That's something I've been trying to do a lot more, especially in the summer.
You know, protect the skin from getting old.
But yeah, I literally just do like at night, I just wash my face and put lotion on.
I feel like in the past I've tried like serums, creams, like acne medication and stuff, and sometimes I feel like less is more.
Yeah.
And so, yeah, I I don't do too much these days.
Thank you for saying that.
It's very validating because I feel like I've done the same where I'm like, you know what?
I'm gonna buy a TikTok shop, buy the serum, and then I just I fall off every time.
And then I just have like so many half-used products sitting in my bathroom that are never gonna get used and they just go to waste.
I think a lot of people can relate to that.
Yeah.
Um, okay.
How long does it actually take you to get ready for a date night?
It does not take me very long.
I will say that's something that like all my friends can attest to is that I get ready really quickly.
Like, I don't really do much like makeup.
It can take me a while to find an outfit, but I usually like plan it out in my head beforehand, so I'm not like trying on 20 different things before I go.
But I don't have much of a routine.
I just like blow dry my hair, like a little bit of tinted moisturizer, some mascara, and like I'm ready to go.
I don't really like I don't really put too much effort into it.
I feel like I mean I don't feel like you need to, so that's also a benefit.
I feel like I just never got into like makeup and all that, and like it's just too, it's too late for me to really like get into that at this point.
You can hire people to do that.
Exactly.
Yeah, so yeah, I keep it pretty simple.
Yeah, that's nice.
I feel like the men in our lives appreciate that also.
Probably.
I mean, I think my boyfriend should appreciate it more.
I think he doesn't realize how good he has it with that.
I mean, you should tell him there.
I have friends that take an hour and a half.
Oh yeah.
I mean, we're always waiting on Alex Walsh.
That girl is that girl can take her time getting ready.
I've heard this from multiple sources.
Oh yeah, no.
Yeah, it's a known, it's a known problem for her, but it's okay, because she always looks good.
She looks great, yeah.
Um who is like your style icon?
Like, whose wardrobe would you love to steal from?
Ooh, this is tough.
Okay, I definitely like I don't know if there's one, I guess one specific celebrity that I love is Sophia Richie Grange.
Like, her style is just so like it's very like luxury but simple and just so like chic, and I love it.
And so I definitely think her style would be one that I would love to just like have her entire closet.
Yeah, but I definitely follow a lot of like TikTok influencers, and I love to see what they're wearing too.
But Sophia Ritchie, definitely.
She's good, she's yeah.
I feel like she never, there's never a time where I've seen her where I'm like, oh, like that's off, or you look you don't look good.
Yeah, it's always just like simple but like elegant outfits.
Yeah.
I love it.
Good one.
Okay, moving on to swim maxing, had to.
Yeah.
Um, so what is the most obsessive technical detail that you've worked on this year?
Ooh.
That I've worked on this year.
I mean, I guess with like with like my freestyle, I think I try to think a lot about keeping my breath low in my freestyle.
Okay.
Because in my 100 free, like we've always noticed, like when I get tired, my arm just goes like straight up and I'm like breathing and looking at the ceiling.
And so I think in practice, that's something that I definitely have to be reminded of.
But I try to think about that every time I'm doing like pace freestyle is to think about keeping my breath low and like my goggles low in the water.
Cool.
Still working on it though.
I feel like when you get tired, that's when like the wheels exactly every everyone.
Yeah.
Okay.
Um, taper, do you love it or does it make you crazy?
I love it.
Yeah.
I love taper.
Yeah.
Usually just like getting out of the weight room and being able to like rest my body a little bit.
Like, I just love that.
I feel like when we rest, like not much in the pool changes.
It doesn't change too much what we're doing in the pool, but I feel like the big change is the weight room, and my body just isn't as tired.
Yeah.
Because usually when we're lifting heavy, I come into practice every day and I'm in pain.
Yeah.
And so I like to not be in pain during taper time.
Yeah.
Um, okay.
What do you actually say to yourself mid-race?
Good and bad.
I definitely try to keep the good thoughts, you know, flowing during a race.
It's usually like I feel like just very motivating stuff like you can do this, like you're almost there, you can finish.
Like, those are things I try to say.
Definitely like have like freak out moments in a race, or I'm like, you know, I can't breathe.
Am I gonna be able to finish this?
Like, I don't know.
But I feel like for the most part, I'm kind of just like positive, being like, you're almost there.
Like, you can do this, like, this is your thing.
Like, try to just like be confident.
It's almost hard to like think.
I've been asked that before.
I'm like, what am I thinking?
It's so subconscious that you almost like can't remember what you're thinking.
But I feel like it's normally just yeah, yeah.
No, I feel like sometimes, yeah, like when you're thinking too much, that's honestly like not great for a race.
So I feel like when my brain is a little too like excited and moving around, like that's when I get freaked out during a race because then I'm not actually thinking about the swimming part.
Yeah, and so I try to turn the brain off for the most part.
Yeah.
Okay, last thing, yeah, remove metals, places, any accomplishments.
When you retire, what do you want people to think about Kate Douglas?
Oh, it's a tough one.
I mean, I think I just like I think it's really awesome to be able to just like inspire the younger generations.
I mean, I'm thinking like right now, I was just swarming down in the short course diving well, and there were these three little girls standing in the stands above my lane, and they had this poster that said, I love Kate Douglas, you're amazing.
And it's like they would have no idea if I had a bad race or a good race.
Like, you know, they're just excited to see me and cheer for me, and it was so cute, and it made me smile, and like I think that that's just awesome.
And you know, hopefully, yeah, like I can just get the kids excited to swim and just get them excited to come watch mates because I feel like yeah, when you're a kid, you don't really know like what's good and what's bad with swimming, like you're just excited to see people race.
It's not crazy.
Like you like, I think I always have like when you have a bad race, you're like, Oh, well, they know it's a good thing.
Yeah, you're like, it's embarrassing, like everyone's gonna know.
These people don't know, like they think whatever you do is great.
Yeah, like it's awesome.
Yeah, it's it's such a good thing to remember when you're freaking out or nervous.
It's just like they're just like pumped to like literally just like see you standing there.
So you don't have to do anything, you just stand there.
I know.
And so, like, yeah, it's good to remember that.
I feel like so.
Just cute, awesome.
Well, thank you, Kate.
Appreciate the time, and I'll be cheering you on for the rest of the summer.
Thanks.
Yeah.
Alex Walsh, welcome to Unfiltered Waters Life Maxing Edition.
Are you ready?
I'm so ready.
We're gonna start with mind maxing.
Okay.
So the first question is one one belief you've completely abandoned in the last five years.
Wait, can you repeat it again?
One belief that you've just completely abandoned in the last five years.
One belief, mmm, that's a good one.
Um I think like I had this belief that because I had already like done a lot of work, like I don't know, I feel like this year has been a really interesting year for me and have gone through like a lot of mindset changes, but I think I was kind of like coasting on this idea that you know, not that I didn't have to work as hard, but like that I didn't that I could just keep doing what I've been doing and everything would like and that I would keep getting better.
Um, but definitely that's not like what has happened the past couple months.
So I actually just recently changed up a lot of things about like my training and my life.
So I am currently life maxing, I guess.
You still life maxing.
So I guess like, yeah, that would be my belief.
Like you have to do new things, get better at new things to um like keep advancing.
Yeah, it's a good one.
Yeah.
All right, meditation, life changing or a waste of time?
Life-changing, truly.
And I think meditation like doesn't have to be just like you sitting in a room in like a dark room with you know your in in frish crossed applesauce.
Um I recently like I started doing hot yoga and hot pilates, and honestly, like I just love I feel like I don't think about anything else except for like what like literally what is my arm feeling, what is my leg feeling like?
It's so nitty-gritty, like down to the skeletal muscular level.
And like I find that that is kind of like meditation for me.
So I think that's a good call out because I I do feel like, and I've been swept into that.
It's like, oh, the only way to meditate is like being alone by yourself, you know, solitude, but it's just like what takes your mind away from the crazy.
Yeah, like what can you just like literally focus on nothing else except yourself?
Yeah.
So I need more of that.
Um, okay, what is the best advice you've ever received that had nothing to do with swimming?
Ooh.
Um nothing to do with swimming.
Um this is funny.
I feel like I feel like whenever you're about to say, I'm really excited.
Well, like someone told me that like the best way to, you know, like the only way to get super wealthy is through equity.
And I was like, I don't know.
I just like that really stuck with me.
I was like, yeah, like I should be investing more.
So that's a good one.
Yeah.
It's like that's money maxing as well.
Money maxing for sure.
So are elite athletes more or less emotionally intelligent than normal people?
Oh gosh, because the stereotype is like, you know, dumb job.
Yep.
Um, yeah, I don't know.
That is such a good question.
I feel like I don't want to say like they're the same as everyone, but I do feel like you have to have like this emotional aspect, especially being with like college swimming, like you need to know how to interact with others, how to interact with a coach, like a mentor.
Um, and if like you want to be fully invested in the team's success, then you have to be invested in everyone else's success around you.
Yeah.
So yeah, when I was a captain, I feel like I really had to learn how to like you know put myself aside and like emotionally invest in my teammates.
So I would say definitely, you know, the same, if not better, than others.
Yeah, I think that's okay to say.
Yeah.
I think that's been the common answer so far is like yes.
Yeah.
Like I think, I think it's also emotionally intelligent versus book smart.
Yes.
Are differ very different things.
Yeah.
Very different things.
All right, moving on to health maxing.
Okay.
So, what is the worst health habit you just cannot kick?
Doom scrolling.
I'm such a scroller.
Um, yeah, and I've like, this is funny that this is like the maxing episode because I saw this meme and it was like me when I'm trying to like cortisol max, and it was like doom scrolling, drinking coffee on an empty stomach, like staying up too late.
And I was like, I literally do all of these.
So I was like, I need to start like reeling it in.
Um, but I've definitely tried to like not log off, but like give myself like um a moment, like acknowledge that what I'm doing is like indulging for a second and then being like, okay, like I'm done.
Yeah.
I yeah, you're and then you like finish the day and you're like, why am I so anxious?
And you did all those things.
That's how I am.
Yes.
Why are my eyes hurting?
Yeah, it's literally that.
What's your algorithm looking like right now?
Oh, okay, so um there was something I was on like recently that was kind of funny.
Um now I'm trying to think about it.
I've honestly haven't like, I'm doing better.
I haven't been as crazy about it.
Um recently I've been on like off-campus.
I don't know, have you heard of off-campus shows?
It's like one of those hockey, like hockey fanfic shows.
It's like heated rivalry, but like another version of it.
I was on off-campus TikTok.
Now I'm on, I feel like whatever show I'm like binging with Gretchen or my roommates, like that's when I end up with the case.
Um, but I also like have a lot of nail inspiration um and like interior, you know, design inspiration.
Because I feel like I'm really, I really like to look at that.
So that's fun.
Those are I mean, those are productive things.
That's not very doomy to me.
Yeah.
Yeah, then it can like get down there, you know, and you're like, where am I?
Yeah.
Do you ever get into the um the crazy like bait like berry ones or like the vegetable, like the fruits that have like these dramas?
Oh my gosh, well, Gretchen does.
Yes, the AI videos, I hate them.
Wait, actually, something that I recently like this is honestly like very vulnerable for me to say, but like these dogs, like people, like you know, people that feed their animals like raw, raw diets.
Like recently, I've been watching like the dog food.
I don't know, they feed their dogs like these insane like meals, and it's so like the ASMR of like it's literally like mukbang, but like animal version.
It's literally crazy.
I was on that like a couple weeks ago, and I was like, I need to stop engaging with this because it's this is way so weird.
And then it's like every like I feel like you do that, you're like, I really shouldn't be, and then you're like, oh, I just gotta keep it's crazy when it makes your brain doom.
Oh my god.
Um what is one thing you do for yourself that would genuinely surprise people?
That I do for myself?
Yeah.
Just like could be for your mental health, making you happy, bringing you joy.
I think um I think like I don't, I don't know.
I feel like for me, like cleaning has always been something that I um like do a lot.
And I don't know, I recently have found that like when I really want to just like let myself relax, like I'll clean the whole kitchen.
I know it sounds like crazy, but it's like I feel so much better after, and like I feel like my life is like together.
So, but sometimes I like I have to be able to have time to do that because then otherwise I'll like put stuff off.
Yeah, so I would say, like, yeah, maybe I use that as like my you know, like gift to myself.
I mean that sounds like a crazy thing.
I mean, it's a gift to yourself, to others to like.
No, it is a gift to others, yeah.
Honestly, Kate said that very similar to you.
Oh, really?
She's like cleaning, and I was like, man, you guys are making me feel like swamp over here.
All right, moving on to looks maxing.
Is your skincare routine locked in or are you still figuring it out?
Um, I would say it's pretty locked in, and I don't do very much like at all.
I use like you know, one or two face washes, like I alternate if depending on like my mood, literally.
And then like one moisturizer, and that's kind of like I only use moisturizer, and sometimes I do like extra hyaluronic acid if I'm feeling like really dry.
Yeah, it's pretty like I don't like to deviate outside with the serums and all the yeah, yeah.
I just yeah, I don't know.
But I am open to like trying some new stuff and like stronger stuff, like the I don't know, Trentinoin and like Yeah, no, I don't you're talking to the wrong person.
Like I always have good intentions of doing that, and then I just revert back to the voice.
It's so hard in the pool, also, because it's like there's only so much you can put on your skin before you just get back in the water and it like all comes off.
So it's like, yeah, I feel like if I have something that's like working right now, I probably won't change it until I retire.
Yeah, it's it's a commitment, it's a true commitment.
Yeah, yeah.
Um, okay, what is your go-to outfit when you have nothing to prove to anyone, or you're home alone?
I'm home alone.
Pajamas, like I I love a long sleeve, like pants, pajama set.
Um I also have this Skims robe that I like to wear a lot, and like sometimes I'll just wear it around the house.
And like the other day we had like a package delivered that we had to sign for, but I was in my robe, so I had to like get Gretchen to do it, and it was just like this whole thing.
But yeah, definitely when no one's watching, like I want to be super comfy.
Super comfy.
Um, do you have a style icon?
Like whose wardrobe would you love to steal?
Oh, um, yes, I love following, like, I follow a bunch of influencers um and definitely like love, you know, shopping, like more window shopping than actually buying.
Um, I think my style icon, um like I love Dua Lipa and her style.
I I don't think I can ever pull it off, but I think just like, I don't know, she has a lot of like very interesting articles and everything.
There's also um this like I really like jewelry, and like my dream would be to design jewelry, and I follow a ton of jewelers, and um this one girl, I think her Marcy Hirschleifer, I think is her last name, but her and her sister are like literally they have like the dream, dream gems, dream bags, like they have oh my gosh, so much good stuff.
So yeah.
Maybe, maybe in your future.
Yeah, yeah.
All right, so I'm maxing because we gotta finish with that.
What is the most obsessive technical detail that you've worked on this year?
This year, um I'm a big snorkel addict in practice, and something that I'm trying to do is like wean myself off of it.
Um because I want to start like, I don't know, feeling like I'm not flailing everywhere when I'm doing freestyle.
Um so recently I've been trying to cut back on snorkel usage and like really work on um like just getting long, like being really long, using my height as you know an advantage, or thing I I've always done, but like being very intentional about it.
Like that.
Um taper, do you love it or does it make you crazy?
Oh, both.
Like the taper blues, Todd calls them.
Yeah.
Um, I think, and I'm definitely a taper swimmer, um, like always have been.
I would say that's probably the biggest difference between me and the other pros that I train with.
Um, so I personally like I love it because I know that I'm, you know, getting ready to do something really good, but also there's the couple days before the race, like I always don't like it.
You always feel like I don't even know what it is.
Like, I don't know what the science behind it is, but you always feel so like weird or like your grip isn't right on the water.
Like something doesn't feel good, but I always tell myself that like even if it's like in warm-up before my race, I'm like, if I don't feel good, like that's a good sign or something.
So I feel like I yeah, it's like I don't have a good scientific word for it.
It's like you just like feel icky.
Yeah, yeah.
And if I do feel good, then I'm like, okay, I feel good.
Yeah, I just have to it's good both.
Yeah, yeah.
I I always feel that I did a pampax preview, and I like I feel like I said, like, I feel like you're a like you're a gamer, like no matter what's happening during the season, like you're gonna be there at like the big show, you know?
Yeah, I'm definitely like a racer for sure.
I would say like I used to be someone that would or like or not, I used to be someone, but I feel like traditionally, like I perform better than I train.
So, but trying to like get better what when I'm training so that way I like have more confidence going behind the block.
Yeah, definitely working on that.
Awesome.
Well, your life maxed.
Thank you so much, and good luck the rest of the summer.
I won't be able to be there for pan packs, but I'll be screaming at my TV.
Okay, yeah, good.
Oh yeah.
Thanks.
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Patrick Salmon, welcome to Unfiltered Waters Life Maxing Edition.
Thanks for having me.
Yes, of course.
So the first is mind maxing.
So hey, you maximize your mind.
Okay.
So the first question is what is the best advice you ever got that had nothing to do with swimming?
Best advice I've ever got.
Not swimming related.
Um I mean, for me, I'd say just uh trust the process and focus on the journey rather than the end result because ultimately you're gonna have a a lot more fun in the present and just staying in that moment and uh enjoying every part of it instead of always being anxious about like the future result and that kind of thing.
Have you been able to master that yet?
Uh yes and no.
Like I've definitely gotten better over the past uh couple years for sure, but there's there's always room to improve.
Always.
Yep.
Okay, meditation, life-changing or waste of time?
Uh I'd say life-changing, just uh sit and just be in the moment.
Kind of uh I'm pretty into my face, so just sitting with God and just fully just being full of gratitude, and uh yeah, I think it just calms your mind and really sets you back into reality almost.
Yeah.
Do you have a set time during the day that you do that, or is it just when it kind of strikes you?
Um I don't say it's on a like a schedule.
Um, I like to pray slash meditate in the morning just to um set the tone for my day.
And then if my mind gets crowded, I always try to like come back and just um meditate, I guess, and just know that everything's gonna be okay in the end.
That's huge.
Yep.
So helpful.
Um okay.
Are elite athletes more or less emotionally intelligent than normal people?
Um I'd say we're all we're all just humans.
Yeah.
I I know some people that are great, some people that uh that definitely needs some work.
So yeah, it's I don't think there's any any benefits of being an elite athlete that um you're you're not gonna struggle with with something along the way.
But yeah.
You can make the argument both ways.
It's like your head's always under the water, you're not socializing, but also yeah, it's it's a very interesting argument.
Um okay, now we'll move on to health maxing.
So, what is the most useless health trend that you actually tried?
That I tried.
Ooh.
One time I saw on uh Instagram like eating sardines for like a couple days straight would would help like get your testosterone up, and that that did not work.
Uh I was in pain for those three days and did not did not feel good.
That's tough.
Yeah.
Also, did did they say that it would work how long till your testosterone is boosted?
Like how how many days do you have to eat sardines?
Yeah, I think it was like either 48 hours or three days of like just yeah, and then yeah, it should it should help boost it, but I don't think that that worked at all.
Oh yeah, that's that's tough.
Are you actually able to disconnect from your phone or is it a lie that you tell yourself?
Um that's a hard one.
I don't know if I want to tell the truth.
I wish I wish I could say I could disconnect, but yeah, I feel like I always have to stay in like communication with my friends or family, and um, but I would like to just like set it aside for like I don't know a whole day just to like detox.
But it's hard for sure.
It's really hard.
Are you more of an Instagram or a TikTok guy?
Um I in 2020 I was full TikTok and then I transitioned.
Once reels started to become a thing, I'm like fully on Instagram now.
So if I go dig back into your 2020 TikToks, do you have like the embarrassing dances on there or no?
Um I in my drafts, I think I might, but uh, I never posted them.
I back in 2020, me and my buddies were like super big into like cliff jumping.
That was like a super yeah, a bunch of or where I'm from in California, there's a lot of cliffs and stuff like that.
And um, especially with no no one being out, like there's a lot of park rangers that come around and like basically tell you don't do that.
Um, but during 2020, there's no one around, so we just went out, uh, had a lot of fun.
But that that was kind of what I was posting back in 2020.
Um, I think I archived all those those videos now, but um, some of them got a couple million views on I'm imagining that if it's not allowed, it's probably pretty dangerous.
Yeah, uh I don't know.
It it's it's deep.
Like we depth check and make sure everything's good, but um, my mom never wanted me to go out there, so I I try to hide those videos from her.
Yeah.
Okay.
Um, what is the most indulgent thing that you do that has zero productivity attached to it?
Ooh.
Most indulgent.
You think you can give me a definition?
Like um, I would say like, I mean, it could just be like laying around and just doing nothing.
It could be um like eating something bad for you.
Um I don't know.
I guess I scot like a moped the other day, so just riding the moped around.
Okay.
Um, I mean, it doesn't really help anything at all, but it's nice just to like ride around, especially during the sunset.
Um yeah, yeah, it's nice, nice, pretty views in Phoenix, especially.
But yeah, I'd say that.
I like that.
If you're gonna go indulgent, that's a that's a good one.
Exactly.
Um, okay, last one of this.
What is the worst health habit you just cannot kick?
Ooh.
I I love my ice cream.
So I'll get like a pint like every couple days and just finish it off.
But um, yeah, I ice cream is my main my main like special treat that I'll always go get.
And is it like a set flavor?
Um, I like to rotate.
I I love the ice cream for bears.
I don't know if you've ever had it.
It's called ice cream for bears.
For bears, like a like an animal, like bear.
Yeah, yeah.
Okay.
Um, but it's made, it's supposed to be made with like whole milk and like honey and stuff, so it's supposed to be like better.
At least that's what I tell myself.
But nice.
Um there's like a cookie cookies and cream flavor I really like.
Um a cream sicle one, like orange cream sickle.
Yeah, it's pretty good.
You should try it.
Yeah, don't tempt a pregnant one with ice cream.
I will definitely try that.
Um, all right, moving on to looks maxing skincare routine.
Locked in or are you still trying to figure it out?
Um, I try to stay locked in.
I I was not really blessed uh with like great great perfect skin, so I've always been trying now.
So so you this is like you're you're doing things.
Like your skin looks great.
Thanks.
I I try to, there's this thing called Norse Organics.
Um it's basically like they take I don't know if it's like flowers or like stuff from like the Nordic region, and they make I don't know, organic like skin, like moisturizer, like foliating stuff.
So that's kind of what I've been on the grind with.
But nice, yeah.
I try to keep my skin looking good.
Is this a partnership?
Because they should be, if not.
Um yes and no, like they sent me an affiliate code.
Okay, and I don't know, I haven't it's my fault.
I should be posting about it, just like try to do something.
But um, yeah, I still like pay for their products, but we'll we'll give a little tag we'll we'll help you out.
Um okay.
How long does it actually take you to get ready for a date night?
Ooh.
Like starting from like if I'm coming straight from the pool.
Yeah, you walk in the you Set your swim bag down and you're starting.
I I'd say ten ten minutes in the shower and then after that to get ready, probably another fifteen minutes.
So I'd say twenty-five minutes.
Okay.
That's solid.
I feel like anything for a guy under 30 is like you're doing well.
Yeah, yeah.
Um, do you have a style icon?
How much do you pay attention to like your wardrobe and like sneakers and outfits?
Um, I really like Nigel Houston's uh style.
He's like an Olympic skateboarder.
Okay.
Oh yes, I've heard of him.
Yeah.
And he I don't know, I'd always like go into his Instagram page and like see what he's wearing.
Um he wore these super cool embroidered pants to Coachella that I I want to like try to find.
I DM'd him like, hey, where can I find these?
But he hasn't gotten back to me.
So shout out Nigel.
Maybe he can respond to me.
But we have a lot of tagging to do in this episode.
Um okay.
Your go-to outfit when you have nothing to prove to anyone, or you're home alone.
Um I'll say what I'm wearing right now.
I like just like classic, like Lululemon or I I guess Vuori shorts, and then uh um just like uh oversized T.
Yeah, typically like Nike Nocta.
It's kind of what I I wear.
Yeah.
Cool.
Alright, moving on to swim maxing.
What is the most obsessive technical detail that you worked on this year?
Um the biggest thing for me has been making sure my hand doesn't slip out on to the side of me.
So I try to keep my hand in line with my shoulder.
And Herbie's always been been on me about that the past couple months.
Um, so that's kind of something I've been working on, especially in like my freestyle.
Um and then probably keeping a consistent kick uh throughout like especially the 200.
I usually kind of have like a gallop kick where I'll kick and then just stop and glide because I'm because I'm lazy.
But um yeah, those are the two the two main ones I'd say.
I feel like for kids watching, listening is like so relatable to hear people of your level talk about that because it's it's like kind of all the same stuff.
It's just that you're you know, when you get tired, you revert back to those things.
So um, so video analysis has it ever shown you something that genuinely shocked you?
Uh yes, but I'm I feel like I I always knew what I was doing wrong, but then when I watched the video, it's like, oh, like I didn't realize it was that bad.
So for me, like my dolphin kicks have always been bad, or my starting dolphin kicks.
So when I look at the back of the video, I'm like when I'm in the moment, I think, oh maybe I'm like, I don't know, like a head behind uh someone off the start, and that I look and I'm actually like three-quarters of a body off the start, so I'm like, man, I gotta work on this, but um yeah, that definitely uh it'll definitely make you reconsider like what you've been doing in practice and be like, oh I I gotta fix it.
It really does.
I feel like others like I hear my husband played football and he's like, Yeah, you review you you have to review every single thing after every single game.
And I feel like we're starting to do more of that.
Do you guys do a lot of that at ASU?
Um, we try to, yeah.
I think Herbie bought these like meta glasses too.
So yeah, I feel like he is like on the cutting edge.
Yes, yes.
Uh ASU number one innovation right there.
Yes.
Um he's always like wearing his meta glasses and we'll take a look at the videos after the set's over or something like that.
That's good.
Um, and then I remember at Nationals last year, I think like a year ago, like today, but um they had the computers up where you could go back and watch your races, and I thought that was cool where um you could just go back and like put at 0.5 or like two times speed, whatever.
Yeah.
And like really go in and analyze what you're doing good or need to fix.
Yeah, yeah.
Um, okay, what do you actually say to yourself mid-race if it's going well and if it's not going well?
Oh um, I think the classic, like, come on, let's keep going.
You got this.
And if you're not feeling well, it's like, why did I choose this sport?
There's so many other things I could be doing right now.
Like, what am I doing here?
Um, I I always try to keep it on the positive, try to stay away from those kind of thoughts like that.
But um, yeah, it's it's brutal in there when it's just you and your thoughts.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, especially during a workout and it's not going well.
I feel like that's even harder.
It's like you still have a whole hour left in the set, and you're just like, just you and your mind.
Yeah.
But what about you?
What when you're swimming or working out?
I feel like it's that.
Like I McKay Douglas said this, like I'd be at like the halfway point in the Fortnite.
I'm like, what why am I doing this event?
Like, what is why did I choose this?
Um, and then yeah, during the good, I feel I actually I feel like it's so subconscious when you're doing well, like you've such adrenaline that you're it's almost hard to even pinpoint if it's an actual thought or a feeling.
Yeah.
Do you agree?
I yeah, I agree.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Because you just get like that boost of like energy almost, and that kind of like feeds into your mind, but it's not like words.
Yeah.
Like, I don't know.
Yeah.
Like you're recounting, and you're like, am I just putting a word to a feeling right now, or did it actually happen?
Yeah, it's weird.
Yeah.
But it's cool because it means it's going really well.
Exactly.
Um, okay.
Last question um, takeaway the medals, the splits, the accomplishments.
When you look back on your swimming career and you're done fully, what do you want people to say about you as a person?
And what do you want to feel about yourself as a person?
Um I guess honestly, that was that I was um I don't know, like a generous and kind teammate, like to like my friends and people that I'm not friends with on deck, but um yeah, and always like trying to be helpful and I don't know, it's especially for swimming, it's something that if you take away the swimming part, it's so much more about like the community that you're building.
And um, I think that's the the main key for especially success in the sport is just having those groups that you can go and um support and be there for one another.
And I think that's something that I I strive to to be a part of and something that I hope my teammates are affected by as well.
Yeah, I feel like you guys have such a huge like hype up community at ASU.
Like it's really cool to kind of witness and see and see it develop.
Yeah, you're obviously a part of that.
So that's cool.
Thanks.
No, yeah, it's been awesome to be a part of.
Cool.
Well, good luck the rest of the meet.
Good luck this summer, and yeah, thank you so much.
Thanks for having me.
Yeah, Quinton McCarty.
Welcome to Unfiltered Waters Life Maxing Edition.
Sweet.
Before we go, I need to know the story behind this hat for people watching.
You have a hat that has what is what would you call that?
It's a propeller, it's a propeller.
It's a rainbow propeller.
I uh had a dream a couple weeks ago, and I had one of these hats and I was flying with it.
And so I bought one on Amazon.
It came that day, and I like wearing fun hats.
I have like a captain's hat and like all these random hats.
And this was just the one I had a dream about, so I bought on Amazon, and yeah, it's got a little propeller that spins, so it's it's pretty fun.
Yeah, I love my hats.
But are you gonna wear that out to finals tonight?
Maybe no, I don't like being cocky wearing anything like too outlandish, but I do wear hats out.
Um if it's cold, I'll wear a beanie.
If it's like kind of summertime, I'll wear just like a snapback.
But I love wearing hats, keep my head warm.
Yeah, I like that.
Yeah, it's okay, great.
Well, that's part of how you life max.
Exactly.
All right, we're kicking it off with mind maxing.
Okay.
So, meditation, is it a waste of time or life-changing?
I think meditation is like life-changing for sure.
Uh I'm a man of God.
I I really kind of dig deep into the Bible and um just doing a lot of prayer, and that's my form of meditation.
That has helped me through the years.
I've been injured uh a couple times, and it just got me through a bunch of things that make me feel a lot better about myself, and not everybody's the same, and people are gonna be like, well, meditation's stupid.
I don't think that that's the case for me.
I like just feeling myself and being able to understand, like, okay, this is my zone.
This is where I can just be myself at the most peak of where I am.
I think that's great.
Yeah.
Okay, what is one belief you've completely abandoned in the last five years?
One belief I completely abandon.
Uh shh.
Let's think.
It's a really hard one.
I honestly don't think I need as many yards as I always used to think I did.
I'm a sprinter.
Like, obviously, I'm gonna need some sort of an aerobic base, but I'm not I'm not needing to do all those 5K's every time.
And like all those 5,500 yard practices, it's starting to come down too, which has been nice, but I just see it as okay, I could get the same output in a 3K practice or 2500 and just feel the exact same.
How does uh your coach feel about that?
Uh Braden's been uh kind of growing on it recently.
Yeah, it's been we he does a great job of listening and understanding like what I need and listening to my body because uh we've been together for so long.
Yeah.
So it's like he kind of has that respect and I have that respect for him.
We grow and learn together, and it's been pretty life-changing to understand like, okay, this is where I am today, yeah.
I just need a flush 6K.
Like, that's fine.
Yeah, but I don't need to be doing aerobic threshold for 5,000 of it.
So yeah.
I feel like it's been really cool to see kind of how coaches have like coaches who really believed in like heavy volume are evolving to that for people who swim 500.
Like I think it's really nice to see.
Yeah.
Okay, are elite athletes more or less emotionally intelligent than normal people?
Oh, I feel like more or less is kind of a stab because I don't want to say more, but at the same time, we have a different sort of mental intelligence and like emotional intelligence.
All of our drive is through sport.
Yeah.
Uh, we have a lot of drive with swimming and like getting through college, but at the same time, we don't have as much of the outside sourcing that others do.
But I'd say for me, like swimming has made me way more emotionally intelligent than I ever thought I could have been.
Like my emotions per race change.
Like, if I'm swimming a 50 back, it's different than if I was swimming the 100 free.
Uh 100 free, I'm walking out there, big old smile, like laughing almost till I'm behind the blocks.
Whereas the 50 back, I'm really dialed in, I'm locked in with my like uh kind of err angry, but not like to the point of being, you know.
Like really, yeah, controlled anger.
Exactly.
Yeah, yeah.
So it just depends.
And I think for normal people, they they have that in their everyday life.
Like they're just they have their own emotions they have to go through.
They have work, they have a lot more of a oh, well, I need to call this person to get this done, or I have to pay this sort of rent, and that's stressful.
So obviously we go through that too, but it's obviously not the forefront because we wake up at 4 30 to go in the water.
Yeah, yeah, I think that's a great answer.
Um, so what is the best advice you've ever received that had nothing to do with swimming?
Live life.
Live life, be happy.
Like, I think that's something it relates back to my swimming, but when I got injured, people were just telling me, like, oh, you've come back, you're gonna be stronger, you're gonna be faster.
And it was like, I don't know if that's what I want to do.
And there was a time I was like, I don't know if I want to swim anymore.
And I just started living life.
I was told by one of my coaches, like, I don't care if you quit, I just want you to be happy as an individual.
Yeah, and I just started living life, being happy, moving forward every day, just being a better version of myself, and it just made my life expand so much more than I thought.
Oh, freeing.
Very freeing.
Exactly.
Yeah.
All right, moving on to health maxing.
Oh gosh.
What is the worst health habit you just cannot kick?
I love McDonald's.
Yeah, McDonald's and fast food.
Um, I've gotten a lot better.
And in the past six months, I don't eat out all the time.
But trials last year, before finals of the 50 back, I was eating uh a couple quarter pounders of cheese, fries, and a coke.
Yeah.
I was just like, uh health is like I I need to fuel myself, so might as well eat something fun.
You do need to fuel yourself.
I mean, there is an Olympics in the or there is a uh McDonald's in the Olympic Village, so it's just good prep for that.
Oh shoot.
Yeah.
I don't know if you should have told me that.
But yeah, no, I I love fast food.
I've cut down a lot on it recently because I've been trying to make my own dinners, but it's still there.
I still eat out.
Yeah.
Hey, you got you like what you like.
Exactly.
Um, okay.
That's not what is the most indulgent thing you do that has zero productivity attached to it?
Probably playing video games or just sitting on the couch scrolling reels.
Like that's all I like to do.
Like between practices, I'll be like, oh, there's stuff I have to do.
But my couch is right there.
It's right there.
So I just lay my I just lay on the couch and I start scrolling, and then I'm like, oh, I could go play video games right now.
I play some video games, and then I end up, oh shoot, it's time to eat.
Let's go to practice.
Yeah.
Complete no production.
But what video games are you playing?
Oh, it depends on the day.
I've been playing Fortnite, the finals, uh, Call of Duty, just some random stuff.
But yeah, I like I like just clearing my mind with that.
And are you playing against others, like actual real people?
Yeah.
I like playing competitive Fortnite.
Uh it's kind of fun.
Uh, me and some of my friends like joining a party, we play squads or duos, and then the finals is like a 3v3 game, and you have two people on your team go against other people.
So it's it's just fun.
The thing that I found cra uh like people you know, but like I've heard my husband, and like there's like a kid on the other end just like talking, saying the most insane thing.
I'm like, oh my god.
People people get crazy online because they don't understand that there is digital footprint.
Yes.
Gotta keep that clean.
Yeah, keep that clean.
Please, please keep that clean clean.
I will.
Uh, what is one thing you do for yourself that would genuinely surprise people?
Um honestly, hair and skincare.
Okay.
Yeah.
Man, you're you're you're getting actually we're moving into looks maxing.
So exactly.
Shout out to my mom.
Uh she put me on some skincare routine when I was like 12 and just been helping helping clean it up a little bit.
Uh, and I like my hair.
I don't know.
It's kind of fun.
Um I have my specific brands that I use, and I only go to them.
They might be expensive and deemed as women products, but I use them, so it's fun.
Wait, tell me more.
Okay, so like what's the routine for skincare?
Uh, skincare, contrary to public belief, I use an acid pad three days a week.
Okay.
Um, kind of just helps with getting chlorine out.
And I moisturize every night, and then I have this one mask that I use once a week.
Uh I kind of dipped out of it for a little while, but uh in the past like year I've I've started doing that again.
It's kind of interesting.
And then hair care.
I use bumble and bumble products all the way.
I don't know why it's are they a sponsor?
No, I wouldn't.
They should be.
Uh, it smells good, uh, makes my hair feel good and cleans it up.
Yep.
Yeah, so it's nice.
I love that.
I think it's great.
I like when guys talk about that type of stuff.
I think it matters.
It does.
Yeah.
Okay.
How long does it actually take you to get ready for date night?
For date night?
Mm-hmm.
Probably like five minutes.
Five minutes?
Like I get I get in the shower.
Well, it depends if I have to wash my hair or not, because I don't do that every night.
Right.
But get in the shower, wash my hair, it probably adds another six minutes.
Yeah.
Uh get out of the shower, put my clothes on, put on my cologne, put on my my chains and jewelry, and then I'm ready.
You're ready.
Must be so nice to be a guy.
Yeah, it's simple.
It's not that hard.
Do you have a style icon?
Like whose wardrobe would you want to steal?
I don't have a style icon, but shout out Gabe Jett.
He's always wearing the best things.
Okay.
Like Gabe Jett's style is unmatched.
I couldn't wear what he wears because it's just different, but yeah, he he's a style icon.
Okay.
Like that.
Um, what about sneaker culture?
Ooh, I love sneakers.
I just I just bought a pretty hefty pair of sneakers a while back.
Um, they're some Louis Vuitton dunks.
Um I will never wear them.
I'll end up selling them at some point.
You won't ever wear them.
Oh no.
No, not even for like a super special occasion.
No, I can't wear those.
They they go down in value as soon as you put your foot in them.
So you're like a like a sneaker head, like value, like do you go on, like are you on StockX or like?
I am, but I I'm not like all about value.
I like the way they look, and I like always will have one or two pairs hung up in my room, and then when I get sick of them, I sell them and get new ones.
Nice.
So it's more of a like decoration.
Yeah, it's aesthetic.
Okay.
Um, all right.
Social media, do you feel like it's made people more confident or less confident about how they look?
It depends who you are.
It's all about how you treat yourself on social media.
If you're trying to pose that you're someone that you're not, it's definitely tanks your confidence.
But if you're just posting who you are, like I post without my tooth.
I love it.
It's awesome.
Yeah.
And like I really don't care about what I post on social media.
Like, I could put a I've been putting up dinosaurs, AI dinosaurs recently.
It's like I really do not care.
And people see that and they're like, oh, this guy is weird, but I I I have no shame in my life.
Like fun.
Yeah, I won't get embarrassed.
Like, you can say whatever you want.
I really I think that's where I've kind of taken apart of society a little bit.
I'm just like, okay, I'll post something, but it's gonna be what I want, not what others and are you gonna engage in the comments or not?
Depends if they're funny.
Okay, yeah.
If they if they like if they light me up, oh yeah, I'm I'm I'm gonna fire some things back, but not to the point of like we talked earlier, social, social right.
So yeah, yeah.
Can't be bad, but yeah, no, I'll I'll I'll indulge a little bit.
Nice.
Yeah.
Okay.
All right, swim maxing, had to do it.
So, what is the most obsessive technical detail you've worked on this year?
Maybe not obsessive, but just like the thing you're like, oh, I really, I really have to focus on this.
Honestly, for me, I really like when I'm training my freestyle and doing drills, I just think about my catch being as strong as it is up front, as strong as it is in the back.
Like just one solid pull the whole way through without any slippage of water.
Uh, I think that's helped me a lot recently.
I dropped randomly in Monaco, which was pretty fun.
But it was just like, okay, just connectivity with my arms, make me feel good.
Uh, next thing I have to learn is how to do a start.
I'm really explosive, I can jump really well, I just don't know what I'm doing in the air, lose a lot of proprioception, just can't find that one entry hole.
So that's that's the next step.
But that will be what I'm next up.
Is that for freestyle start or backstroke start or both?
Freestyle.
Backstroke start, I I learned that last year.
That was pretty dialed.
Yeah.
It's getting there.
Yeah.
Um, okay, video analysis.
Has it ever shown you something that's genuinely shocked you?
I really don't watch video.
You don't watch video.
I'll look at myself and I'll be like, okay, cool.
Okay.
But I see where I slow down and I'm like, okay, I'll just make that adjustment in the race.
It's nothing that I've been like, oh, that's different.
I don't know what I'm doing there.
It's always like, oh, yeah, I know my start.
It's not that great.
My legs flopping right behind me, but oh well, like I can't change going back, so I'm just gonna attempt to do it better next time.
Uh that's something I have to do going back to training.
Uh, we're gonna do a lot of start work uh freestyle-wise, like I know my stroke, I know what it looks like.
Backstroke, same thing, fly.
Like, I I just know what it should look like, and I haven't really seen anything too outside the box.
So when I watch a race video, it's like, okay, slow down here, make that mental adjustment when you're racing again in finals, and then I'm good.
Cool.
Um, okay, last question on swim maxing.
I feel like I already know what you're gonna answer, but taper, do you love it or does it make you crazy?
Oh, depends.
Like, I I love the feeling of the water when I'm in taper, but it makes me crazy because I'm so bored.
Like my ADHD is just like I just want to do everything.
So I just go sit out in the sun normally, like sit outside, calm my brain down, kind of back to that meditation, just be at peace with yourself and then go do what you need to do.
I think taper is a really fun time, but it can also be that mental turnoff for some people where they're like, oh my god, am I doing the right thing?
Am I doing enough?
Like, what's going on?
You just gotta trust the process.
Yeah, very easily overanalyzed.
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah.
Okay, last question take away the records, the medals, the accomplishments.
When you think back on your career, like what do you want people to remember you by?
Just someone who has fun, someone who's smiling.
Like, yeah, there's been some races where I get out of the wall and I'm pissed.
Like, that's just it happens.
But I want people to just be like, wow, he's like happy.
He's smiling, like bringing joy out of the sport.
So the kids who sit down there tonight and the 10-year-olds are like, Wow, this is fun.
Yeah, we don't want to go to practice and drag on, like at 4 30, yeah, it's hard.
But just smile.
If you smile and you look at somebody and make a joke, it's so much easier to go to practice.
And NC State this year, like this year we had a complete change at morning practice because everyone just starts making jokes at 4 30 in the morning, and it's funny.
And it feels like you're already at it's noon, and people are like, uh, laughing like they're idiots, but it just gets you through everything so much better, and you're willing to fight that much harder in the morning practice, and then when you get to a meet, you're just the same person.
Like down there, we're laughing, we're making fun of each other, we're pushing each other around.
It's just like a practice, and it just makes the meet so much less controlling you, and you just get to control everything else when you're happy.
Yeah, I like that.
Thank you.
Yeah, it's simple, but it's like it's not done a lot.
Right.
People just don't know how to smile sometimes in the sport.
Yeah, and that's like the biggest thing.
You get you go back behind the blocks, you smile, you're like, even if you're still in the zone, you can just kind of nod to yourself, like I've done the work.
Yeah.
If I don't swim well, I don't swim well.
Oh well, like what am I gonna do?
Can't change it.
Yeah, it's true.
Like I get outtouched.
Okay, cool.
What can I do now?
Yeah.
Awesome.
Thank you.
Well, you're gonna crush this summer.
I can't wait to watch, and thank you for hopping on.
Well, thank you for having me.
It was a blast.
Of course.