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 did a color-set and lifted weights in the same week.
We wanted to catch up because Regan is one of the most engaging and transparent athletes in the sport. She's open to discussing a wide range of topics, avoiding clichés and offering unique insights. That's why we're calling this episode 'What Does Regan Smith Think?'
We cover:
- Training regimens 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 diverse events support her long-term goals?
- Upcoming races and events
- USA Swimming's Short Course World Championships Trials: A positive, negative, or neutral experience?
- Increases in APA (USA Swimming National Team Members received financial support 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...
Despite feeling unwell during the recording, the interview was worth it. Coleman Hodges provided valuable support. The podcast veers off-topic for the first 4 minutes, but the conversation takes a more serious tone at 4:30. The podcast is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes long. We hope you enjoy it. If you have questions for Regan that you'd like us to address in future episodes, please leave 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/
Thank you to SwimOutlet.com for their 14-year partnership and support of this swimming news and media.
Check out recent GMM podcasts:
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.
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 (aka Mel Stewart Jr.) is a 3-time Olympic medalist from the 1992 Olympic Games. His specialty was the 200 butterfly, and he held world, American, and NCAA records in this event. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports and Universal Sports.
