Episode #144 Bill Kirby

Bill Kirby is an Olympic gold medal winning swimmer from Australia. He was part of the 4x200 Free Relay that won in 2000. They broke that relay's World Record 3 different times (1998, 2000, 2001).

Bill has recently moved back to Perth and opened up a swim school & swim team: Kirby Swim.

This episode is chuck full of amazing stories -- Bill has an outstanding memory. Test sets, kick sets, Popov, Gennadi, Klimy, Todd Pearson, Don Talbot, and on and on!

Enjoy!

This episode is sponsored by: Destro Swim Towers! Use code "brett" at checkout to save $150 per double tower!

00:00 Intro
01:45 Where are you coming from?
02:00 Kirby Swim in Perth
02:30 How was/is COVID?
04:20 How'd you get into swimming?
05:00 First love was Surf Life Saving
06:05 The backyard swim school instructor
07:00 City of Perth Swimming Club: Shelley Taylor-Smith, Neil Brooks, Dean Peters
08:50 100 Fly National Champ at 17
09:30 1997 Short Course World Championships
10:30 Don Talbot: "You don't think you can win a medal here do you?"
14:30 Where did you see yourself?
16:58 Test Set: 7x200's
19:30 What were your strengths?
21:00 Leading up to Sydney
23:00 "Good Morning Sphincter Boy!"
28:00 Breaking the 4x200 Free Relay World Record
32:15 2000 Sydney Trials
34:30 Leaving Hackett off the Relay
37:00 Swimming is Objective
39:00 Anchoring
40:45 What's Ian Thorpe like in the Ready Room?
42:00 Did winning Gold change your life?
43:45 2001 Final Year of Swimming
46:30 Don Talbot: Australia Can Be the Best
48:15 Wrapping Up