November 18, 2025 • 47 mins
Sam WIlliamson joins us on Torpedo Swimtalk to discuss everything from medaling at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, to claiming the 50 breast world title in Doha. Sam walks us through the mental and technical shifts that turned nerves into a plan. He explains why the start didn’t need to be perfect, how he engineered a ruthless last 15 meters, and what it takes to stay calm in a call room full of giants.
We also go deep on training. Sam describes building a unique breaststroke by borrowing the best pieces from legends—without copying anyone wholesale. Expect practical detail: fatigue-anchored 50s to harden finishes, power-tower bursts to translate gym work into the water, and weekly video analysis to tune line, hips, and timing. The Victorian Institute of Sport’s support threads through every step—physio, conditioning, and coaching aligned to one outcome: clean speed under pressure.
Then everything changed in a second. A routine plyometric session led to a complete patella tendon rupture and urgent surgery. Sam shares the shock, the honest fear that it might be over, and the switch that flipped when the surgeon mapped a path back. Nine months, six rehab days a week, and a 10-inch scar later, he’s back swimming and targeting a February competition return. With LA 2028 adding 50 form strokes, he’s doubling down on sprint breaststroke while keeping the 100 and relays in the program.
If you care about high-performance process, sprint biomechanics, and the mindset that makes the last strokes the strongest, you’ll love this episode with Sam.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Danielle Spurling (00:05):
Hello, swimmers, and welcome to Torpedo
Swim Talk, the podcastcelebrating swimmers at every
stage, from Masters Legends toOlympic champions.
I'm your host, DanielleSpurling, and each week we dive
into inspiring conversationsfrom around the world about
performance, resilience, and thepure love of swimming.
(00:25):
Today's guest is someone whomakes breaststroke look easy.
Sam Williamson burst onto theinternational scene with a
breakout Commonwealth Games inBirmingham, silver in the 50,
bronze in the 100, and a gold inthe relay.
Since then, he's added a worldtitle in the 50 breast in Doha
and represented Australia at theParis Olympics.
But like all great careers, Samhasn't been in a straight line.
(00:49):
A knee injury earlier this yearforced him out of the World
Championships in Singapore.
And the comeback story he'swriting right now is just as
compelling as any medal he'swon.
I can't wait to dive into howhe's rebuilt, what he's learned,
and where he's heading.
Especially now that the 50 formstrokes are being added to LA
(01:09):
2028.
Let's hear from Sam now.
Hi Sam, welcome to the podcast.
Sam WIlliamson (01:18):
Hi, thank you very much for having me.
It's a pleasure to be here.
Danielle Spurling (01:21):
Oh, you're very, very welcome.
I wanted to start the chat withum the Commonwealth Games in
2022, where you meddled in boththe 50 and the 100 breast, and
you were part of the medleyrelay.
Tell us about those races andwhat you learned about
international competition fromthat experience.
Sam WIlliamson (01:37):
Well, uh the Commonwealth Games is actually
the first ever experience I hadwith the Australian Swim Team.
It's the first memory I have ofthe Australian swim team.
I remember Commonwealth Gameswere in Melbourne in 2006, and I
didn't get tickets to go watch,but I remember watching them on
TV and just had this deep, likeburning desire inside me that
said, I want to do that one day.
(01:58):
Like that's that's where I wantto be.
And you know, 12 years, ohwhat's that, 16 years later,
somehow I managed to managed tosqueeze myself on the team, but
it wasn't wasn't necessarily theeasiest journey getting there.
And I was actually the thirdswimmer picked in the 100
breaststroke, so I was I wasdefinitely sitting at the bottom
of the pecking water.
(02:18):
I didn't really think that Ideserved to be there.
I knew I had to really provemyself, and like I felt like I
had to earn my stripes when Iwas on the team.
And 100 Breaststroke, day twofirst event there.
Uh, and I'm pretty sureeverybody listening knows who
Adam Petey is.
And um a hero of mine, and hadbeen a hero of mine for six or
(02:43):
seven years by this point.
He was um he was in the lanenext to me in my first hate.
I remember I was, you know,wiped like the walls in here.
I don't think I ate breakfastthat morning.
I think I was fueled justpurely on coffee and adrenaline,
panicking, really thinking, howthe hell am I gonna do this?
Like I'm not a I'm not a smallperson by any by any means, but
(03:06):
standing next to Petey, I feltlike I was about four foot tall.
And I just thought, how onearth am I gonna do?
How am I meant to race thisguy?
Like he's a a hero of thissport, and here I am, this just
kid that shouldn't really behere.
Um and then I just rememberwalking out behind the blocks
and seeing down the other end ofthe pool, it just said
(03:28):
Birmingham 2022.
And I realized, you know what,like that doesn't really matter
what happens from here on out.
Like, I'm doing this for thatkid back in 2006 that had a
dream.
So whatever happens, happens.
Uh, just go out there, swimwith a big smile and enjoy it.
If you get to come back tonightfor another swim, you you get
(03:49):
to swim again in this pool.
Like, that's a how exciting isthat?
Um, and that was that was thementality that I went to every
single swim that meet was justif I if I swim fast enough, I
get to I get to come back and Iget to do this all over again.
How cool's that.
Danielle Spurling (04:04):
That's amazing.
And I don't think you shouldthink of yourself as an imposter
because think about the uh theother hundred people that were
trying to get that top threespot, and you got it, and you
got on the the Australian teamand you meddled.
So you're not an imposter atall.
Sam WIlliamson (04:20):
I certainly I certainly felt like I certainly
felt like I was at that point,but um yeah, somehow managed to
come away with a few medalsaround my neck from some pretty
spectacular swims.
So definitely not definitelywasn't feeling like much of an
imposter by the end of the week.
Danielle Spurling (04:33):
No, of course not.
Were you a bit of a latebloomer, do you think?
In your swimming.
Sam WIlliamson (04:38):
Oh yeah, late bloomery and everything.
I didn't I didn't really hitpuberty until I was about 17.
So I was always a prettyscrawny little kid up through
high school.
You know, I had glass, I stillgot glasses, I had glasses, I
had braces, like I hadeverything.
Um, and was just this skinnypimply little kid, and yeah, it
didn't really grow until I wasalmost an adult.
(05:00):
So I remember you know,stepping up on the blocks,
racing guys in Australia, youknow, with the names of Jake
Packard, who's six foot six andlooks like he's chiseled out of
marble.
So stepping up racing next tohim, you you definitely feel out
of place.
Danielle Spurling (05:16):
No, no, not at all.
How tall are you?
Sam WIlliamson (05:19):
Uh I'm six four.
I'm six foot four now.
So I definitely, I definitely Ifinally grew.
Mum, mum fed me all my greensand I had all my crusts, and I
finally grew.
Danielle Spurling (05:30):
Fantastic.
And that medley relay inBirmingham.
Um, you did the the thebreaststroke leg, obviously.
What was that like to swim withthe other guys?
Sam WIlliamson (05:40):
Uh well, fortunately for us, um,
Birmingham introduced both mixedmedley and medley relays.
So I was given two, I was giventwo opportunities to swim.
And I think the the firstopportunity I had, uh I had
Mitch Larkin and Maddie Wilsonin my relay, and these were two
athletes who had been pivotal tothe Australian swim team.
(06:04):
I think Mitch Larkin was on hisfirst team back in 2012 at the
London Olympics.
Maddie Wilson had been on theteam since 2014.
So these are two heroes in uhAustralian swimming, like
they're they're household namesof Australian swimming, and
again, they were athletes I'didolized for the majority of my
(06:24):
career.
And look, I still I still doidolise what two of these
athletes were able toaccomplish.
So having the opportunity toswim on a team with these
athletes was incredibly special,but having the opportunity to
actually just walk out behindthe blocks racing with them in
that moment was something thatI'm never gonna forget.
Danielle Spurling (06:42):
Did you do you feel like you you learnt
from watching them, or was itmore that they were able to
express to you how they thoughtabout their racing on that sort
of international level?
Sam WIlliamson (06:53):
Oh, definitely, just all of the above.
I think just when you whenyou're in that environment, it's
a pretty chaotic and prettystressful environment.
There's thousands of movingparts, like everything needs to
go right for it to go right inthat moment.
So just watching how theseathletes carried themselves in a
very professional manner, likethey're just walking around,
like headphones in, almost likeMr.
Miyagi, like nothing'snothing's bothering them.
(07:15):
It's just very zen state.
So being able to see that inaction for the first time was
incredibly informative as ayoung athlete, and something
that I, you know, hopefully I'vebeen able to take a little bit
of that and move forward throughmy own career.
But then also having thatexperience alongside them and
just going into that environmentlike the sponge and just trying
(07:37):
to take on any and anyinformation that these athletes
would give me was um yeah,incredibly informative.
Danielle Spurling (07:43):
Well, you obviously learn from that
experience because hitting 2024,you go to the Worlds in Doha,
and not only do you meddle inthe medley relays, but you win
the world championship in the 50breaststroke.
What was that like?
Tell us about that and talk usthrough the race.
Sam WIlliamson (08:00):
Oh, I that's it's something I'm I still pinch
myself every time someonementions that.
I still get really nervouswatching the race because I pop
up sort of two or three metersbehind the guys either lane next
to me.
Uh that that whole the lead upthat season into 2024 was
probably some of the best workI've ever put forward.
(08:20):
Everything was going well, itwas just like a well-oiled
machine.
The team was working well withme, like my coach, my
physiologist, gym coach, physio,everyone.
We did just all come togetherand just put in like put in
place a really beautiful planand everything was ticking
along.
And I think two or three monthsbefore Doha, I was over in
Japan competing and had two ofthe best swims of my life, was
(08:44):
you know, brought the Australianrecord in the 50, threw down a
really quick time in the 100.
Uh, so somehow was actuallygoing into world champs as the
favorite in the 50 breaststroke.
And I can remember 18 monthsbeforehand, 2022 world champs, I
actually missed out on thatteam.
And I remember getting up at3:30 in the morning to watch to
(09:07):
watch the final in Budapest andwatching the final of the 50
Breaststroke from the Couch atMum and Dad's house.
So to think in an 18-monthperiod, I'd somehow done the
work that had taken me fromwatching that event from the
couch to going into that eventranked favorite and you know,
fastest in the world that seasonwas an enormous pressure that I
(09:31):
didn't really think aboutbecause my coach sat me down and
he said, Look, we're we'regoing into this rank the
favorite.
But there are three other guys,four other guys in that race
that have swarmed significantlyfaster times than you've thrown
down this season.
Anything can happen at WorldChamps.
He said, But the goal is tomake that final and let's try
(09:54):
and let's try and get on thepodium.
He said, if you put the racetogether, we might better get on
the podium.
Um, but yeah, so somehow, youknow, I was able to get on the
podium, was able to climb up tothe top though, which was pretty
special.
But I remember just having aconcrete race plan down for that
um for that 50 we so I mean forthe at world champs, the 100
(10:16):
breast is day one and two.
I made the final the 100 breastactually came fourth by about I
think it was a one-tenth of asecond I missed out on a medal.
But the goal was to make the uhmake the final, I PB'd that
final swim.
So riding a massive high, butknew knew exactly what we had to
do the following morning comingin for the 50, and it was just
(10:38):
a matter of not blowing, uhyeah, it was just a matter of
executing the race plan knowingthat you know what you're in a
race with seven other guys, Ican't control what they're doing
in the lanes next to me.
All I can do is focus on my ownrace and do what I've
practiced, and and that's whatI'm gonna put all my energy into
(10:59):
doing.
So we had a race plan that wasgo out and you know, just do
what we needed to do to make thesemifinals that following
night, look at the race footage,look at the race data, analyze
it and go, okay, this is what weneed to do to be a little bit
quicker, and just chipping awayat it bit by bit, not trying to
take massive chunks out, nottrying to reinvent the wheel.
Knew what we had to do.
(11:19):
I knew the start in that racewasn't my uh wasn't my strongest
strongest suit at that point.
Like I said, I think I poppedup I think I popped up fourth or
fifth in that race.
Two guys either side of me werearguably some of the best to 15
in the world at that point.
So I knew that they were gonnahave a really good start, but I
(11:41):
knew that the last 35 meters onmy race at that point was better
than anybody else in the world,so I just had to trust myself
and trust the team that we'ddone the work and we were uh we
were gonna be successful there,and it was just a matter of just
trying to get my hands on thewall as quick as possible.
Danielle Spurling (11:56):
Yeah, and you did, which is amazing.
It's fantastic.
I know you said you came up alittle bit behind, but when I
watched the video too, I just Iwas really impressed with the
way you sort of built into theswim and you you had such clean
lines and sort of fast hips, andthe power you took into the
wall, I thought was you knowreally impressive.
Sam WIlliamson (12:15):
Yeah, well, again, and that was something
that was something we knew goinginto this race.
We'd been watching the footageof those other guys and we'd
watched how they'd raced overthe last few years, and we knew
that everybody else, that last15 meters was ever that's where
everyone starts to slow down,that's where everyone starts to
fade.
So I knew that I wasn't goingto be able to go out with them,
but I knew I was gonna be ableto come home better than
everybody else.
So it was just everything thatwe were doing in the pool day
(12:37):
in, day out, everything in thegym, just to work on that last
25 and that last 15 meters,especially because I knew I I
knew I was coming from behind,and when you've only got 26
seconds, or you know, you'veonly got you've only really got
20 seconds once you pop up to umto try and mull the other guys
down.
So it was just a matter ofbacking myself and trusting that
(12:59):
we'd done the work at thatpoint.
Danielle Spurling (13:01):
Did you model your stroke on on anyone?
I mean, I you mentioned thatAdam Petty isn't a bit of an
idol.
Is anyone that you've modeledyour stroke on, or is it
entirely personal to you?
Sam WIlliamson (13:12):
I think I think the really beautiful thing about
breaststroke is at the end ofthe day, you can watch you watch
that race.
There's eight guys in thatrace, and there's eight very
different strokes.
Danielle Spurling (13:21):
Very different strokes, yes.
Sam WIlliamson (13:23):
Eight very different strokes.
I think that's the reallybeautiful thing about
breaststroke is it's not aone-size-fits-all model, it is
an incredibly personal stroke.
And yeah, there are elements ofthat, but there are elements of
breaststroke that if you likethat some people just do better
than others, and that's that'swhat we were taking.
We weren't modeling the strokeoff anybody else.
(13:46):
We were, you know what, likewe're trying to build our own
race car, we're gonna take thebest bits from everywhere.
So, you know, I've gone backand watched footage of guys from
the early 2000s, like Ed Mosesand Kusuke Kirajima, um, you
know, the Japanesebreaststriker, one of the first
guys to go on to the minute.
But then again, guys likeChristian Springer, the
(14:08):
Australian, and CameronVanderberg back in 2012 when he
was at the peak of his gametaking the strengths from those
races, and then yeah, takingstrengths from guys like Petey
and the American, Nick Fink, andeven the speed that Martin Nagy
throws down with.
So, yeah, it's not a case of uhtrying to model off someone
else.
(14:28):
And I guess like you know,where my coach and I are trying
to take the 50 breaststroke, weknow that to do what nobody else
has done, you've got to bewilling to do things that nobody
else is doing.
So I think it's pretty it'spretty special to see like
you're watching the races atWorld Champs this year and
seeing there are definitelyelements of the race that I put
forward in 2024 that people aretrying to copy, which is
(14:51):
exciting.
But you know, it's alsocomforting knowing that you know
it's if you do that better thaneverybody else, you're gonna be
more successful than everybodyelse.
So yeah, not a not a case ofjust trying to model off one
person, but just trying to takethe best elements from a number
of strokes, because I think youknow, breaststroke, it's I'll
happily be the first one toadmit that it's the slowest
stroke in the pool.
(15:11):
Like it's not it's not thefastest stroke, but it is by far
the most powerful stroke.
And you know what, if you wantto move, if you want to move
forward through the water, it'sit's not rocket science.
Like you've got to push thewater behind you.
And if you want to move forwardquicker than anybody else,
you've got to make sure you'renot displacing more water than
anybody else.
So it's just distilling it downto those very simple elements,
(15:36):
but then borrowing thosetechniques from the guys that
are doing certain parts of thestroke better than anybody else.
Like that's where that's wherewe've found those shifts.
Danielle Spurling (15:44):
Yeah, and I know you've just mentioned that
the the second part of the 50 isthe strong part of the race for
you.
When you move out to the 100and the 200, because I know you
you have swum those before, ormainly the 100, but the 200.
Sam WIlliamson (15:58):
The 200 don't don't hopefully my coach doesn't
listen to this because I thinkI think we stuck a pin in a 200
for the meantime.
Danielle Spurling (16:04):
Oh, really?
Because you you did win it atthe short cost titles in 22 in
Australia.
You won the 200.
Sam WIlliamson (16:10):
I did yeah, that's because no one else was
there.
Danielle Spurling (16:14):
But when you take it out to the 100,
obviously your race strategychanges.
What's the strongest part ofthe the 100 for you?
Is it still the closing closingspeed?
Sam WIlliamson (16:25):
Oh god, no.
If any if anybody watches my100, especially from trials last
year, the you know, trials whenI went, I went 58 twice in the
day.
Um anybody watches that race,they'll see that that last 15
meters, it looked like a pianohad falling on me.
Um I think but yeah, the thestrategy flips and my uh,
especially in the 100, thatfront end speed has always been
(16:46):
a strong suit of mine.
And being able to get outfaster than everybody else, and
just because if if somebody, Imean it's happened it's happened
to me before.
If someone's turning a bodylength in front of you with 50
meters to go, it it rattles you.
And it's a really concerningfeeling when you're seeing
someone swim the other way,knowing that you've got to chase
(17:08):
them down.
So uh the yeah, I think the therace plan for the hundred has
always been use that use thateasy speed, use that fast start
that I've got naturally, uh, andjust get out in front and get
out in that clean water.
Danielle Spurling (17:22):
How excited were you when you woke up and
heard that 50 form strikes aregonna be at the LA Olympics?
Sam WIlliamson (17:28):
Uh funnily enough, I actually panicked
thinking something was wrongthat morning because I woke up
to a few missed calls from mycoach at the time.
And I, you know, I had a I hada later session that morning,
but you know, I woke up to threemissed calls and a whole bunch
of text messages from Craig, andI thought, like, shit, have I
have I slept in?
Have I missed somethingimportant?
And then yeah, because becausethe news broke in Europe
(17:51):
overnight, I had a whole bunchof messages from European
swimmers.
Danielle Spurling (17:54):
Yeah.
Sam WIlliamson (17:54):
So initially panicked thinking something's
something's wrong, but thenrealized as I was going through
it, you know, my girlfriend hadtexted me with a screenshot of
the news article, and I think,yeah, just went nuts.
I think mum texted me quite afew swear words.
Uh, so that was you know, it'sbeen something that world
aquatics have been flirting withus for God the last eight
(18:17):
years, the last two Olympics,they've sort of been dangling
this carrot in front of us, andI don't want to say that I'd
lost hope, but you know, I thinka few swimmers had just started
to think they're they're nevergonna do this.
Like there's no way there's noway they're gonna do this.
And you know, I can sound alittle bit jaded as a 50 form
stroker, but I know as a formstroker, you know what I'm not
(18:40):
gonna be the first one to saythis, but at times it can feel
like the swimming world doesn'treally care about you unless
you're a 50 freestyler.
Like there are three other 50meter events that people swim
and people have been swimmingfor over 25 years now.
So I'm gonna be close to 30years now.
Uh so it was just incrediblyexciting to see that World
(19:01):
Aquatics had had finally decidedto allow us to have our moment
and the sun at the Olympics.
And yeah, knowing that I'm notslow at the 50s, there's another
medal chance come the LAOlympics.
It was just like it's a dreamcome true.
Just you know, having theopportunity just at the
Olympics, just wearing the greenand gold and stepping up behind
(19:23):
the blocks, like that's that'swhat every young kid dreams
about doing.
So the fact that come LA, I'mgonna be able to do that twice.
That's uh yeah, you've gotthere's no words to describe
that moment, it's just purerevelation.
I think that morning when I sawmy coach, I just ran up and
like I I think I picked him up.
Picked him up, gave him amassive hug, and um just said,
(19:45):
yeah, time to get back to work.
Danielle Spurling (19:47):
And and does that reshape the way you see the
next training block headinginto the Olympics?
Will you just specialise in thein the 50, or will you you
still include the hundred in theprogram?
Sam WIlliamson (19:59):
I will definitely include the hundred
in the program.
I think if you if you take thehundred out of the program, not
only does it knock the hundredout, but it knocks those two
relays that I mentioned beforeout of the program.
So you go from having fourpotential medal chances, uh, and
then you just you chop thatdown to just one, which I think
(20:19):
the law of averages makes that apretty silly sentence.
And I've my 50 has always beenat its best when I've been
training for the hundred, and myhundred's always been at its
best when I've been training forthe 50.
So I don't think there's anyreason that I should chop and
change or like cut one of thosetwo out of my program.
Does make it incrediblydifficult, you know.
At the Olympics, it's not it'sa nine-day competition.
(20:42):
If you do all three heat semisand finals for both events and
true relays, that's I know I'mnot a I'm not a distance
swimmer.
I know, you know, Lani and someof those other guys, they're
like Sam Short, some of thosedistance guys, they're getting
you know four or five Ks ofracing done over the course of a
swim meet.
I might be lucky to get five orsix hundred meters in.
(21:05):
But um, yeah, it it doesn'tmean we we don't we certainly
don't change anything and we wedo what works for us.
Danielle Spurling (21:12):
I mean having having those 50 form strokes um
coming up in LA, I feel likeit's changing a little bit of
the scene, like at the WorldCup.
There were blistering times inall the 50 form strokes over
there.
Do you do you feel like there'sgoing to be a few more
specialists sort of on the theworld scene, or do you think
that they're they're mainly thehundred breaststrokers coming
(21:34):
down to that 50?
Sam WIlliamson (21:36):
I think, I mean, you could you could certainly
argue that there always havebeen those 50 meter specialists,
especially in Europe where theyare a significantly more prized
event and they're asignificantly more recognized
event.
I know like Australian swimminghasn't necessarily viewed 50
form strokes as an importantevent because it's not on the
(21:57):
Olympic program.
And it'll it'll be nice tohopefully see that shift and
hopefully see a little bit moreof that recognition here.
But I think for the rest of theworld, you've there have always
been incredibly strong 50swimmers, especially from
Europe.
I mean, you've got you've gotathletes like you know, Swedish,
you've got Sarah Questrum, wholike, you know, world record
(22:20):
holder in the well 53 and 50fly, but you know, also meddled
in both 100 and the 53 at theOlympics, you know, coming back
off of pregnancy, but I don'tsee that stopping her and
slowing her down.
But you've got some incrediblyfast summers across Europe who
have you know been renowned fortheir their 50-meter speed, so I
(22:43):
can't imagine them changinganything anytime soon.
Danielle Spurling (22:46):
And so can you give us a bit of an insight
into your training?
Sam WIlliamson (22:50):
Of course, yeah, no, of course.
Um I mean, I don't know howmany secrets I can give away,
but don't give secrets to you,yeah.
No, no secrets.
Um, it's a it's a prettyregular block.
I know a lot of people that aredoing the 50s would think, oh,
like 50 50 for swimmer is doingtwo or three swims a week.
But that is certainly not thecase.
(23:11):
I still train nine times a weekin the water.
There's still three gymsessions there, there's one to
two bike sessions in the weekthere.
Uh, it's just when we do thoseindividual sessions, they are
incredibly specific andincredibly tailored to what we
are trying to do.
So depending on where we are inthe season, there'll be that
(23:31):
back-end focus and a lot of that100 work where it's just
repetitive 50s under a lot offatigue.
Just trying to emulate whatit's going to be like in that
last 50 meters of that race,especially that last 50 meters
where it's where everyone startsto crumble, it's where everyone
starts to hurt.
So it's being able to just holdthat technique, and we do a lot
(23:54):
of work emulating that fatigueand then doing those 50s under
fatigue.
But then there's also anincredibly, um, incredibly
fundamental power block thatwe'll do, where we'll translate
a lot of the work we do from thegym and take that into the pool
and do, you know, incredible,like sort of uh how would you
just describe that super highresistance work for really short
(24:18):
bursts.
So doing you know, 120, 130kilos on a power tower,
isolating the arms and justgoing just pull for eight
strokes.
And that stuff we'll do, and wewon't do that under a like it's
not on a time constraint, it'son a like a distance, and that's
like a power constraint.
(24:39):
So once that starts to slipbelow a certain volume, and once
that nervous system is sort ofstarting to deplete and that
twitch is gone, that's whenwe'll pull the pin on it.
So a lot of like a lot of umyeah, scientific-based um
explosive work.
Danielle Spurling (24:58):
Are you working with a biomechanist at
as well?
Sam WIlliamson (25:02):
Yeah, I I've got a huge, a huge team that work
behind me with all thesesessions.
I think there's seven or eightof them.
I'm gonna forget somebody onthis podcast, and I'm
apologizing in advance forforgetting somebody who I work
with.
But yes, now we'll work with umlike a biomechanist um and do
do things where we'll we'll filmtwo or three sessions a week
and analyze a lot of thatfootage from sessions, you know,
(25:24):
where we do stuff at do stuffreally slow and then we'll do
stuff at pace and yeah, analyzethe footage there.
Danielle Spurling (25:32):
Yeah.
How much um backup do you getfrom the Victorian Institute of
Sport?
Sam WIlliamson (25:36):
A phenomenal amount.
I wouldn't be able to do what Ido if it wasn't for the VAS.
I'm incredibly, incrediblygrateful for all the support
that they've given me.
And yeah, wouldn't be able todo what I do if it wasn't for
them.
Danielle Spurling (25:48):
Yeah, that's that's good to hear.
It's good that it's um it's itfeels like it's sort of having a
new rebirth with Nicole at theuh the helm there.
Sam WIlliamson (25:56):
Yeah, no, no, yeah, Nicole, Nicole taking the
reins has been incredible forswimming.
Danielle Spurling (26:05):
Hey swim talkers, just a quick break to
say thank you for supporting theshow.
If you'd like to become aTorpedo Swim Talk supporter,
you'll get early episodeupdates, master swim workouts
each month delivered straight toyour inbox, access to our
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Your support helps us keepsharing the stories of swimmers
(26:27):
from masters to Olympicchampions.
You can find the link to becomea supporter in the show notes,
and I'd love to welcome you tothe swim talkers community.
And we have to touch on whathappened to you earlier in the
year where you sadly had a bitof an injury in the gym.
Tell us about that and tell usabout the rehab that you've been
(26:48):
going through.
Sam WIlliamson (26:49):
Yeah, so what was it?
May May 7 was uh was the day.
Um it was and it was only abouta week before I sort of found
my feet again swimming.
It was always you come off theback of the Olympics, and
everybody talks about a bit of alull that you'll go through,
but wasn't wasn't expecting tofind sort of that much of a
(27:10):
lull.
It was incredibly hard, andlike I knew I wanted to go
through to LA, especially whenthe 50s got announced, I knew
that LA was where I reallywanted to make my mark on
swimming and especiallybreaststroke, but just had no
idea how I was gonna put myselfthrough that.
Like it's swimming is anenormous sacrifice, it's taken a
lot, not just from me, but youknow, from my partner, my family
(27:32):
and my friends.
It it takes an enormoussacrifice on everybody's part.
So I wasn't quite sure how if Iwas willing to put everybody
through that again to sort ofcome away somewhat empty-handed.
Um, but it yeah, it wasn'tuntil about a week before sort
of start of May, I just reallyfell in love with the sport,
fell in love with the work, andfell in love with what I do all
(27:53):
over again.
But yeah, just routine warm-upon Wednesday afternoon,
playometrics, light work, justsome explosive training.
Um put my foot down, went totake off to do a box jump.
Um next thing I know, I wasjust lying on my back, clutching
(28:17):
my knee, and yeah, hadcompletely ruptured my patella
tendon so just tore it straightuntil the quad straight off the
bone and was just yeah, lookingdown and could sort of see the
entire inside of my knee, and mykneecap was sort of sitting
about halfway up my thigh.
Danielle Spurling (28:35):
Oh wow, duh.
Sam WIlliamson (28:37):
And knew knew in a heartbeat that it wasn't it
wasn't like, oh, maybe I've justdislocated it, we'll pop it
back in and we'll you know, tapeit up, take the day off and um
get back and swim thatafternoon, but no knew in an
instant that I'd done somethingthat I didn't know how I was
(28:59):
gonna come back from.
And especially at that momentto think I mean when you look
down at your knee and you see itlooking like that, the worst
thoughts begin to run throughyour mind and you think maybe
that's it for swimming.
Like maybe I'm never gonna getan opportunity to do this.
Again, like that's that's medone.
Danielle Spurling (29:21):
Yeah.
Sam WIlliamson (29:22):
So, but yeah, again, I think VAS were
absolutely incredible.
I was we tried to walk on itstupidly.
That didn't quite didn't quitego to plan.
So was um put in a wheelchair,rushed straight over to the VAS,
seen by the doctor immediately.
I mean, it it didn't takedoesn't take a genius to
diagnose what I'd done was wasfairly obvious, but I sent off
(29:46):
to get an MRI that night and insurgery the very next within 24
hours seeing a surgeon.
Which, you know, the rush andthe chaos and the adrenaline of
that whole thing, you're notreally thinking too much, but
You know, the question of am Igoing to be able to do this
again certainly starts to circleand it certainly starts to get
a lot louder in the back of yourmind, especially when the
(30:07):
doctor says, you know, best casescenario, we might be back at
like this point in 12 months.
Like best case scenario is in12 months' time, you're back at
this level of strength.
Um, but you know, when you'resort of lying there on an
operating table and the surgeonsays, Look, I've seen the MRIs,
(30:29):
but I don't know.
He's like, I I don't know untilI cut you open what it looks
like, how bad the damage is, andwhat we're gonna be able to do.
But then, yeah, that thatFriday morning, I still remember
it was 7:30 in the morning.
I think I'd had two hours ofsleep coming out of surgery, and
the doc looked at me and or thesurgeon looked at me and just
(30:49):
said, This is probably one ofthe worst I've ever seen, and
I've been doing this 25 years.
Danielle Spurling (30:54):
Wow.
Sam WIlliamson (30:55):
So, I mean, look, if I'm gonna put my name
to something, I'm gonna do itproperly.
Danielle Spurling (30:58):
Yes.
Sam WIlliamson (31:00):
Uh, but he just said, I have no doubts that
you'll be back for comp gamesnext year.
Danielle Spurling (31:06):
Yeah.
Sam WIlliamson (31:07):
And I knew that so for two days I'd been
thinking the absolute worst andthinking that's me done,
swimming's done.
Um I'm never gonna get a chanceto do what I love again.
But to sort of have someonecome in two days later and say,
we're gonna be able to get youback.
I knew immediately that youknow what, that was two days I'd
(31:31):
wasted, so I was back in thegym the following week starting
my rehab.
As soon as I was uh yeah, assoon as I was walking again on
crutches, I was back in the gym.
I think I think I had four daysafter surgery, I was back in
the gym because in my mind thatwas that was four days I'd
wasted, and four days thateveryone else around the world
was getting a head start on me.
(31:51):
I wasn't gonna let that happen.
Danielle Spurling (31:54):
No.
And and how has that rehabbeen?
Sam WIlliamson (31:57):
Rehab has been incredible.
I actually have just come froma meeting with the specialist,
and she was absolutely stokedwith what we've done.
We've just uh just ticked over274 days.
So it's 99 days to go until Iget the Orkbear to race again.
February 13th.
Yeah, so it's been 174 days,six days a week of rehab, about
(32:23):
three to four hours at a time,you know.
First first four months wasjust like knee locked in a
brace, not moving it, and thenit was, you know, two months
learning to walk again, and justthe last few months just
learning to swim again.
Are you are you able to um areyou able to do breaststroke
kick?
Certainly am.
We're back in the water.
Uh hit a full full trainingload next week.
(32:45):
So this will be my secondsecond full week back in the
pool, back in the gym, sort ofsomewhat business as usual.
We've had to had to change afew things just because just
because the loading needs to beslightly different, but from the
outside looking in, it's it's ait's a full training load, it's
a full training week.
Danielle Spurling (33:04):
That's amazing.
That to come back so quickly,really, that's the you know what
they can do.
Sam WIlliamson (33:10):
Oh, I think I I I owe my life, I owe absolutely
everything to the team that I'vebeen working with.
Like they were the ones, theywere in the gym 7 30 every
single morning, six days a week,just you know, helping me walk
again.
Yeah, so they have been nothingshort of phenomenal.
(33:32):
And yeah, it's like it's a truetestament to the VIS and what
they've been able to do to justyeah, just get me walking again
in such a short period of time,but get me back in the pool and
swimming again in such a such ashort period of time has been
incredible.
Danielle Spurling (33:47):
Do you still have do you have to swim with
the brace still now or are youfree of that?
Sam WIlliamson (33:51):
No, no, I'm I'm out of the brace.
I'm out of the brace now.
I've just got a a very nasty,like very big purple scar that's
about it's about 10, 10 incheslong across my knee.
But yeah, no, no brace, nobrace anymore.
Danielle Spurling (34:07):
That's that's really good to hear.
You need to get some bio oil onthat scar.
Sam WIlliamson (34:12):
Yes, I do.
I do.
I probably will when I get offthis call.
unknown (34:16):
That's good.
Sam WIlliamson (34:17):
A little bit of vitamin E just to try and fade
that purple scar.
Danielle Spurling (34:20):
It will fade with time.
And you mentioned CraigJackson, who's your coach, and
he was obviously sort of came toeveryone around the world's
knowledge when he trained MacHorton to his gold medal in Rio.
But we knew about him here inVictoria for a long time.
How big is your squad that youswim with now?
(34:40):
And are you still based atMSAC?
Sam WIlliamson (34:43):
Always.
I I will be based at MSAC andI'll be like, look, I'll be
based at MSAC until Craig leavesMSAC, and I'm gonna be swimming
with Craig until the end of mycareer.
Uh, yes, but yeah, still herein Melbourne.
Uh, I think we've got between12 to 14 in our squad at the
moment.
Yeah, a few young,up-and-coming sort of junior
athletes that have just comeback from like junior world
(35:05):
champs, which is really excitingto sort of see that you know
what Queensland hasn't takenevery single one of our
athletes.
I know.
It's nice to know that it'snice to know that we've still
got a few, and it's it's nice toknow that we've still got a few
that want to stay in Victoria.
But yeah, we've got we've got areally good spot of about 12 to
14 athletes at the moment thatCraig's obviously, and you know,
we've got athletes that do 5and 10k open water races, you
(35:29):
know, like Olympian open Olympicopen water swimmer, Mick
Slohman races 10k, and then youknow, you've got guys like me
that race 50 breath stroke in 26seconds.
Um Craig's he's certainly gothis hands full, but uh I think
he loves the challenge and he'scertainly up to the challenge.
Danielle Spurling (35:44):
Well, he's very good at it, so I think um I
think he'll do all of you veryproud.
Sam WIlliamson (35:50):
I I certainly I have I have no doubts in that
whatsoever.
Danielle Spurling (35:55):
And so you mentioned you can get back to
racing February next year.
What what are sort of the theshort-term plans for next year
with with what you're going toenter?
Sam WIlliamson (36:04):
Uh short-term plans are it'll be just the just
the major major sort ofdomestic competitions in the uh
2026 calendar, I think, youknow, from like big states, New
South Wales states, andnationals.
They're probably the big threethat will will tick off before
before trials in June, I thinkthey are.
(36:27):
So there's a it's a there's areally somehow these
competitions, someone must beworking, you know, pulling the
strings behind the scenes there.
Somehow they work in reallyneat blocks.
So we'll be able to do like abig like big training block, do
a camp race, and consolidate onthat and just keep fine-tuning
and just learning from there.
Danielle Spurling (36:49):
Where where do you tend to go for your camps
with your squad?
Sam WIlliamson (36:53):
Uh well, where have we gone recently?
I think normally with the F1,unfortunately, it's right next
door to MSAC.
So makes makes things a littlebit difficult when you're when
you're trying to swim at MSAC,and there's a few cars zooming
around the car park.
But um, I think we've we'vetended to try and go quite rural
(37:14):
with our training camps andjust get out of get out of um
sort of like the bigger cities.
I mean, I know we've we've donetraining camps up on the sunny
coast, but we we've donetraining camps like all across.
We've gone as far as uh notTaoomba.
We went up to Townsville anddid a training camp.
I think that was in a you knowa tiny little outdoor four-lane
(37:36):
fifty-meter pool without properblocks.
I think Craig was Craig wasgetting sick and tired of us
being a bit entitled, so hedecided to teach us a lesson and
say, you know what, there's 50meters and that there's water in
it, like it shouldn't stop whatyou do.
Which was um and I I love that,I love that kind of training.
It just you know it reminds meabout where I came from growing
up in the pools I used to trainin.
(37:58):
Uh, it reminds you that youknow what, as long as there is
water in the pool, like youyou've got a job to do and you
can you can do it and yeah, justmake sure you don't get too
soft and a little bit tooprecious.
Danielle Spurling (38:09):
And talking about camps, have you been on
any of the event camps that uhswimming Australia puts on?
Sam WIlliamson (38:14):
Yes, yes, I've been there.
I think there was uh the firstone I was invited to it was back
in 2019, I think.
Little breaststroke camp up onthe sunny coast, training out of
the USC pool.
Yeah, yeah, I've been, and thenyeah, the last few that they've
had at um Rabina in Queenslandas the entire national team.
And I think I think they'vebeen a really they've been a
really special event.
(38:35):
It's always it's a reallyspecial opportunity when you
know I'm coming from Melbourne,I don't really get a chance to
train alongside the rest of thecountry too often.
So it's a really special timeuh and a really important time,
I think, for a lot of young anddeveloping athletes that get
invited to those who are sort ofyou know on the cusp of making
a team.
And um yeah, I think it'sreally important that they see
(38:58):
how the best in the country andarguably the best in the world
are training and get invited andget put into that environment
and you know then bring thatback to their their own club is
is really important.
And I mean, we always we stayon a really beautiful golf
course as well.
So that's like that's not it'snot not necessarily the worst
(39:19):
week with a little bit of golfup in the sun.
Danielle Spurling (39:21):
That's nice.
And on those event strokeweeks, are they um is it mainly
about just training that youwould bring from your home
coach, or are you racing orfocusing on technique?
What's sort of the thestructure of the program?
Sam WIlliamson (39:38):
Uh oh, it's relatively all-encompassing.
There certainly is a little bitof an ego competition between
some of the coaches to see whocan write, you know, the biggest
or the toughest or the nastiestset.
Like there is, I mean, therealways will be an element of
that.
And you know what, as athletes,you wouldn't be an athlete if
you didn't have an ego.
So there always there's alwaysan element of who can do the
(40:01):
sets better than anybody else.
But you know, like that thatlittle friendly competition that
the Australian swim team haveand foster really well
definitely lends itself to thosethose environments.
But you know, there is there'salso uh like a big focus on on
that technique and on being ableto learn from everybody in that
environment.
Like there might be somebodythere that you don't necessarily
(40:23):
see day in, day out, uh, whodoes something slightly
differently that you know youhave the opportunity and the
ability to learn from.
Danielle Spurling (40:29):
No, it's great to great to sort of hear
what happens on the other side.
You see it all advertised, butgood to know sort of that it's
reaching out to some of theup-and-coming swimmers as well.
I think that's really importantfor the future and the culture
of Australian swimming.
Sam WIlliamson (40:44):
Yeah, no, it's it's really exciting.
I definitely felt a little bitout of place when I got invited
to my first one, but gotta yeah,been on those camps for seven
years now.
It's um starting to feel like abit of a fossil.
Danielle Spurling (40:56):
Yeah.
I don't think you're a fossilat 27.
Sam WIlliamson (41:00):
Maybe on the Australian swim team, I might I
feel like one.
I might I'm you know one of theoldest on the team now.
Danielle Spurling (41:06):
Are you really?
Sam WIlliamson (41:08):
I think you know, other than other than Cam
McAvoy, I think I'd certainly beup there.
Danielle Spurling (41:15):
Yeah, okay.
Well, there's been a fewretirements over the last few
years, hasn't there?
They have, yeah.
Some of the older oldest ones.
I was just up in Noosa over theweekend.
I saw Kate Campbell and EmilySeabom swim the um the the leg
the swimming leg of thecelebrity triathlon.
Oh, how was that?
Well, they actually made themswim in the Noosa River, which I
thought was a bit was a bitawful for them, but uh I think
(41:38):
they wanted to keep it all sothe spectators could see it.
But the actual triathlon, theyswim on the beach.
Sam WIlliamson (41:43):
Yep, okay.
Danielle Spurling (41:44):
Yeah, but um they still both had beautiful
strokes and looked at.
Sam WIlliamson (41:48):
Oh, like they they always will, especially
especially those Kate's Kate'sfreestyle has always been always
been impeccable to watch, yeah.
I wish unfortunately as abreaststroker, my freestyle is
there's probably one you want tomiss.
Danielle Spurling (42:02):
But you have to do it obviously in training.
You would you'd swim somefreestyle.
Sam WIlliamson (42:06):
Oh, I I swim a lot of freestyle, but you know,
that hasn't helped.
It still doesn't look pretty atall.
Danielle Spurling (42:14):
I'm sure it's all right.
Did you ever swim any otherraces before breaststroke?
Sam WIlliamson (42:18):
Uh yeah, funnily enough, I actually used to be a
backstroker.
Really?
I think the first national timeI ever got was actually in the
hunter backstroke.
Danielle Spurling (42:26):
Okay.
Sam WIlliamson (42:27):
But um yeah, in God, 12 years, I actually
haven't got any faster.
Danielle Spurling (42:34):
So Right.
Well that that's good that youyou're superb at breaststroke.
Yeah.
Because you don't have to worryabout backstroke anymore.
Sam WIlliamson (42:42):
Yes, no, yeah, I uh get made fun of every time I
do backstroke.
I think I I had NicoleLivingston watch me do a 50
meters of backstroke the otherday and said please, yeah, I
think she said please nevernever do that ever again.
Danielle Spurling (42:56):
But yeah, she did have a nice stroke
technique herself.
Sam WIlliamson (42:59):
Oh, she had an incredible backstroke, yeah.
So whenever I see her on pulldeck, I quickly flip one of my
front and do it a freestyle.
Danielle Spurling (43:06):
That's good.
Well, Sam, look, everyone thatcomes on the podcast, I like to
ask them the deep dive five,which is sort of five things
that pop into your mind when Iask this question.
What is the favourite pool thatyou've ever swum in?
Sam WIlliamson (43:19):
Favourite pool?
Uh probably the Birminghampool.
Birmingham pool was the firstuh first pool I swam in on my
senior team, and it's a it's apool I'm gonna I'm gonna
remember for the rest of mylife.
Danielle Spurling (43:30):
How about your favorite Psychup song in
the call room?
Sam WIlliamson (43:33):
Uh same old situation by Molly Crowe.
Danielle Spurling (43:36):
A bit of a banger.
Sam WIlliamson (43:38):
Bit of a yeah, a bit of a hair banger on that
one.
Just gets me gets me pumped up,gets me pretty amped.
Danielle Spurling (43:43):
What do you listen to when you're working
out in the gym?
Do you listen to that same kindof thing or something?
Sam WIlliamson (43:47):
Oh the same kind of thing.
Sometimes it can get a littlebit heavy.
I've definitely been uh fallenout of favour with a few
athletes at the VAS playing someof the heavier side of metal
playing in the gym.
Danielle Spurling (44:01):
You don't want to put your headphones in?
Sam WIlliamson (44:03):
Uh yeah, no, I thought I think everyone
everyone deserves a little bitof that from every you know,
every now and again.
But then some days it'llbecome, you know, Hillary Duff,
like that's what dreams are madeof, a little bit of strawberry
kisses in there, some NikkiWebster, some Hannah Montana,
just like Taylor Swift, likenice.
All the girly pop anthems.
Danielle Spurling (44:20):
Yeah, you like to mix it up.
I like it.
Sam WIlliamson (44:23):
Always, always.
Danielle Spurling (44:24):
How about your favorite training set?
Sam WIlliamson (44:27):
Favorite training set are six broken
ones.
Six broken one hundreds, suitedup.
More often than not, that's aset that I will find myself
throwing up after.
unknown (44:38):
Right.
Danielle Spurling (44:39):
Is it broken into 25s or 50s?
Sam WIlliamson (44:42):
Broken by 50s, and we'll go a 50 max if it kick
and then a 50 push.
Yeah, and it's just just tryingto just trying to burn the
legs, just cook the legs as muchas you can before before trying
to bring them home.
Danielle Spurling (44:57):
How much rest do you get in the middle?
Sam WIlliamson (45:00):
Uh the 50 kicks on 50 seconds.
Danielle Spurling (45:02):
Okay.
Sam WIlliamson (45:03):
So oh, if you're if you're kicking what the 35
second 50 kick, you you get 15seconds, but that's 15 seconds
to take the snorkel off,kickboard up, and turn around
and get ready to go again.
So not an awful lot of time.
Danielle Spurling (45:15):
And do you swim easy between the hundreds
or are you just resting at theend?
Sam WIlliamson (45:20):
Uh yeah, you get a few hundred to swim easy.
Danielle Spurling (45:22):
Yeah, nice.
Sam WIlliamson (45:23):
Yeah, unless Craig's unless Craig's not
feeling too generous, then it'lljust make you sit on the wall
and stew.
Danielle Spurling (45:30):
Hopefully he's in a good mood the next
time you do it, then.
Sam WIlliamson (45:32):
Fingers crossed ears.
Danielle Spurling (45:35):
How about a training uh mindset mantra that
you use?
Have you got any sort of psychup words that you use for
yourself when you're lacking inmotivation?
Sam WIlliamson (45:45):
Uh yes, I will always remind myself that you
have to be your best on yourworst day.
Anybody can anybody can show upon their best day and throw
down an incredible set, but it'sthe athlete that shows up on
their worst day and does itbetter than anybody else.
They're the athlete that'sgoing to be successful.
And no matter how much you'rehurting, you can always go one
more.
Danielle Spurling (46:05):
I really like that, Sam.
One race you'd go back and swimagain just to feel it again.
Sam WIlliamson (46:11):
I don't think I would.
To be honest, every single racethat I've had that's been
incredibly special.
If I went, I'd be I'd beworried that going back and
racing it would change thefeeling.
And I think what makes everysingle one of those races so
special is the fact that I haveone opportunity to do them.
So I don't wanna I don't wannaI don't want to ruin that.
Yeah, you don't want to messwith it, yep.
(46:32):
Don't want to mess with it.
Yeah, and also like no one noone wants this in the last 15
meters of a race when you'vegone out a little bit too hard
again.
unknown (46:40):
That's right.
Danielle Spurling (46:41):
Oh, well, thank you so much for joining us
on the podcast today, Sam.
It's been really lovely.
Sam WIlliamson (46:45):
No, thank you.
Thank you so much for havingme.
It's been a pleasure.
Danielle Spurling (46:48):
It's my pleasure.
I'm really enjoyed hearing allabout your journey, and um, I
know everyone that's listeningwill be wishing you every
success heading forward to startracing again in February, and
we'll all be watching you at theCommoth Games next year.
Sam WIlliamson (47:01):
Awesome.
Well, thank you so much.
I can't can't thank you enough.
Danielle Spurling (47:04):
You're welcome.
Okay, thanks, Sam.
Awesome.
Okay.
Thanks for tuning in to TorpedoSwim Talk today.
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Masters Legends to Olympicchampions.
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(47:26):
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Until next time, happy swimmingand bye for now.
Hello, swimmers, and welcome to Torpedo
Swim Talk, the podcastcelebrating swimmers at every
stage, from Masters Legends toOlympic champions.
I'm your host, DanielleSpurling, and each week we dive
into inspiring conversationsfrom around the world about
performance, resilience, and thepure love of swimming.
(00:25):
Today's guest is someone whomakes breaststroke look easy.
Sam Williamson burst onto theinternational scene with a
breakout Commonwealth Games inBirmingham, silver in the 50,
bronze in the 100, and a gold inthe relay.
Since then, he's added a worldtitle in the 50 breast in Doha
and represented Australia at theParis Olympics.
But like all great careers, Samhasn't been in a straight line.
(00:49):
A knee injury earlier this yearforced him out of the World
Championships in Singapore.
And the comeback story he'swriting right now is just as
compelling as any medal he'swon.
I can't wait to dive into howhe's rebuilt, what he's learned,
and where he's heading.
Especially now that the 50 formstrokes are being added to LA
(01:09):
2028.
Let's hear from Sam now.
Hi Sam, welcome to the podcast.
Sam WIlliamson (01:18):
Hi, thank you very much for having me.
It's a pleasure to be here.
Danielle Spurling (01:21):
Oh, you're very, very welcome.
I wanted to start the chat withum the Commonwealth Games in
2022, where you meddled in boththe 50 and the 100 breast, and
you were part of the medleyrelay.
Tell us about those races andwhat you learned about
international competition fromthat experience.
Sam WIlliamson (01:37):
Well, uh the Commonwealth Games is actually
the first ever experience I hadwith the Australian Swim Team.
It's the first memory I have ofthe Australian swim team.
I remember Commonwealth Gameswere in Melbourne in 2006, and I
didn't get tickets to go watch,but I remember watching them on
TV and just had this deep, likeburning desire inside me that
said, I want to do that one day.
(01:58):
Like that's that's where I wantto be.
And you know, 12 years, ohwhat's that, 16 years later,
somehow I managed to managed tosqueeze myself on the team, but
it wasn't wasn't necessarily theeasiest journey getting there.
And I was actually the thirdswimmer picked in the 100
breaststroke, so I was I wasdefinitely sitting at the bottom
of the pecking water.
(02:18):
I didn't really think that Ideserved to be there.
I knew I had to really provemyself, and like I felt like I
had to earn my stripes when Iwas on the team.
And 100 Breaststroke, day twofirst event there.
Uh, and I'm pretty sureeverybody listening knows who
Adam Petey is.
And um a hero of mine, and hadbeen a hero of mine for six or
(02:43):
seven years by this point.
He was um he was in the lanenext to me in my first hate.
I remember I was, you know,wiped like the walls in here.
I don't think I ate breakfastthat morning.
I think I was fueled justpurely on coffee and adrenaline,
panicking, really thinking, howthe hell am I gonna do this?
Like I'm not a I'm not a smallperson by any by any means, but
(03:06):
standing next to Petey, I feltlike I was about four foot tall.
And I just thought, how onearth am I gonna do?
How am I meant to race thisguy?
Like he's a a hero of thissport, and here I am, this just
kid that shouldn't really behere.
Um and then I just rememberwalking out behind the blocks
and seeing down the other end ofthe pool, it just said
(03:28):
Birmingham 2022.
And I realized, you know what,like that doesn't really matter
what happens from here on out.
Like, I'm doing this for thatkid back in 2006 that had a
dream.
So whatever happens, happens.
Uh, just go out there, swimwith a big smile and enjoy it.
If you get to come back tonightfor another swim, you you get
(03:49):
to swim again in this pool.
Like, that's a how exciting isthat?
Um, and that was that was thementality that I went to every
single swim that meet was justif I if I swim fast enough, I
get to I get to come back and Iget to do this all over again.
How cool's that.
Danielle Spurling (04:04):
That's amazing.
And I don't think you shouldthink of yourself as an imposter
because think about the uh theother hundred people that were
trying to get that top threespot, and you got it, and you
got on the the Australian teamand you meddled.
So you're not an imposter atall.
Sam WIlliamson (04:20):
I certainly I certainly felt like I certainly
felt like I was at that point,but um yeah, somehow managed to
come away with a few medalsaround my neck from some pretty
spectacular swims.
So definitely not definitelywasn't feeling like much of an
imposter by the end of the week.
Danielle Spurling (04:33):
No, of course not.
Were you a bit of a latebloomer, do you think?
In your swimming.
Sam WIlliamson (04:38):
Oh yeah, late bloomery and everything.
I didn't I didn't really hitpuberty until I was about 17.
So I was always a prettyscrawny little kid up through
high school.
You know, I had glass, I stillgot glasses, I had glasses, I
had braces, like I hadeverything.
Um, and was just this skinnypimply little kid, and yeah, it
didn't really grow until I wasalmost an adult.
(05:00):
So I remember you know,stepping up on the blocks,
racing guys in Australia, youknow, with the names of Jake
Packard, who's six foot six andlooks like he's chiseled out of
marble.
So stepping up racing next tohim, you you definitely feel out
of place.
Danielle Spurling (05:16):
No, no, not at all.
How tall are you?
Sam WIlliamson (05:19):
Uh I'm six four.
I'm six foot four now.
So I definitely, I definitely Ifinally grew.
Mum, mum fed me all my greensand I had all my crusts, and I
finally grew.
Danielle Spurling (05:30):
Fantastic.
And that medley relay inBirmingham.
Um, you did the the thebreaststroke leg, obviously.
What was that like to swim withthe other guys?
Sam WIlliamson (05:40):
Uh well, fortunately for us, um,
Birmingham introduced both mixedmedley and medley relays.
So I was given two, I was giventwo opportunities to swim.
And I think the the firstopportunity I had, uh I had
Mitch Larkin and Maddie Wilsonin my relay, and these were two
athletes who had been pivotal tothe Australian swim team.
(06:04):
I think Mitch Larkin was on hisfirst team back in 2012 at the
London Olympics.
Maddie Wilson had been on theteam since 2014.
So these are two heroes in uhAustralian swimming, like
they're they're household namesof Australian swimming, and
again, they were athletes I'didolized for the majority of my
(06:24):
career.
And look, I still I still doidolise what two of these
athletes were able toaccomplish.
So having the opportunity toswim on a team with these
athletes was incredibly special,but having the opportunity to
actually just walk out behindthe blocks racing with them in
that moment was something thatI'm never gonna forget.
Danielle Spurling (06:42):
Did you do you feel like you you learnt
from watching them, or was itmore that they were able to
express to you how they thoughtabout their racing on that sort
of international level?
Sam WIlliamson (06:53):
Oh, definitely, just all of the above.
I think just when you whenyou're in that environment, it's
a pretty chaotic and prettystressful environment.
There's thousands of movingparts, like everything needs to
go right for it to go right inthat moment.
So just watching how theseathletes carried themselves in a
very professional manner, likethey're just walking around,
like headphones in, almost likeMr.
Miyagi, like nothing'snothing's bothering them.
(07:15):
It's just very zen state.
So being able to see that inaction for the first time was
incredibly informative as ayoung athlete, and something
that I, you know, hopefully I'vebeen able to take a little bit
of that and move forward throughmy own career.
But then also having thatexperience alongside them and
just going into that environmentlike the sponge and just trying
(07:37):
to take on any and anyinformation that these athletes
would give me was um yeah,incredibly informative.
Danielle Spurling (07:43):
Well, you obviously learn from that
experience because hitting 2024,you go to the Worlds in Doha,
and not only do you meddle inthe medley relays, but you win
the world championship in the 50breaststroke.
What was that like?
Tell us about that and talk usthrough the race.
Sam WIlliamson (08:00):
Oh, I that's it's something I'm I still pinch
myself every time someonementions that.
I still get really nervouswatching the race because I pop
up sort of two or three metersbehind the guys either lane next
to me.
Uh that that whole the lead upthat season into 2024 was
probably some of the best workI've ever put forward.
(08:20):
Everything was going well, itwas just like a well-oiled
machine.
The team was working well withme, like my coach, my
physiologist, gym coach, physio,everyone.
We did just all come togetherand just put in like put in
place a really beautiful planand everything was ticking
along.
And I think two or three monthsbefore Doha, I was over in
Japan competing and had two ofthe best swims of my life, was
(08:44):
you know, brought the Australianrecord in the 50, threw down a
really quick time in the 100.
Uh, so somehow was actuallygoing into world champs as the
favorite in the 50 breaststroke.
And I can remember 18 monthsbeforehand, 2022 world champs, I
actually missed out on thatteam.
And I remember getting up at3:30 in the morning to watch to
(09:07):
watch the final in Budapest andwatching the final of the 50
Breaststroke from the Couch atMum and Dad's house.
So to think in an 18-monthperiod, I'd somehow done the
work that had taken me fromwatching that event from the
couch to going into that eventranked favorite and you know,
fastest in the world that seasonwas an enormous pressure that I
(09:31):
didn't really think aboutbecause my coach sat me down and
he said, Look, we're we'regoing into this rank the
favorite.
But there are three other guys,four other guys in that race
that have swarmed significantlyfaster times than you've thrown
down this season.
Anything can happen at WorldChamps.
He said, But the goal is tomake that final and let's try
(09:54):
and let's try and get on thepodium.
He said, if you put the racetogether, we might better get on
the podium.
Um, but yeah, so somehow, youknow, I was able to get on the
podium, was able to climb up tothe top though, which was pretty
special.
But I remember just having aconcrete race plan down for that
um for that 50 we so I mean forthe at world champs, the 100
(10:16):
breast is day one and two.
I made the final the 100 breastactually came fourth by about I
think it was a one-tenth of asecond I missed out on a medal.
But the goal was to make the uhmake the final, I PB'd that
final swim.
So riding a massive high, butknew knew exactly what we had to
do the following morning comingin for the 50, and it was just
(10:38):
a matter of not blowing, uhyeah, it was just a matter of
executing the race plan knowingthat you know what you're in a
race with seven other guys, Ican't control what they're doing
in the lanes next to me.
All I can do is focus on my ownrace and do what I've
practiced, and and that's whatI'm gonna put all my energy into
(10:59):
doing.
So we had a race plan that wasgo out and you know, just do
what we needed to do to make thesemifinals that following
night, look at the race footage,look at the race data, analyze
it and go, okay, this is what weneed to do to be a little bit
quicker, and just chipping awayat it bit by bit, not trying to
take massive chunks out, nottrying to reinvent the wheel.
Knew what we had to do.
(11:19):
I knew the start in that racewasn't my uh wasn't my strongest
strongest suit at that point.
Like I said, I think I poppedup I think I popped up fourth or
fifth in that race.
Two guys either side of me werearguably some of the best to 15
in the world at that point.
So I knew that they were gonnahave a really good start, but I
(11:41):
knew that the last 35 meters onmy race at that point was better
than anybody else in the world,so I just had to trust myself
and trust the team that we'ddone the work and we were uh we
were gonna be successful there,and it was just a matter of just
trying to get my hands on thewall as quick as possible.
Danielle Spurling (11:56):
Yeah, and you did, which is amazing.
It's fantastic.
I know you said you came up alittle bit behind, but when I
watched the video too, I just Iwas really impressed with the
way you sort of built into theswim and you you had such clean
lines and sort of fast hips, andthe power you took into the
wall, I thought was you knowreally impressive.
Sam WIlliamson (12:15):
Yeah, well, again, and that was something
that was something we knew goinginto this race.
We'd been watching the footageof those other guys and we'd
watched how they'd raced overthe last few years, and we knew
that everybody else, that last15 meters was ever that's where
everyone starts to slow down,that's where everyone starts to
fade.
So I knew that I wasn't goingto be able to go out with them,
but I knew I was gonna be ableto come home better than
everybody else.
So it was just everything thatwe were doing in the pool day
(12:37):
in, day out, everything in thegym, just to work on that last
25 and that last 15 meters,especially because I knew I I
knew I was coming from behind,and when you've only got 26
seconds, or you know, you'veonly got you've only really got
20 seconds once you pop up to umto try and mull the other guys
down.
So it was just a matter ofbacking myself and trusting that
(12:59):
we'd done the work at thatpoint.
Danielle Spurling (13:01):
Did you model your stroke on on anyone?
I mean, I you mentioned thatAdam Petty isn't a bit of an
idol.
Is anyone that you've modeledyour stroke on, or is it
entirely personal to you?
Sam WIlliamson (13:12):
I think I think the really beautiful thing about
breaststroke is at the end ofthe day, you can watch you watch
that race.
There's eight guys in thatrace, and there's eight very
different strokes.
Danielle Spurling (13:21):
Very different strokes, yes.
Sam WIlliamson (13:23):
Eight very different strokes.
I think that's the reallybeautiful thing about
breaststroke is it's not aone-size-fits-all model, it is
an incredibly personal stroke.
And yeah, there are elements ofthat, but there are elements of
breaststroke that if you likethat some people just do better
than others, and that's that'swhat we were taking.
We weren't modeling the strokeoff anybody else.
(13:46):
We were, you know what, likewe're trying to build our own
race car, we're gonna take thebest bits from everywhere.
So, you know, I've gone backand watched footage of guys from
the early 2000s, like Ed Mosesand Kusuke Kirajima, um, you
know, the Japanesebreaststriker, one of the first
guys to go on to the minute.
But then again, guys likeChristian Springer, the
(14:08):
Australian, and CameronVanderberg back in 2012 when he
was at the peak of his gametaking the strengths from those
races, and then yeah, takingstrengths from guys like Petey
and the American, Nick Fink, andeven the speed that Martin Nagy
throws down with.
So, yeah, it's not a case of uhtrying to model off someone
else.
(14:28):
And I guess like you know,where my coach and I are trying
to take the 50 breaststroke, weknow that to do what nobody else
has done, you've got to bewilling to do things that nobody
else is doing.
So I think it's pretty it'spretty special to see like
you're watching the races atWorld Champs this year and
seeing there are definitelyelements of the race that I put
forward in 2024 that people aretrying to copy, which is
(14:51):
exciting.
But you know, it's alsocomforting knowing that you know
it's if you do that better thaneverybody else, you're gonna be
more successful than everybodyelse.
So yeah, not a not a case ofjust trying to model off one
person, but just trying to takethe best elements from a number
of strokes, because I think youknow, breaststroke, it's I'll
happily be the first one toadmit that it's the slowest
stroke in the pool.
(15:11):
Like it's not it's not thefastest stroke, but it is by far
the most powerful stroke.
And you know what, if you wantto move, if you want to move
forward through the water, it'sit's not rocket science.
Like you've got to push thewater behind you.
And if you want to move forwardquicker than anybody else,
you've got to make sure you'renot displacing more water than
anybody else.
So it's just distilling it downto those very simple elements,
(15:36):
but then borrowing thosetechniques from the guys that
are doing certain parts of thestroke better than anybody else.
Like that's where that's wherewe've found those shifts.
Danielle Spurling (15:44):
Yeah, and I know you've just mentioned that
the the second part of the 50 isthe strong part of the race for
you.
When you move out to the 100and the 200, because I know you
you have swum those before, ormainly the 100, but the 200.
Sam WIlliamson (15:58):
The 200 don't don't hopefully my coach doesn't
listen to this because I thinkI think we stuck a pin in a 200
for the meantime.
Danielle Spurling (16:04):
Oh, really?
Because you you did win it atthe short cost titles in 22 in
Australia.
You won the 200.
Sam WIlliamson (16:10):
I did yeah, that's because no one else was
there.
Danielle Spurling (16:14):
But when you take it out to the 100,
obviously your race strategychanges.
What's the strongest part ofthe the 100 for you?
Is it still the closing closingspeed?
Sam WIlliamson (16:25):
Oh god, no.
If any if anybody watches my100, especially from trials last
year, the you know, trials whenI went, I went 58 twice in the
day.
Um anybody watches that race,they'll see that that last 15
meters, it looked like a pianohad falling on me.
Um I think but yeah, the thestrategy flips and my uh,
especially in the 100, thatfront end speed has always been
(16:46):
a strong suit of mine.
And being able to get outfaster than everybody else, and
just because if if somebody, Imean it's happened it's happened
to me before.
If someone's turning a bodylength in front of you with 50
meters to go, it it rattles you.
And it's a really concerningfeeling when you're seeing
someone swim the other way,knowing that you've got to chase
(17:08):
them down.
So uh the yeah, I think the therace plan for the hundred has
always been use that use thateasy speed, use that fast start
that I've got naturally, uh, andjust get out in front and get
out in that clean water.
Danielle Spurling (17:22):
How excited were you when you woke up and
heard that 50 form strikes aregonna be at the LA Olympics?
Sam WIlliamson (17:28):
Uh funnily enough, I actually panicked
thinking something was wrongthat morning because I woke up
to a few missed calls from mycoach at the time.
And I, you know, I had a I hada later session that morning,
but you know, I woke up to threemissed calls and a whole bunch
of text messages from Craig, andI thought, like, shit, have I
have I slept in?
Have I missed somethingimportant?
And then yeah, because becausethe news broke in Europe
(17:51):
overnight, I had a whole bunchof messages from European
swimmers.
Danielle Spurling (17:54):
Yeah.
Sam WIlliamson (17:54):
So initially panicked thinking something's
something's wrong, but thenrealized as I was going through
it, you know, my girlfriend hadtexted me with a screenshot of
the news article, and I think,yeah, just went nuts.
I think mum texted me quite afew swear words.
Uh, so that was you know, it'sbeen something that world
aquatics have been flirting withus for God the last eight
(18:17):
years, the last two Olympics,they've sort of been dangling
this carrot in front of us, andI don't want to say that I'd
lost hope, but you know, I thinka few swimmers had just started
to think they're they're nevergonna do this.
Like there's no way there's noway they're gonna do this.
And you know, I can sound alittle bit jaded as a 50 form
stroker, but I know as a formstroker, you know what I'm not
(18:40):
gonna be the first one to saythis, but at times it can feel
like the swimming world doesn'treally care about you unless
you're a 50 freestyler.
Like there are three other 50meter events that people swim
and people have been swimmingfor over 25 years now.
So I'm gonna be close to 30years now.
Uh so it was just incrediblyexciting to see that World
(19:01):
Aquatics had had finally decidedto allow us to have our moment
and the sun at the Olympics.
And yeah, knowing that I'm notslow at the 50s, there's another
medal chance come the LAOlympics.
It was just like it's a dreamcome true.
Just you know, having theopportunity just at the
Olympics, just wearing the greenand gold and stepping up behind
(19:23):
the blocks, like that's that'swhat every young kid dreams
about doing.
So the fact that come LA, I'mgonna be able to do that twice.
That's uh yeah, you've gotthere's no words to describe
that moment, it's just purerevelation.
I think that morning when I sawmy coach, I just ran up and
like I I think I picked him up.
Picked him up, gave him amassive hug, and um just said,
(19:45):
yeah, time to get back to work.
Danielle Spurling (19:47):
And and does that reshape the way you see the
next training block headinginto the Olympics?
Will you just specialise in thein the 50, or will you you
still include the hundred in theprogram?
Sam WIlliamson (19:59):
I will definitely include the hundred
in the program.
I think if you if you take thehundred out of the program, not
only does it knock the hundredout, but it knocks those two
relays that I mentioned beforeout of the program.
So you go from having fourpotential medal chances, uh, and
then you just you chop thatdown to just one, which I think
(20:19):
the law of averages makes that apretty silly sentence.
And I've my 50 has always beenat its best when I've been
training for the hundred, and myhundred's always been at its
best when I've been training forthe 50.
So I don't think there's anyreason that I should chop and
change or like cut one of thosetwo out of my program.
Does make it incrediblydifficult, you know.
At the Olympics, it's not it'sa nine-day competition.
(20:42):
If you do all three heat semisand finals for both events and
true relays, that's I know I'mnot a I'm not a distance
swimmer.
I know, you know, Lani and someof those other guys, they're
like Sam Short, some of thosedistance guys, they're getting
you know four or five Ks ofracing done over the course of a
swim meet.
I might be lucky to get five orsix hundred meters in.
(21:05):
But um, yeah, it it doesn'tmean we we don't we certainly
don't change anything and we wedo what works for us.
Danielle Spurling (21:12):
I mean having having those 50 form strokes um
coming up in LA, I feel likeit's changing a little bit of
the scene, like at the WorldCup.
There were blistering times inall the 50 form strokes over
there.
Do you do you feel like there'sgoing to be a few more
specialists sort of on the theworld scene, or do you think
that they're they're mainly thehundred breaststrokers coming
(21:34):
down to that 50?
Sam WIlliamson (21:36):
I think, I mean, you could you could certainly
argue that there always havebeen those 50 meter specialists,
especially in Europe where theyare a significantly more prized
event and they're asignificantly more recognized
event.
I know like Australian swimminghasn't necessarily viewed 50
form strokes as an importantevent because it's not on the
(21:57):
Olympic program.
And it'll it'll be nice tohopefully see that shift and
hopefully see a little bit moreof that recognition here.
But I think for the rest of theworld, you've there have always
been incredibly strong 50swimmers, especially from
Europe.
I mean, you've got you've gotathletes like you know, Swedish,
you've got Sarah Questrum, wholike, you know, world record
(22:20):
holder in the well 53 and 50fly, but you know, also meddled
in both 100 and the 53 at theOlympics, you know, coming back
off of pregnancy, but I don'tsee that stopping her and
slowing her down.
But you've got some incrediblyfast summers across Europe who
have you know been renowned fortheir their 50-meter speed, so I
(22:43):
can't imagine them changinganything anytime soon.
Danielle Spurling (22:46):
And so can you give us a bit of an insight
into your training?
Sam WIlliamson (22:50):
Of course, yeah, no, of course.
Um I mean, I don't know howmany secrets I can give away,
but don't give secrets to you,yeah.
No, no secrets.
Um, it's a it's a prettyregular block.
I know a lot of people that aredoing the 50s would think, oh,
like 50 50 for swimmer is doingtwo or three swims a week.
But that is certainly not thecase.
(23:11):
I still train nine times a weekin the water.
There's still three gymsessions there, there's one to
two bike sessions in the weekthere.
Uh, it's just when we do thoseindividual sessions, they are
incredibly specific andincredibly tailored to what we
are trying to do.
So depending on where we are inthe season, there'll be that
(23:31):
back-end focus and a lot of that100 work where it's just
repetitive 50s under a lot offatigue.
Just trying to emulate whatit's going to be like in that
last 50 meters of that race,especially that last 50 meters
where it's where everyone startsto crumble, it's where everyone
starts to hurt.
So it's being able to just holdthat technique, and we do a lot
(23:54):
of work emulating that fatigueand then doing those 50s under
fatigue.
But then there's also anincredibly, um, incredibly
fundamental power block thatwe'll do, where we'll translate
a lot of the work we do from thegym and take that into the pool
and do, you know, incredible,like sort of uh how would you
just describe that super highresistance work for really short
(24:18):
bursts.
So doing you know, 120, 130kilos on a power tower,
isolating the arms and justgoing just pull for eight
strokes.
And that stuff we'll do, and wewon't do that under a like it's
not on a time constraint, it'son a like a distance, and that's
like a power constraint.
(24:39):
So once that starts to slipbelow a certain volume, and once
that nervous system is sort ofstarting to deplete and that
twitch is gone, that's whenwe'll pull the pin on it.
So a lot of like a lot of umyeah, scientific-based um
explosive work.
Danielle Spurling (24:58):
Are you working with a biomechanist at
as well?
Sam WIlliamson (25:02):
Yeah, I I've got a huge, a huge team that work
behind me with all thesesessions.
I think there's seven or eightof them.
I'm gonna forget somebody onthis podcast, and I'm
apologizing in advance forforgetting somebody who I work
with.
But yes, now we'll work with umlike a biomechanist um and do
do things where we'll we'll filmtwo or three sessions a week
and analyze a lot of thatfootage from sessions, you know,
(25:24):
where we do stuff at do stuffreally slow and then we'll do
stuff at pace and yeah, analyzethe footage there.
Danielle Spurling (25:32):
Yeah.
How much um backup do you getfrom the Victorian Institute of
Sport?
Sam WIlliamson (25:36):
A phenomenal amount.
I wouldn't be able to do what Ido if it wasn't for the VAS.
I'm incredibly, incrediblygrateful for all the support
that they've given me.
And yeah, wouldn't be able todo what I do if it wasn't for
them.
Danielle Spurling (25:48):
Yeah, that's that's good to hear.
It's good that it's um it's itfeels like it's sort of having a
new rebirth with Nicole at theuh the helm there.
Sam WIlliamson (25:56):
Yeah, no, no, yeah, Nicole, Nicole taking the
reins has been incredible forswimming.
Danielle Spurling (26:05):
Hey swim talkers, just a quick break to
say thank you for supporting theshow.
If you'd like to become aTorpedo Swim Talk supporter,
you'll get early episodeupdates, master swim workouts
each month delivered straight toyour inbox, access to our
private WhatsApp group, and apersonal shout-out on the
podcast.
Your support helps us keepsharing the stories of swimmers
(26:27):
from masters to Olympicchampions.
You can find the link to becomea supporter in the show notes,
and I'd love to welcome you tothe swim talkers community.
And we have to touch on whathappened to you earlier in the
year where you sadly had a bitof an injury in the gym.
Tell us about that and tell usabout the rehab that you've been
(26:48):
going through.
Sam WIlliamson (26:49):
Yeah, so what was it?
May May 7 was uh was the day.
Um it was and it was only abouta week before I sort of found
my feet again swimming.
It was always you come off theback of the Olympics, and
everybody talks about a bit of alull that you'll go through,
but wasn't wasn't expecting tofind sort of that much of a
(27:10):
lull.
It was incredibly hard, andlike I knew I wanted to go
through to LA, especially whenthe 50s got announced, I knew
that LA was where I reallywanted to make my mark on
swimming and especiallybreaststroke, but just had no
idea how I was gonna put myselfthrough that.
Like it's swimming is anenormous sacrifice, it's taken a
lot, not just from me, but youknow, from my partner, my family
(27:32):
and my friends.
It it takes an enormoussacrifice on everybody's part.
So I wasn't quite sure how if Iwas willing to put everybody
through that again to sort ofcome away somewhat empty-handed.
Um, but it yeah, it wasn'tuntil about a week before sort
of start of May, I just reallyfell in love with the sport,
fell in love with the work, andfell in love with what I do all
(27:53):
over again.
But yeah, just routine warm-upon Wednesday afternoon,
playometrics, light work, justsome explosive training.
Um put my foot down, went totake off to do a box jump.
Um next thing I know, I wasjust lying on my back, clutching
(28:17):
my knee, and yeah, hadcompletely ruptured my patella
tendon so just tore it straightuntil the quad straight off the
bone and was just yeah, lookingdown and could sort of see the
entire inside of my knee, and mykneecap was sort of sitting
about halfway up my thigh.
Danielle Spurling (28:35):
Oh wow, duh.
Sam WIlliamson (28:37):
And knew knew in a heartbeat that it wasn't it
wasn't like, oh, maybe I've justdislocated it, we'll pop it
back in and we'll you know, tapeit up, take the day off and um
get back and swim thatafternoon, but no knew in an
instant that I'd done somethingthat I didn't know how I was
(28:59):
gonna come back from.
And especially at that momentto think I mean when you look
down at your knee and you see itlooking like that, the worst
thoughts begin to run throughyour mind and you think maybe
that's it for swimming.
Like maybe I'm never gonna getan opportunity to do this.
Again, like that's that's medone.
Danielle Spurling (29:21):
Yeah.
Sam WIlliamson (29:22):
So, but yeah, again, I think VAS were
absolutely incredible.
I was we tried to walk on itstupidly.
That didn't quite didn't quitego to plan.
So was um put in a wheelchair,rushed straight over to the VAS,
seen by the doctor immediately.
I mean, it it didn't takedoesn't take a genius to
diagnose what I'd done was wasfairly obvious, but I sent off
(29:46):
to get an MRI that night and insurgery the very next within 24
hours seeing a surgeon.
Which, you know, the rush andthe chaos and the adrenaline of
that whole thing, you're notreally thinking too much, but
You know, the question of am Igoing to be able to do this
again certainly starts to circleand it certainly starts to get
a lot louder in the back of yourmind, especially when the
(30:07):
doctor says, you know, best casescenario, we might be back at
like this point in 12 months.
Like best case scenario is in12 months' time, you're back at
this level of strength.
Um, but you know, when you'resort of lying there on an
operating table and the surgeonsays, Look, I've seen the MRIs,
(30:29):
but I don't know.
He's like, I I don't know untilI cut you open what it looks
like, how bad the damage is, andwhat we're gonna be able to do.
But then, yeah, that thatFriday morning, I still remember
it was 7:30 in the morning.
I think I'd had two hours ofsleep coming out of surgery, and
the doc looked at me and or thesurgeon looked at me and just
(30:49):
said, This is probably one ofthe worst I've ever seen, and
I've been doing this 25 years.
Danielle Spurling (30:54):
Wow.
Sam WIlliamson (30:55):
So, I mean, look, if I'm gonna put my name
to something, I'm gonna do itproperly.
Danielle Spurling (30:58):
Yes.
Sam WIlliamson (31:00):
Uh, but he just said, I have no doubts that
you'll be back for comp gamesnext year.
Danielle Spurling (31:06):
Yeah.
Sam WIlliamson (31:07):
And I knew that so for two days I'd been
thinking the absolute worst andthinking that's me done,
swimming's done.
Um I'm never gonna get a chanceto do what I love again.
But to sort of have someonecome in two days later and say,
we're gonna be able to get youback.
I knew immediately that youknow what, that was two days I'd
(31:31):
wasted, so I was back in thegym the following week starting
my rehab.
As soon as I was uh yeah, assoon as I was walking again on
crutches, I was back in the gym.
I think I think I had four daysafter surgery, I was back in
the gym because in my mind thatwas that was four days I'd
wasted, and four days thateveryone else around the world
was getting a head start on me.
(31:51):
I wasn't gonna let that happen.
Danielle Spurling (31:54):
No.
And and how has that rehabbeen?
Sam WIlliamson (31:57):
Rehab has been incredible.
I actually have just come froma meeting with the specialist,
and she was absolutely stokedwith what we've done.
We've just uh just ticked over274 days.
So it's 99 days to go until Iget the Orkbear to race again.
February 13th.
Yeah, so it's been 174 days,six days a week of rehab, about
(32:23):
three to four hours at a time,you know.
First first four months wasjust like knee locked in a
brace, not moving it, and thenit was, you know, two months
learning to walk again, and justthe last few months just
learning to swim again.
Are you are you able to um areyou able to do breaststroke
kick?
Certainly am.
We're back in the water.
Uh hit a full full trainingload next week.
(32:45):
So this will be my secondsecond full week back in the
pool, back in the gym, sort ofsomewhat business as usual.
We've had to had to change afew things just because just
because the loading needs to beslightly different, but from the
outside looking in, it's it's ait's a full training load, it's
a full training week.
Danielle Spurling (33:04):
That's amazing.
That to come back so quickly,really, that's the you know what
they can do.
Sam WIlliamson (33:10):
Oh, I think I I I owe my life, I owe absolutely
everything to the team that I'vebeen working with.
Like they were the ones, theywere in the gym 7 30 every
single morning, six days a week,just you know, helping me walk
again.
Yeah, so they have been nothingshort of phenomenal.
(33:32):
And yeah, it's like it's a truetestament to the VIS and what
they've been able to do to justyeah, just get me walking again
in such a short period of time,but get me back in the pool and
swimming again in such a such ashort period of time has been
incredible.
Danielle Spurling (33:47):
Do you still have do you have to swim with
the brace still now or are youfree of that?
Sam WIlliamson (33:51):
No, no, I'm I'm out of the brace.
I'm out of the brace now.
I've just got a a very nasty,like very big purple scar that's
about it's about 10, 10 incheslong across my knee.
But yeah, no, no brace, nobrace anymore.
Danielle Spurling (34:07):
That's that's really good to hear.
You need to get some bio oil onthat scar.
Sam WIlliamson (34:12):
Yes, I do.
I do.
I probably will when I get offthis call.
unknown (34:16):
That's good.
Sam WIlliamson (34:17):
A little bit of vitamin E just to try and fade
that purple scar.
Danielle Spurling (34:20):
It will fade with time.
And you mentioned CraigJackson, who's your coach, and
he was obviously sort of came toeveryone around the world's
knowledge when he trained MacHorton to his gold medal in Rio.
But we knew about him here inVictoria for a long time.
How big is your squad that youswim with now?
(34:40):
And are you still based atMSAC?
Sam WIlliamson (34:43):
Always.
I I will be based at MSAC andI'll be like, look, I'll be
based at MSAC until Craig leavesMSAC, and I'm gonna be swimming
with Craig until the end of mycareer.
Uh, yes, but yeah, still herein Melbourne.
Uh, I think we've got between12 to 14 in our squad at the
moment.
Yeah, a few young,up-and-coming sort of junior
athletes that have just comeback from like junior world
(35:05):
champs, which is really excitingto sort of see that you know
what Queensland hasn't takenevery single one of our
athletes.
I know.
It's nice to know that it'snice to know that we've still
got a few, and it's it's nice toknow that we've still got a few
that want to stay in Victoria.
But yeah, we've got we've got areally good spot of about 12 to
14 athletes at the moment thatCraig's obviously, and you know,
we've got athletes that do 5and 10k open water races, you
(35:29):
know, like Olympian open Olympicopen water swimmer, Mick
Slohman races 10k, and then youknow, you've got guys like me
that race 50 breath stroke in 26seconds.
Um Craig's he's certainly gothis hands full, but uh I think
he loves the challenge and he'scertainly up to the challenge.
Danielle Spurling (35:44):
Well, he's very good at it, so I think um I
think he'll do all of you veryproud.
Sam WIlliamson (35:50):
I I certainly I have I have no doubts in that
whatsoever.
Danielle Spurling (35:55):
And so you mentioned you can get back to
racing February next year.
What what are sort of the theshort-term plans for next year
with with what you're going toenter?
Sam WIlliamson (36:04):
Uh short-term plans are it'll be just the just
the major major sort ofdomestic competitions in the uh
2026 calendar, I think, youknow, from like big states, New
South Wales states, andnationals.
They're probably the big threethat will will tick off before
before trials in June, I thinkthey are.
(36:27):
So there's a it's a there's areally somehow these
competitions, someone must beworking, you know, pulling the
strings behind the scenes there.
Somehow they work in reallyneat blocks.
So we'll be able to do like abig like big training block, do
a camp race, and consolidate onthat and just keep fine-tuning
and just learning from there.
Danielle Spurling (36:49):
Where where do you tend to go for your camps
with your squad?
Sam WIlliamson (36:53):
Uh well, where have we gone recently?
I think normally with the F1,unfortunately, it's right next
door to MSAC.
So makes makes things a littlebit difficult when you're when
you're trying to swim at MSAC,and there's a few cars zooming
around the car park.
But um, I think we've we'vetended to try and go quite rural
(37:14):
with our training camps andjust get out of get out of um
sort of like the bigger cities.
I mean, I know we've we've donetraining camps up on the sunny
coast, but we we've donetraining camps like all across.
We've gone as far as uh notTaoomba.
We went up to Townsville anddid a training camp.
I think that was in a you knowa tiny little outdoor four-lane
(37:36):
fifty-meter pool without properblocks.
I think Craig was Craig wasgetting sick and tired of us
being a bit entitled, so hedecided to teach us a lesson and
say, you know what, there's 50meters and that there's water in
it, like it shouldn't stop whatyou do.
Which was um and I I love that,I love that kind of training.
It just you know it reminds meabout where I came from growing
up in the pools I used to trainin.
(37:58):
Uh, it reminds you that youknow what, as long as there is
water in the pool, like youyou've got a job to do and you
can you can do it and yeah, justmake sure you don't get too
soft and a little bit tooprecious.
Danielle Spurling (38:09):
And talking about camps, have you been on
any of the event camps that uhswimming Australia puts on?
Sam WIlliamson (38:14):
Yes, yes, I've been there.
I think there was uh the firstone I was invited to it was back
in 2019, I think.
Little breaststroke camp up onthe sunny coast, training out of
the USC pool.
Yeah, yeah, I've been, and thenyeah, the last few that they've
had at um Rabina in Queenslandas the entire national team.
And I think I think they'vebeen a really they've been a
really special event.
(38:35):
It's always it's a reallyspecial opportunity when you
know I'm coming from Melbourne,I don't really get a chance to
train alongside the rest of thecountry too often.
So it's a really special timeuh and a really important time,
I think, for a lot of young anddeveloping athletes that get
invited to those who are sort ofyou know on the cusp of making
a team.
And um yeah, I think it'sreally important that they see
(38:58):
how the best in the country andarguably the best in the world
are training and get invited andget put into that environment
and you know then bring thatback to their their own club is
is really important.
And I mean, we always we stayon a really beautiful golf
course as well.
So that's like that's not it'snot not necessarily the worst
(39:19):
week with a little bit of golfup in the sun.
Danielle Spurling (39:21):
That's nice.
And on those event strokeweeks, are they um is it mainly
about just training that youwould bring from your home
coach, or are you racing orfocusing on technique?
What's sort of the thestructure of the program?
Sam WIlliamson (39:38):
Uh oh, it's relatively all-encompassing.
There certainly is a little bitof an ego competition between
some of the coaches to see whocan write, you know, the biggest
or the toughest or the nastiestset.
Like there is, I mean, therealways will be an element of
that.
And you know what, as athletes,you wouldn't be an athlete if
you didn't have an ego.
So there always there's alwaysan element of who can do the
(40:01):
sets better than anybody else.
But you know, like that thatlittle friendly competition that
the Australian swim team haveand foster really well
definitely lends itself to thosethose environments.
But you know, there is there'salso uh like a big focus on on
that technique and on being ableto learn from everybody in that
environment.
Like there might be somebodythere that you don't necessarily
(40:23):
see day in, day out, uh, whodoes something slightly
differently that you know youhave the opportunity and the
ability to learn from.
Danielle Spurling (40:29):
No, it's great to great to sort of hear
what happens on the other side.
You see it all advertised, butgood to know sort of that it's
reaching out to some of theup-and-coming swimmers as well.
I think that's really importantfor the future and the culture
of Australian swimming.
Sam WIlliamson (40:44):
Yeah, no, it's it's really exciting.
I definitely felt a little bitout of place when I got invited
to my first one, but gotta yeah,been on those camps for seven
years now.
It's um starting to feel like abit of a fossil.
Danielle Spurling (40:56):
Yeah.
I don't think you're a fossilat 27.
Sam WIlliamson (41:00):
Maybe on the Australian swim team, I might I
feel like one.
I might I'm you know one of theoldest on the team now.
Danielle Spurling (41:06):
Are you really?
Sam WIlliamson (41:08):
I think you know, other than other than Cam
McAvoy, I think I'd certainly beup there.
Danielle Spurling (41:15):
Yeah, okay.
Well, there's been a fewretirements over the last few
years, hasn't there?
They have, yeah.
Some of the older oldest ones.
I was just up in Noosa over theweekend.
I saw Kate Campbell and EmilySeabom swim the um the the leg
the swimming leg of thecelebrity triathlon.
Oh, how was that?
Well, they actually made themswim in the Noosa River, which I
thought was a bit was a bitawful for them, but uh I think
(41:38):
they wanted to keep it all sothe spectators could see it.
But the actual triathlon, theyswim on the beach.
Sam WIlliamson (41:43):
Yep, okay.
Danielle Spurling (41:44):
Yeah, but um they still both had beautiful
strokes and looked at.
Sam WIlliamson (41:48):
Oh, like they they always will, especially
especially those Kate's Kate'sfreestyle has always been always
been impeccable to watch, yeah.
I wish unfortunately as abreaststroker, my freestyle is
there's probably one you want tomiss.
Danielle Spurling (42:02):
But you have to do it obviously in training.
You would you'd swim somefreestyle.
Sam WIlliamson (42:06):
Oh, I I swim a lot of freestyle, but you know,
that hasn't helped.
It still doesn't look pretty atall.
Danielle Spurling (42:14):
I'm sure it's all right.
Did you ever swim any otherraces before breaststroke?
Sam WIlliamson (42:18):
Uh yeah, funnily enough, I actually used to be a
backstroker.
Really?
I think the first national timeI ever got was actually in the
hunter backstroke.
Danielle Spurling (42:26):
Okay.
Sam WIlliamson (42:27):
But um yeah, in God, 12 years, I actually
haven't got any faster.
Danielle Spurling (42:34):
So Right.
Well that that's good that youyou're superb at breaststroke.
Yeah.
Because you don't have to worryabout backstroke anymore.
Sam WIlliamson (42:42):
Yes, no, yeah, I uh get made fun of every time I
do backstroke.
I think I I had NicoleLivingston watch me do a 50
meters of backstroke the otherday and said please, yeah, I
think she said please nevernever do that ever again.
Danielle Spurling (42:56):
But yeah, she did have a nice stroke
technique herself.
Sam WIlliamson (42:59):
Oh, she had an incredible backstroke, yeah.
So whenever I see her on pulldeck, I quickly flip one of my
front and do it a freestyle.
Danielle Spurling (43:06):
That's good.
Well, Sam, look, everyone thatcomes on the podcast, I like to
ask them the deep dive five,which is sort of five things
that pop into your mind when Iask this question.
What is the favourite pool thatyou've ever swum in?
Sam WIlliamson (43:19):
Favourite pool?
Uh probably the Birminghampool.
Birmingham pool was the firstuh first pool I swam in on my
senior team, and it's a it's apool I'm gonna I'm gonna
remember for the rest of mylife.
Danielle Spurling (43:30):
How about your favorite Psychup song in
the call room?
Sam WIlliamson (43:33):
Uh same old situation by Molly Crowe.
Danielle Spurling (43:36):
A bit of a banger.
Sam WIlliamson (43:38):
Bit of a yeah, a bit of a hair banger on that
one.
Just gets me gets me pumped up,gets me pretty amped.
Danielle Spurling (43:43):
What do you listen to when you're working
out in the gym?
Do you listen to that same kindof thing or something?
Sam WIlliamson (43:47):
Oh the same kind of thing.
Sometimes it can get a littlebit heavy.
I've definitely been uh fallenout of favour with a few
athletes at the VAS playing someof the heavier side of metal
playing in the gym.
Danielle Spurling (44:01):
You don't want to put your headphones in?
Sam WIlliamson (44:03):
Uh yeah, no, I thought I think everyone
everyone deserves a little bitof that from every you know,
every now and again.
But then some days it'llbecome, you know, Hillary Duff,
like that's what dreams are madeof, a little bit of strawberry
kisses in there, some NikkiWebster, some Hannah Montana,
just like Taylor Swift, likenice.
All the girly pop anthems.
Danielle Spurling (44:20):
Yeah, you like to mix it up.
I like it.
Sam WIlliamson (44:23):
Always, always.
Danielle Spurling (44:24):
How about your favorite training set?
Sam WIlliamson (44:27):
Favorite training set are six broken
ones.
Six broken one hundreds, suitedup.
More often than not, that's aset that I will find myself
throwing up after.
unknown (44:38):
Right.
Danielle Spurling (44:39):
Is it broken into 25s or 50s?
Sam WIlliamson (44:42):
Broken by 50s, and we'll go a 50 max if it kick
and then a 50 push.
Yeah, and it's just just tryingto just trying to burn the
legs, just cook the legs as muchas you can before before trying
to bring them home.
Danielle Spurling (44:57):
How much rest do you get in the middle?
Sam WIlliamson (45:00):
Uh the 50 kicks on 50 seconds.
Danielle Spurling (45:02):
Okay.
Sam WIlliamson (45:03):
So oh, if you're if you're kicking what the 35
second 50 kick, you you get 15seconds, but that's 15 seconds
to take the snorkel off,kickboard up, and turn around
and get ready to go again.
So not an awful lot of time.
Danielle Spurling (45:15):
And do you swim easy between the hundreds
or are you just resting at theend?
Sam WIlliamson (45:20):
Uh yeah, you get a few hundred to swim easy.
Danielle Spurling (45:22):
Yeah, nice.
Sam WIlliamson (45:23):
Yeah, unless Craig's unless Craig's not
feeling too generous, then it'lljust make you sit on the wall
and stew.
Danielle Spurling (45:30):
Hopefully he's in a good mood the next
time you do it, then.
Sam WIlliamson (45:32):
Fingers crossed ears.
Danielle Spurling (45:35):
How about a training uh mindset mantra that
you use?
Have you got any sort of psychup words that you use for
yourself when you're lacking inmotivation?
Sam WIlliamson (45:45):
Uh yes, I will always remind myself that you
have to be your best on yourworst day.
Anybody can anybody can show upon their best day and throw
down an incredible set, but it'sthe athlete that shows up on
their worst day and does itbetter than anybody else.
They're the athlete that'sgoing to be successful.
And no matter how much you'rehurting, you can always go one
more.
Danielle Spurling (46:05):
I really like that, Sam.
One race you'd go back and swimagain just to feel it again.
Sam WIlliamson (46:11):
I don't think I would.
To be honest, every single racethat I've had that's been
incredibly special.
If I went, I'd be I'd beworried that going back and
racing it would change thefeeling.
And I think what makes everysingle one of those races so
special is the fact that I haveone opportunity to do them.
So I don't wanna I don't wannaI don't want to ruin that.
Yeah, you don't want to messwith it, yep.
(46:32):
Don't want to mess with it.
Yeah, and also like no one noone wants this in the last 15
meters of a race when you'vegone out a little bit too hard
again.
unknown (46:40):
That's right.
Danielle Spurling (46:41):
Oh, well, thank you so much for joining us
on the podcast today, Sam.
It's been really lovely.
Sam WIlliamson (46:45):
No, thank you.
Thank you so much for havingme.
It's been a pleasure.
Danielle Spurling (46:48):
It's my pleasure.
I'm really enjoyed hearing allabout your journey, and um, I
know everyone that's listeningwill be wishing you every
success heading forward to startracing again in February, and
we'll all be watching you at theCommoth Games next year.
Sam WIlliamson (47:01):
Awesome.
Well, thank you so much.
I can't can't thank you enough.
Danielle Spurling (47:04):
You're welcome.
Okay, thanks, Sam.
Awesome.
Okay.
Thanks for tuning in to TorpedoSwim Talk today.
The podcast celebratingswimmers at every stage, from
Masters Legends to Olympicchampions.
If you enjoyed this episode,please follow or subscribe on
your favorite podcast platformand leave a review to help more
(47:26):
swimmers find the show.
You can also catch pastepisodes and guest highlights
and swimming stories from aroundthe world at
torpedoswimtalk.com.
Until next time, happy swimmingand bye for now.
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