World Cup Reflections and Takeaways

This weekend’s World Cup in Westmont was an incredible opportunity to watch some of the best swimmers in the world race up close, and to see one of our own, Josh Turner, take the blocks alongside them. Watching world-class athletes offered a front-row look at how refined technique, efficiency, and execution separate great swimmers from good ones.

A few things stood out right away:

• Underwaters were the difference-maker. Every swimmer maximized their underwater phase, tight streamline, powerful kicks, and a breakout perfectly timed with their last kick.

• Turns were precise and fast. Whether flip or open, every turn was attacked with speed, control, and a clean breakout. There was no wasted movement.

• Stroke efficiency stood out. The top breaststrokers were taking only about four strokes per 25 meters, holding long, smooth glides supported by a strong kick that showed how patience and power work together.

• Endurance across meets was remarkable. Many of these swimmers are racing in three World Cup stops on back-to-back weekends and getting faster each time. That shows how much preparation, recovery, and race execution matter.

These are lessons we can bring back to our own training. Every push-off, every turn, and every underwater counts. Every race, and every practice, is a chance to learn and refine.

While there, I had the chance to be on the deck with some amazing coaches, including Rachel Stratton-Mills (Northwestern), Todd DeSorbo (Virginia), and Matt Kredich (Tennessee).

• From Rachel Stratton-Mills: Success is built on process. “What are you doing today to make yourself better, and make the team better?” “What specific skill/improvement will I focus on this week (my turn, my glide, my breakout)?”
  → Focus each practice on one skill you can improve, no matter how small. Celebrate small wins (better turn, fewer strokes, stronger breakout) in addition to the big ones (time drop).

• From Todd DeSorbo: Be an “All-Day Champion.” It’s not just how you race, it’s how you prepare, recover, and show up every day.
  → Approach warm-ups, drills, and main sets with the same effort you’d bring to a championship final. Prep like you race.

• From Matt Kredich: Smart swimmers think while they swim. They know what the water feels like, adjust in real time, and stay composed when conditions aren’t perfect.
  → Smart swimming wins races. Train yourself to be aware of what you feel in the water, pressure, flow, resistance, and use that feedback to adjust in real time. Be adaptable and resilient.

Watching the World Cup reinforced that great swimmers don’t rely on talent, they master details. They don’t avoid fatigue, they manage it. They don’t race perfectly every time, they learn something every time.

So this week & this season, let’s challenge ourselves to:

1. Maximize underwaters — every wall is a chance to gain ground.

2. Own every turn — make each one fast and clean.

3. Swim with purpose — know what you’re improving each day.

4. Reflect and adjust — ask after every race or set: What did I do better today?

Let’s take what we saw at the World Cup and turn it into fuel for our own growth.

See you at practice,
Coach Jessica