The Secret to Josh Matheny's Breaststroke (And Why He Breathes Like That!) | Episode 302

Is Josh Matheny the happiest guy in professional swimming? We caught up with the rising USA breaststroke star after meeting him at the Beyond the Blocks Clinic in Ohio, and he did not disappoint! In this episode of the Social Kick, Josh discusses his unique breaststroke technique—specifically answering the question everyone asks: Why does he open his mouth so wide when he breathes? Josh also opens up about his training philosophy at Indiana University, how he manages the brutal 200m Breaststroke, and the mental battles of breaking through times when you're stuck on a plateau. We also get into some hilarious stories, including his absolute nightmare Halloween set (400 IM, 500 Free, and Butterfly?), getting chewed out for almost missing a final at the Sacramento Pro Swim Series, and the rigid unwritten rules of "Social Kicking" at IU. Plus, we put him in the hot seat during our Rapid Fire segment! Whether you're a breaststroker trying to figure out your race strategy or just a fan of elite swimming, Josh is one of the most grounded and insightful athletes in the sport. Hit that LIKE button, SUBSCRIBE, and let us know your favorite part of the episode in the comments! Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro: Hanging with Josh Matheny in Ohio! 1:48 - Fun Fact: Josh has never been to a concert 3:34 - Audience Q: Why does he open his mouth so wide when he swims? 5:52 - Being the relentless leader of the IU Clash of Clans team 8:22 - Looking back at his best high school swimming memories 11:46 - The exact moment 9-year-old Josh thought he could make the Olympics 13:46 - Navigating roadblocks and the frustration of the 2020 COVID delay 16:12 - Josh’s best race ever: 2019 World Juniors 200 Breast 17:17 - Mindset: How to stay positive when training gets brutal 19:42 - Getting sick and the chaos of scratching the 200 Breast at the Sacramento Pro Swim 24:48 - Gearing up and shifting focus to the Pan Pac Championships 25:40 - Why Josh refuses to swim breaststroke on his "off" days 30:06 - The hardest part of the 200 Breaststroke: Bodyline fatigue 31:00 - Being a 200 guy in a 100m sprinter's world 32:04 - Did Josh ever consider leaving Indiana University? 34:56 - Training Volume: Why dropping intensity hurts Josh, but dropping volume helps 36:56 - Biomechanics: Fixing his start and fixing his "hooked" feet 39:42 - The mental battle of plateauing at the elite level 42:55 - The Pan Pacs strategy: Racing the guy next to you vs. swimming your own race 46:47 - How non-swimmers react when you say you’re swimming at "Pan Pacs" 50:59 - Rapid Fire: The hardest race, 3 essential apps, & the best swim he’s seen in person 52:27 - The "Monster Set": The most brutal Halloween practice of all time 54:39 - The strict "Social Kick" rules at IU vs. The rest of the world Special Thanks to our Sponsors: TheMagic5: Experience the world's only custom-fit goggles, designed to eliminate leaks and pressure marks for a more comfortable swim: https://themagic5.com/ Grown-Up Swimming: Why let the kids have all the fun? Join the summer league for adults and rediscover the joy of racing: https://www.grownupswimming.com/ TriHard: Protect your skin and hair from chlorine. Use code SOCIALKICK for 20% off your order: https://www.trihard.co/ SUBSCRIBE:    / @socialkickswim   LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... FOLLOW:   / socialkickswim