The Shannon Rollason Podcast

This week on the Shannon Rollason Podcast we take a trip down memory lane with the Olympic Gold Medal winning coach as we look back at his beginnings in our sport and his very early days as a swimmer and as a coach. Shannon gives us some great stories about finding his love for swimming, as well as learning experiences along the way up in Brisbane as a young coach. Shannon also gives us his favourite drills for each stroke which is a must for all developing coaches when you are putting together your ideal stroke models. We also get into one of Shannon's favourite topics which is CARS, where the love for them came from, what cars has he had and did he ever consider racing after his hero Peter Brock. As well as his love of beers and a whole lot more. Don't miss this one as we will be taking a break from The Shannon Rollason Podcast for a short time while Shannon gears his athletes up for the Comm Games and World Champs trials in May at the 2022 Australian Championships.

This week Shannon is joined by International Swimming Hall Of Famer and one of USA best ever coaches David Marsh. Shannon and David discuss his recent success with the Men's Cal Bears team at the NCAA's, as well as their take on what makes USA swimming the powerhouse that it is. David gives us his favourite swimmers of all time to watch as a fan of the sport, as well as his top tips when it comes to Sprint Freestyle, Breaststroke and Tapers.  David speaks to us about what continues to drive him as a coach and mentor as someone who has coached over 50 Olympians during his hall of fame career. We also discuss emotional control as a coach and how important it is during a big week of racing at big meets. Shannon and David continue to talk on a range of topics, and it's a must for all coaches and fans of our sport as these two legendary coaches bring the knowledge and experience. DONT MISS THIS ONE

This week on The Shannon Rollason Podcast it's all about Landing Your Planes smoothly during taper time. Here in Australia we are coming up on 2022 Australian Age Champs next week, and 2022 Australian Open Champs in 5 weeks time, and this week Shannon gives us his thoughts and insights into how he views tapering and the processes he uses to land his plane safely. From volume to intensity, length of taper and the differences even for strokes, Shannon covers it all this week and just in time for all the coaches listening and wondering if they have nailed their tapers for their athletes as we arrive at Nationals time.   All that and a whole lot more.

This week on The Shannon Rollason Podcast, Shannon takes us through his philosophies and programs when it comes to Sprint Freestyle. Shannon gives us an in depth look at qualities he looks for in identifying potential sprinters in your program, and the how he programs and plans for them whether they are a 50/100 swimmer or 100/200 swimmer and the differences he see's between the two. We also go through some of the best male and female sprinters of all time in our opinion, as well as some of the champion sprinters Shannon has coached during his career. We also discuss Ash Barty's shock retirement and the notion of Slaying Your Dragon, what that means and how understanding what your dragon is could help you as a coach in the future. All that and a whole lot more, don't miss it

In this podcast, we take a different look at the world of swimming coaches and draw comparisons to the wonderful world of Stand Up comedy. Whether its the great Eddie Murphy or Ricky Gervais, in many ways they have similarities to our own profession and supercoaches like Michael Bohl or Gregg Troy. Shannon takes us through the many ways the two professions are closely related, such as being self critical, comedians and coaches hanging out together and If you don't them laugh or in our case fast, you don't make it. So this week follow us down a weird and great conversation around how Comedians and Coaches are closely related, as we give our top 3 US, British and Aussie Comedians as well. Great coaches think outside the box, and so do great podcasts

Joining Shannon this week on the podcast is Scotland's Head Coach for the the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, and Coach of Duncan Scott the most successful British Olympian from a single Olympics in Tokyo, our special guest today is none other than Steven Tigg. In this episode Steven and Shannon talk about the success of Duncan Scott and his progression throughout the years in the pool. Steven's long term plan for Duncan when they started working together 18 years ago and how he keeps their partnership innovative and progressing. The coaches discuss plans for this year with World Champs and Comm Games, what is a priority and what may not be. What events will be prioritised for Duncan's program this year as well. And Steven gives us a great insight into areas that coaches need to be conscious of when working with their athletes whether that be talking too much and over coaching, or sometimes being too reserved and missing the opportunity to step in and give corrections when they are needed. Steven also gives us an insight into working with our Aussie swimmers whilst he was the Head Coach of London Roar in last seasons ISL competition. A great chat with to coaches with a wealth of knowledge and experience at the highest levels

This week on the podcast Shannon chats to long time friend and Head Coach of Australian Swimming Rohan Taylor. Rohan and Shannon both give us their thoughts on last weekends NSW State Open Champs with all the Australian team athletes competing in one of the last hit outs before trials in May. We also chat about the success in Tokyo last year, and what Rohan took away from the most successful Olympics in the pool of all time. Rohan gives us his thoughts on events that age group coaches should be targeting for their athletes in the future such as 200 Butterfly, 200 and 400 IM, as he see's these as huge areas of opportunity not only for making a future Australian Team but also for big success at a games or championships. Shannon and Rohan share some funny on deck stories about Bill Sweetenham from training camps, as well as their enjoyment of the Mare Nostrum tours and we will see them make a come back for Australian Swimming. All that and a whole lot more this week on the Shannon Rollason Podcast

Welcome to the Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other. In this episode Shannon and I take a walk down memory lane all the way back to the 2007 World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia which was 15 years ago. We discuss the big moments of the week in the pool, many of which came from one man named Michael Phelps. Shannon gives us an insight into his week as a coach, and how his athletes performed in Melbourne with names like Jodie Henry and Tarnee White in the team. We also get into a discussion around relays, and the possibility of teams having a specialist relay coach especially at the international level. What was the drop in pool like at Rod Laver Arena?, and did it present it's own unique challenges. All that and a whole lot more, so jump in the time machine with us and travel back to 2007 as we look back on one of Swimming Australia's most successful World Champs.

Welcome to the Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other. In this episode Shannon takes us through his philosophies and training methods when it comes to the stroke most people have a love hate relationship with Breaststroke. From development to elite racing, Shannon talks us through what he looks for in identifying a breaststroker, and then how he goes about developing them through your program. We also touch on World Champs, and the implications that has on Australia and trials. Switching it up a bit in 2022, and this podcast is for all the coaches out there. Enjoy.

Welcome back to the Shannon Rollason Podcast for 2022. In our first episode back for the new year we discuss all the news going around in the world of swimming right now including World Champs being on, then cancelled and now put back on again, and what impact that has on our Aussie trials and championships coming up in a few months. We go through results from NSW State Champs from January and how Shannon saw the results across the board for not just his own team, but for the swimming coming out of the Blue State in general. Shannon takes us through the term burning your ship/ships, what that means and how it can help you as a coach or business owner, or even just in everyday life. And we finish with a NEW segment for 2022 on the podcast, it's called STORY TIME and this weeks story is about non other than Aussie coaching royalty Don Talbot.   Another great episode of the podcast, with many stories to share and knowledge to pass on.

Welcome to the Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other. This week Shannon answers all your questions in our very first Ask Shannon Anything episode. We have also broken this episode up into two parts so that everyone gets to listen and hear their questions being answered by Shannon himself. This is also our final podcast for the year in 2021, don't miss next weeks Part 2 for our final episode before Christmas

Welcome to the Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other. This week Shannon answers all your questions in our very first Ask Shannon Anything episode. We have also broken this episode up into two parts so that everyone gets to listen and hear their questions being answered by Shannon himself. This is also our final podcast for the year in 2021, don't miss next weeks Part 2 for our final episode before Christmas

Welcome to the Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other. This week Shannon welcomes special guest in World Championship winning and Olympic Coach, now QAS Coach development officer and one of the sharpest swimming minds in our business Brant Best. Brant joins Shannon to discuss the 2011 Shanghai World Champs and all the highlights and learning experiences from the major meet, including illness within the camp, preparation for the meet and of course James Magnussens incredible win in the men's 100 Freestyle. Shannon and Brant go through Brant's early influences in coaching as well and what lessons he still keeps with him on pool deck today. Some great stories and learning moments for all coaches out there in this one

Welcome to the Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other. This week Shannon welcomes special guest, Australian Swimming Legend, former athlete of Shannon's squad and 2 time Olympian Tarnee White. In this rare interview with the Olympic and Comm Games Gold medallist, Shannon and Tarnee discuss her amazing career in the pool from it's beginnings up in Redcliffe training with legendary Aussie Coach Ken Wood and the phenomenally talented squad they had up there.  We speak about Tarnee's transition into Shannon's squad in 2003, and the incredible 6 year journey that would follow including hurdles, challenges, triumphs and success.  Tarnee has a tremendous story to tell and one i think that shows the level of determination and commitment she truely had as an athlete, and I'm sure as you listen to this chat you won't be able to help but admire her as we did for being a strong, resilient athlete, that would be a perfect role model for any aspiring athlete coming through squads today.    

Welcome to the Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other. This week Shannon gives us his thoughts on Kyle Chalmers World Record 100m Freestyle (Short Course), 44.84 in Kazan for the World Cup Series.  Shannon talks to us about seeing a shift in Kyle's speed and why a lot of athletes find themselves swimming best times following a major meet like and Olympic Games. As well as sharing some of his own stories from coaching athletes who managed to have breakthroughs after major preparations. We also discuss training at the moment, especially in NSW and Melbourne and how Shannon's squad down at the AIS is slowly building back into things post lockdown. Shannon gives us a peak behind the curtain into their training at the moment and gives advice to all coaches going through a similar situation and the best ways to navigate this tricky time. A lot of great coaching take always this week, as always. So get your pen and paper ready because you'll be wanting to write some of these coaching gems down.

Welcome to the Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other. Today Shannon sits down to chat with long time friend, former colleague in Edenborough and Scottish Team Coach              Mat Trodden. In this podcast Shannon and Mat discuss the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Team GB success, as well as reliving some great stories from Shannon's time coaching in Edenborough. The boys talk programming, learning experiences, and always staying versatile as a coach and continue challenging what we think we know. Mat talks from a wealth of experience on Scottish and Great Britain teams at European, Comm Games and World Champs. We talk breaststrokers from Great Britain and why the men's team have had so much success for a long time. And we give our GOAT of male breaststroke world wide.  Another fantastic episode one Australia's new number 1 swimming podcast, so many stories from two of the best coaches in the business with a lot of insights and experience behind them along with a lot of laughs and fun.    

Welcome to the Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other. Today Shannon changes up the format and goes one on one with former Australian Swimming Head Coach and a man who lead Australia to it's equal most successful Olympic Medal tally in the pool Mr Alan Thompson. In this podcast Shannon and Alan discuss the late 90s to 2000s in our sport, and share rare stories of a time where both coaches were right in the thick of it when it comes to the Australian Swim Team. Alan is a unique coach in that he has appeared on the Australian team in many forms from a manager, Open Water head coach, Olympic coach in 2004, to Head Coach. The boys discuss trying to ensure both the Men's and Women's teams are firing at the same time come Olympic Games which isn't easy to get right, as well as Alan's take on the super suit era. We ask him his favourite Swimmers of all time, as well as his role as Head Coach and what he got right, and if there's anything he would change. Of course we also ask about his time working at Campbelltown Swimming Club and the great athletes and coaches that came from that pool out west. It's very rare you get to hear from Alan Thompson, and such is the respect he has for Shannon in agreeing to come on the podcast for a chat, very insightful, great stories, from one of the most respected men in the business.   Enjoy

Welcome to The Shannon Rollason Podcast This is episode number 3, and in this podcast Shannon talks to us all about him time coaching in Denmark. From the decision to leave the AIS and go to a European country to coach, to his first impressions of working in Denmark. We get real with discussions around family/work balance and the toll coaching takes on our families and how important the support from our families is to success. We also go through some of the amazing stories of athletes Shannon worked with during his time like World Champion Jeanette Ottesen, World Record Holder Rikke Moller Pedersen and Olympic Champion Pernille Blume, as well as taking us through some of the major events like 2013 World Champs, 2014 European Champs and of course the 2016 Rio Olympic Games where team Denmark won a Bronze medal in the women's 4x100 Medley relay. You may have know Shannon coached in Denmark but i can assure you, you don't know the full story and all of the amazing record breaking moments that went into his time in Europe.  

Welcome to The Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other. This is Episode 2 and todays stories come from the Shannon's work with the one and only Jodie Henry Shannon gives us his first hand accounts of working with one of Australia's greatest ever sprinters, from a young shy teenager coming to the pool, all the way through to becoming Olympic and World Champion. We discuss the ups and downs of this amazing career, from the Gold medal and world record in Athens being the first Aussie Women to win the 100 Free in 50 years, to Jodie changing programs, even her phone call to Shannon on his last day of work at the AIS. Its all here, as we pay tribute to an absolute legend of swimming, a ground breaker when it comes to Women's sprinting in our country. Hope you all enjoy, don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating 

Welcome to The Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other. This Episode 1 and todays stories come from the Iconic 2004 Athens Olympic Games which was 17 years ago. Shannon gives us his insights into the lead up to the games including the long term goal setting that took place around winning the Women's 4x100 Freestyle relay for Australia, and how much work went into achieving that goal. We get his unique perspective on Jodie Henry winning Gold for Australia in the Women's 100m Freestyle, from the training, to the race itself and all the stories in between.  Along with Shannon's own athletes we discuss Thorpie's false start at trials in the Men's 400m Freestyle, the famous full body race suits from back in the day, the conditions in Athens with the village and the venues, as well as his take on some of the Iconic races including the race of the century, and Petria Thomas Gold winning performance in the Women's 100m Butterfly. You might have heard a lot of swimming podcasts, but you have never heard one like this. Amazing stories from a great time in our sport, from a man who is one of the best in the world, and was a part of all the legendary moments.