When raw talent meets relentless precision, records fall — and eyebrows rise. Will Modglin just reminded the swimming world of that truth in dramatic fashion at last weekend’s Texas Hall of Fame Invitational. His performance didn’t just turn heads; it redefined speed in the backstroke.
Leading off the 200 medley relay, Modglin launched into a blistering 50-yard backstroke, finishing in a staggering 20.00 seconds — the fastest in history. Yes, ever. But he wasn’t done making headlines. Shortly after, he stunned once more with a 43.26 in the 100 back, setting a new American record and coming within a mere 0.06 seconds of teammate Hubi Kos’s NCAA benchmark. It was one of those rare moments in sports when excellence and history meet in real time.
And then came the real surprise. Modglin clocked a jaw-dropping 50.91 in the 100 breaststroke — joining three of his Texas Longhorn teammates as the only swimmers to break the 51-second barrier that day. But here’s where it gets almost unbelievable: Modglin doesn’t even train breaststroke. Seriously. Not a single session focused on it. So how does someone master an event they don’t even practice? Natural feel for the water? Mental sharpness? Pure athletic instinct? That’s a debate worth having.
This summer’s World University Games gold medalist dives deeper into his approach and mindset in his latest appearance on The SwimSwam Podcast — an essential stop for anyone obsessed with the grind and glory of competitive swimming. The show, hosted by Coleman Hodges and Olympic champion Mel Stewart, delivers insider conversations that explore the sport from every angle: the emotions, the rivalries, the breakthroughs, and yes, the controversies that make swimming one of the most disciplined yet unpredictable sports around.
If you want to listen and hear Modglin unpack his unreal season, here’s where to tune in:
- Spotify: Listen here
- Apple Podcasts: Listen here
- Podbean: Listen here
- Google Podcasts: Listen here
- YouTube: Listen here
- Listen Notes: Listen here
- Stitcher: Listen here
- iHeartRadio: Listen here
- Amazon: Listen here
- Pandora: Listen here
Music for the show is by Otis McDonald (www.otismacmusic.com).
As always, the opinions of SwimSwam’s guests are their own and don’t necessarily reflect those of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC, or any of its sponsors.
About the host: Coleman Hodges’s connection with swimming started practically before he could walk — literally. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age nine, where his colorful dragon swim trunks are still legendary. His lifelong passion for the sport evolved into storytelling, and today he helps bring the personalities and emotions behind the lane lines to life for SwimSwam’s global audience.
Here’s a question that might divide opinions: Can someone truly master an event they don’t specifically train for — or is Modglin the kind of rare outlier who breaks every rule of conventional athletic preparation? Share your take in the comments — is this pure talent, or something deeper at play?
