#419 : Only 6 Swimmers In History Have Done This with Sam Short

So what does he do that 99.999% of swimmers don’t? How is he able to swim this fast?

I’ve spent my career analyzing the best swimmers in the world, but watching Sam swim up close is a completely different experience. I’ve never seen anyone hold as much water as he does, even at world-record pace.

What stands out the most isn’t just the speed. It’s the relaxation. His recovery looks effortless, and the way he reaches forward into the catch is incredibly fluid—almost calm—despite the intensity of the pace he’s holding.

When Sam shared some of his training with me, one thing surprised me. He’s consistently swimming up to 80 kilometers a week. Massive volume. Huge power in the stroke. But when you ask him what really matters, he often comes back to the basics—simple things like rock-solid head position and clean fundamentals.

If you’re a triathlete or an open water swimmer, Sam’s power stroke isn’t just impressive to watch. It’s actually a blueprint for efficiency.

So today, we’re breaking it all down—the sets, the technique, and the mindset around recovery that helped take him to the very top of the sport.

01:27 Sam Short Intro
01:30 How Do You Describe Your Stroke When You Race?
01:47 Developed Overtime?
2:00 Mobility And Flexibility
02:20 What Does Swimming Fell Like When You Are Swimming Well?
02:39 Any Particular Part Of Your Stroke That You Are Working On?
02:53 400 Free v.s. 10k Openwater Swim
03:12 Kicking Sets
03:28 Cues And Phrases
03:45 Stroke Rates
04:03 Head And Body Position
04:43 When Body Position Is Not Where It Should Be
05:06 Good Feel For The Water
05:28 Breathing Pattern
05:54 Rotation
06:19 Openwater
06:47 Favorite Sets
07:26 Hardest Set
07:50 Distance per Week
08:10 Taper
08:28 Sessions Per Week And Gym
08:48 Being A Smarter Athlete