Champion's Mojo for Masters Swimmers

Kelly Palace, Host
  • 4.9 (108)
  • SWIMMING
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY
Champion's Mojo for Masters Swimmers

The award-winning podcast for Masters swimmers, adult athletes, and health and wellness seekers striving for personal excellence. Join your host, world-record-setting Masters swimmer, former NCAA Division I swim coach, best-selling author and health coach Kelly Palace, as she dives into inspiring stories, expert insights, and proven strategies to help you unlock your champion mindset. A podcast that champions you! 

  1. A 34 Year Winning Streak: Pro Triathlete Turned Masters Swimmer, Laurie Hug, EP 278

    6D AGO

    A 34 Year Winning Streak: Pro Triathlete Turned Masters Swimmer, Laurie Hug, EP 278

    Do you have a streak going? Laurie Hug, retired professional triathlete and masters swimmer, shares her 34 year streak, training wisdom and remarkable journey from the deck of YMCA Masters Nationals Championships in Orlando. Her approach to swimming, coaching, and competition showcases how consistency, smart training, and positive mindset contribute to athletic longevity and continued success at the highest levels. Laurie is a member the 1776 Masters and swims in the 60-64 age-group. Laurie List: • Coaches swimmers of all levels in the Philadelphia area with 1776 team • Recommends swimming at least three times weekly for beginners to make real progress • Adapts training for triathletes based on race distance, sometimes incorporating recovery swims • Swims daily with a rotating group of 13 friends, many former college swimmers • Incorporates strength training twice weekly alongside focused stroke/IM work • Overcame undiagnosed anemia that severely impacted performance in her 30s • Shares key differences between pool and open water swimming techniques • Has a 31 year streak going, can you guess what it is? • Transformed mindset during difficult races to maintain performance Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

    17 min
  2. The Feel-Good-Comeback-Story of NCAA All-American Owen Lloyd, EP 277

    MAY 2

    The Feel-Good-Comeback-Story of NCAA All-American Owen Lloyd, EP 277

    A disqualification that turns into one of swimming's most viral moments. A champion brought to his knees in tears as officials strip away his victory. And a redemption exactly one year later that proves sometimes, the universe does give second chances. NC State NCAA All-American and ACC Champion in the mile (1650), Owen Lloyd's journey from heartbreak to triumph embodies everything we love about sports comebacks. After winning the mile at the ACC Championships during his senior year, Owen experienced the crushing disappointment of being disqualified for inadvertently falling into a competitor's lane during celebration. The moment – captured on camera just as he was about to be interviewed as champion – amassed over a million views online and sparked outrage throughout the swimming community. Rather than let this devastating moment define him, Owen returned for a fifth year with renewed determination. He meticulously developed mental techniques to maintain focus during his grueling event, including playing specific songs in his head throughout different phases of the race. His disciplined approach to training included benchmark test sets that built unshakable confidence, even when facing Olympic-level competition. The story reaches its perfect conclusion when Owen returns to ACCs one year later, executing a flawless strategic race to reclaim his rightful title with the best time of his career. As he touched the wall in victory, the basketball phrase "ball don't lie" said everything that needed saying. His improvement from a 15:24 freshman to a 14:29 fifth-year stands as testament to what's possible when defeat becomes fuel rather than a final chapter. Whether you're a swimmer or simply someone who appreciates inspiring comebacks against the odds, Owen's story reminds us that our greatest setbacks often precede our greatest triumphs. Listen now and discover how the discipline of distance swimming creates not just champions in the pool, but individuals equipped to overcome life's most challenging moments. • NC State All-American and ACC Champion in the mile (1650) • Improved from 15:24 as a freshman to 14:29 in his fifth year • Masters Student focusing on coaching, leadership and psychology • Recently retired from competitive swimming at 2023 NCAAs • Uses carefully selected music in his head to maintain focus during races • Created a strict 3-hour pre-race routine for the mile • Endured a heartbreaking disqualification after winning ACCs • Returned one year later to win the event legitimately against stronger competition • Planning to pursue coaching at the collegiate level • Values "pressure is a privilege" as his guiding philosophy Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

    36 min
  3. A Mighty Mermaid and Attorney with a Passion for Performance: Nancy Steadman Martin, EP 276

    APR 18

    A Mighty Mermaid and Attorney with a Passion for Performance: Nancy Steadman Martin, EP 276

    Nancy Steadman Martin is the only woman in the world, over 70, to break 21 minutes in the 1500 freestyle! What does it mean to be truly unstoppable at 70? Steadman Martin embodies this question as she continues to shatter world swimming records while maintaining a thriving career as a senior law partner. Her remarkable journey defies every notion about aging and physical limitations. She's also a mermaid--really! Nancy's swimming resume reads like a fantasy novel: world records in the 800 and 1500 freestyle (70-74 age group), swimming the English Channel in record time for women over 50, completing the coveted Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, and winning national titles that often beat competitors decades younger. All while working full-time in law. The secret to her extraordinary success? A 5:05 AM daily plunge into the pool for a 4,500-yard workout before heading to the office by 8:00, coupled with an unwavering commitment to goal-setting. "I couldn't just get in the pool and swim up and down," Nancy explains. "I need something that I'm looking forward to." This forward-looking perspective has carried her through every challenge, including a life-threatening bout with pneumonia that required lung surgery in 2017. Perhaps most touching is the legacy connection—Nancy now competes to break her late mother's backstroke records as she ages into each new bracket, describing the feeling as if her mother is swimming in the lane beside her. This familial connection extends to her chosen swimming family, the Mighty Mermaids, a legendary team of women in their 60s and 70s who have been breaking relay records together for 20 years. When asked what word comes to mind when diving into water, Nancy's answer is profoundly simple: "I'm home." For anyone feeling limited by age or circumstance, Nancy's extraordinary journey proves that with the right mindset and community, our greatest achievements may still lie ahead, regardless of age. Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

    32 min
  4. Swimming Through Sorrow: Matt Mauser's Path from Loss to Triumph, EP 275

    APR 4

    Swimming Through Sorrow: Matt Mauser's Path from Loss to Triumph, EP 275

    "Swimming for me was huge therapy," Matt explains. When Matt lost his beloved wife Christina in the January 2020 helicopter crash that also claimed Kobe Bryant's life, his world shattered. Just weeks later, COVID lockdowns isolated him further as he faced the daunting challenge of raising three children alone. In this profoundly moving conversation, Matt reveals how he returned to swimming—a passion from his youth—as a form of therapy during his darkest days. From the depths of unimaginable tragedy emerges a story of remarkable resilience, as Matt Mauser—musician, author, and masters swimmer and former NCAA All-American swimmer—shares his journey of rebuilding life after devastating loss. "Swimming for me was huge therapy," Matt explains, describing how he improvised with a harness in his jacuzzi when pools closed during lockdown. This determination to keep swimming symbolizes his broader approach to grief: showing up even when it's difficult. "I go not because I want to go, but because it's the right thing to do." Matt's story weaves together his journey from competitive swimmer to successful musician fronting the popular Tijuana Dogs band, his marriage to Christina (whom he met at one of his performances), and their eventual connection to Kobe Bryant through basketball coaching. Through it all emerges a powerful philosophy about finding joy after loss: "Life is for the living, and I intend to live." Now, through his heartfelt memoir "Bittersweet Treasures" and the Christina Mauser Foundation (which has provided over $100,000 in scholarships to female athletes), Matt honors Christina's legacy while embracing a future filled with purpose. For anyone struggling with grief or seeking inspiration to overcome life's challenges, this conversation offers a roadmap to finding those "treasures" that make life worth living again. Subscribe to Champions Mojo for more stories of resilience, achievement, and the healing power of swimming in our lives. Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

    33 min
  5. 90-Year-Old Tech Whiz Who Tracks His Swims With Smart Goggles, EP 274

    MAR 21

    90-Year-Old Tech Whiz Who Tracks His Swims With Smart Goggles, EP 274

    Cal Beattie defies expectations at every turn. At 90 years old, he's not just surviving—he's thriving as a competitive Masters swimmer who only started racing four years ago and trains alone in a small town in Virginia. He swims unattached with no team members and is amazingly disciplined. His journey from recreational swimmer to competitive athlete began after his wife passed away, when swimming became his solace and strength. What makes Cal's story remarkable isn't just his age, but his approach to training and technology. Despite being born before World War II, Cal uses Form smart goggles to track his performance data with precision that would impress swimmers half his age. His methodical training regimen consists of swimming every other day, always timing his 400-yard freestyle and analyzing the results afterward on his smartphone. "I'm a one-act pony," he admits with characteristic humility, but this singular focus has yielded extraordinary results. Cal Beattie shares his incredible journey as a 90-year-old Masters swimmer who only started competing four years ago after discovering he ranked fourth nationally in his age group while swimming recreationally after his wife's passing. • High school swim team co-captain in 1953, swimming 19.2 seconds for 20 yards freestyle • Swims every other day, focusing on a timed 400-yard freestyle using Form smart goggles that track his performance data • Eliminated his atrial fibrillation through swimming after doctors wouldn't give clear guidance about exercise • Maintains a heart rate of 134-150 during swimming and a resting heart rate of 58 • Credits exercise, diet, and 8 hours of sleep as his secrets to longevity • Follows a disciplined nutrition regimen including a breakfast of grapes, flaxseed, lemon juice, olive oil, and baby spinach Perhaps most inspiring is Cal's health transformation through swimming. Twenty years ago, he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and put on blood thinners. When doctors wouldn't give him clear guidance about exercising, Cal made his own decision to start swimming regularly. The result? "After a year and a half, I went to the doctor. He said you no longer have AFib." Two decades later, his resting heart rate is an impressive 58 beats per minute—a testament to swimming's cardiovascular benefits at any age. Cal's disciplined approach extends beyond the pool. His meticulously consistent diet includes a daily breakfast of grapes, flaxseed, lemon juice, olive oil, and baby spinach. He prioritizes eight hours of sleep, recognizing its direct impact on his swimming performance. "When I get a good sleep, then I go to the pool and I usually get a much better outcome," he explains. These habits form the foundation of his longevity strategy, which he succinctly summarizes as "exercise, diet, and lots of sleep." Ready to be inspired by Cal's remarkable journey? Listen now and discover what's possible when you commit to showing up, regardless of your age. Whether you're a Masters swimmer yourself or simply curious about extending your prime years, Cal's story will change how you think about aging and athletic performance. Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

    18 min
  6. 25 Year Lay Off Doesn't Slow Down Champion Steve Gold, EP 273

    MAR 7

    25 Year Lay Off Doesn't Slow Down Champion Steve Gold, EP 273

    In this inspiring episode, we have an engaging conversation with 47-year-old Steve Gold, a swimmer located in Jacksonville, Florida who swims for the Bolles School Sharks Masters. Steve has redefined personal excellence through the sport earning All-American Honors while being a busy working Dad of four! After nearly 25 years away from competitive swimming, Steve's remarkable journey back into the water demonstrates the power of resilience and the transformative impact of pursuing one's passions. He shares insights on his time as a swimmer at Yale, where he served as team captain, and his subsequent hiatus from the sport as he navigated career challenges and family life. Listen for: • Introduction to Steve Gold, his training regimen and comeback story • Importance of mental health in sports and exercise • The role of community and training environment in master swimming • Tips on balancing competitive swimming with family and work life • Insights into setting realistic goals as a master swimmer • Encouragement for adults to engage in competitive swimming With a background in mental health, Steve passionately discusses how swimming has revitalized not only his physical condition but also his mental wellbeing. He highlights the intrinsic connection between physical fitness and mental health, illustrating how swimming can be both an individual pursuit and a communal experience that fosters teamwork and support. Through Steve’s story, listeners will learn about the importance of finding balance in life while pursuing competitive goals. As he prepares for upcoming master swimming events, Steve provides valuable advice on how to set realistic expectations, integrate swimming into busy schedules, and the advantages of training within a community. Whether you’re a seasoned swimmer or just beginning your journey, this episode will inspire you to make waves in your own life and encourage you to embrace the joy of competition at any age.  Join us to explore Steve's extraordinary story, filled with determination, passion, and camaraderie—a heartfelt reminder that swimming is not just a sport; it's a lifelong journey towards excellence. Remember to subscribe, share, and leave a review! Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

    31 min
  7. College Club Swimmer Josie West Preps for Nationals, EP 272

    FEB 21

    College Club Swimmer Josie West Preps for Nationals, EP 272

    Josie West, college club and masters swimmer, joins us to share her journey as a 21-year-old club swimmer at the University of Virginia, embarking on her first master's swimming meet. You'll hear firsthand how Josie navigated her inaugural 400 IM event, her aspirations to qualify for the CCS National Championship, and the unique challenges faced when balancing competitive swimming with study abroad experiences. Get a glimpse into the supportive and self-driven culture of UVA's club swim team, part of an expansive network under the US Masters umbrella, where social and competitive elements blend seamlessly. Join us as Josie enlightens us on the vibrant dynamics of college club swimming, where self-motivation meets community spirit. From flexible training schedules with grad student coaches to exhilarating travel meets each semester, UVA's club team is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Discover the synergy between club and varsity teams at UVA, where shared practice spaces and collaborative meet support create a thriving environment for excellence. Don't miss this engaging conversation that celebrates the spirit of competition, camaraderie, and the drive to achieve greatness in collegiate swimming. Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

    11 min
  8. Aerospace and Aquatics Champion: Charlie Cockrell's Inspiring Journey, EP 271

    FEB 7

    Aerospace and Aquatics Champion: Charlie Cockrell's Inspiring Journey, EP 271

    Discover how a passion for swimming can seamlessly intersect with a high-powered career in aerospace engineering through the story of Charlie Cockrell. As the Director of Engineering at NASA Langley Research Center, Charlie takes us on a journey through his dual life as a dedicated athlete and a committed volunteer with US Masters Swimming. Learn about his impactful role as head starter for the upcoming International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championships, and how his trips to the Space Coast for work double as opportunities to engage with diverse Masters teams. Charlie's experiences reveal the welcoming and inclusive spirit of the Masters swimming community, particularly at IGLA events, which unite swimmers from all around the globe. To register for the IGLA swimming events click https://www.usms.org/events/events/igla-championships-2025?ID=10842 Experience the rejuvenating power of swimming as we explore its benefits for both body and mind. Charlie enlightens us with his training insights, emphasizing the balance of high-intensity workouts with essential recovery days. We celebrate the camaraderie that defines the Masters swimming community, where connections with fellow swimmers fuel motivation and joy. The episode underscores the importance of volunteering, which not only strengthens the community but also creates a vibrant and supportive environment. Be inspired by how Charlie integrates his professional and athletic pursuits, demonstrating the fulfillment that comes from engaging with a passionate and diverse group of swimmers. Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

    15 min
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4.9
out of 5
108 Ratings

About

The award-winning podcast for Masters swimmers, adult athletes, and health and wellness seekers striving for personal excellence. Join your host, world-record-setting Masters swimmer, former NCAA Division I swim coach, best-selling author and health coach Kelly Palace, as she dives into inspiring stories, expert insights, and proven strategies to help you unlock your champion mindset. A podcast that champions you! 

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