The podcast is brought to you by Pullbuoy, Britain's premier independent swimming website. We follow the fortunes of Britain's swimmers wherever they may be, with expert analysis and contributions from coaches and elite swimmers alike. During the International Swimming League season it's the home of the London Roar Podcast - following the Roar as they battle to win.
It was an exciting six days of racing in Glasgow at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, and even if Australia dominated to an even larger degree than normal, there was still plenty of home nations interest. Bob and Steve are once again joined by Commonwealth Champion Hannah Miley to pick out the key events of the week, from Angharad Evans dragging herself over the finish line to a breakout performance from Amalie Smith and a fine Scottish showing. We also consider what might have gone wrong for England, who failed to win a swimming gold for the first time ever. ------------------- Episode Artwork: Mickaël Malaper / Malaper Photography ------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
Glasgow will play host to the 2026 Commonwealth Games with plenty of exciting racing in prospect at the Tollcross pool over six nights of action. Steve and Bob are joined by Commonwealth Champion Hannah Miley to look forward to the competition, considering the home team's chances and what a lift the Scottish crowd can give them, how the rest of the home nations will fare against the might of Australia and if anyone can stop all the relay medals heading back down under. ------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
As Glasgow prepares to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, this special episode of the Pullbuoy Podcast asks a simple question: do the Commonwealth Games still matter? To find the answer, Steve takes a journey that begins forty years ago, at the 1986 Games in Edinburgh and the moment that first sparked his fascination with the meet and the athletes who shaped it. From there, we explore the Games’ place in swimming as a competition that has launched careers and offers athletes something they rarely get elsewhere: the chance to represent the nations that shaped them. Through interviews with Adam Ramsay-Peaty, Matt Richards, Duncan Scott, Dan Wiffen, James Guy, and more, we hear why the meet still carries emotional weight and competitive significance. But the story isn’t straightforward. The Games face real challenges with hosting uncertainty, shifting priorities, and questions about their future relevance all circling. There are contrasting perspectives, from concerns about scheduling and funding to arguments that the Games remain a vital stepping stone for emerging talent. With athlete memories, expert insight, and personal reflection, this episode examines what the Commonwealth Games mean now and what might be lost if they disappear. ------------------- Episode Artwork: GBSwimstars ------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
He's been in the role for just over 18 months having taken on the mantle of GB head coach from Bill Furniss, and Steven Tigg is looking forward to a summer of international competition on two fronts, the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships. But as GB head coach he can only really influence one, so how does he navigate that tension and how has he found stepping up from a performance centre into the top job? We spoke to him about following on from the hugely successful era that went before, his thoughts on the current state of the GB programme and what he hopes the team can achieve in Paris this summer as a stepping stone onto the 2028 Olympics. -------------------Episode Artwork: Ian MacNicol/Scottish Swimming ------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
In our main Aquatics GB Championships review podcast, there was plenty we heard from the swimmers that didn't make it in, so in this extra edition you can hear some of what they had to say after their races in London. Bob chats to Duncan Scott and Ed Mildred about their fly exploits, hears from Eva Okaro after a 100 free lifetime best, and speaks to Katie Shanahan about her 200m backstroke and difficulties heading into trials. We also hear from the swimmer of the week, Angharad Evans about her 200m breaststroke British Record and Ollie Morgan who was less than impressed with his 100m backstroke despite swimming a fast 52.41. ------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
It was a terrific week of competition in London, headlined by three sizzling British records from Angharad Evans and Freya Colbert. With selection on the line for this summer's European Championships and Commonwealth Games, there was plenty of action for Steve and Bob to discuss , and we hear from several of the key players, including the record breakers. ------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
There was a bombshell announcement his week as Ben Proud retired from swimming with immediate effect and instead joined the Enhanced Games. On this extra podcast, Steve, Bob and Katie take a brief look at the issues that this raises. ------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts Episode Artwork: Sharpfocus Pics --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
It wasn’t the World Championships the British team was hoping for, or indeed the one we all expected with a haul of only 2 medals in Singapore. There is a lot of context to be applied, with illness a significant factor for a number of teams, but there were plenty of high points for Steve, Bob and Katie to look back on, including another world title for the men’s 4x200 freestyle and a superb British Record from Freya Colbert. ------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts Episode Artwork: Sharpfocus Pics --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
In this episode, Steve, Bob and Katie look forward to the 2025 World Swimming Championships in Singapore, and run the rule over the British team's prospects, including great podium chances for Angharad Evans, Ollie Morgan, Duncan Scott, Ben Proud and more. We also take a look at the challenges posed by formidable international competitors, particularly from the US team and the showdown looming in the men's 4x200 freestyle relay. ------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts Episode Artwork: Aniko Kovacs for European Aquatics --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
It was quite the week in London at the 2025 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships as we saw two British Records, plenty of close racing and a closing event with drama that just couldn't be predicted. That means plenty for Steve Katie and Bob to mull over, we hear from some of the top performers of the week including record setters Ollie Morgan and Angharad Evans, and breakout star Jacob Mills, and then we consider what it all means for the World Championship team selection, with a few predictions thrown in for good measure. ------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
The British Championships are back in London and acting as trials for this summer’s World Championships to be held in Singapore. In this post Olympic year, there are chances for some new faces to make the team, while there promises to be some dramatic racing across 6 days of competition. Steve, Katie and Bob take a look at the key events and some of the swimmers to look out for next week. For more from James Guy in his return to the 400 freestyle: https://www.pullbuoy.co.uk/news/back-to-the-old-school-james-guy-on-his-return-to-the-400/ ------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
The second podcast of 2025 brings us our second guest as Steve and Katie are joined by pullbuoy's male swimmer of the year for 2024 Duncan Scott to review a year that saw him add two further Olympic medals to his haul as well as three new British Records in the short course pool. We discuss his preparations for Paris, managing the pressure of being defending champions in the 4x200 freestyle relay, and facing up to Leon Marchand. With coaching changes at Stirling we also look into how things might change as he prepares for a World Championships in Singapore and his growing fan base in Asia. --------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
We are back, and in this first episode of the podcast for 2025, Steve and Katie chat with pullbuoy's 2024 Female Swimmer of the Year Angharad Evans about her journey to the Paris Olympics and her ambitions for the 2025 season. Angharad shares her journey to the Games via her experiences at the Olympic trials and her strategies for managing her imposter syndrome in Paris. We also discuss closing out the year with a first senior international medal at world short course, her training under the new Stirling head coach and finding the right fit in your training environment. --------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
Nine epic days of competition in the La Défense Arena and two more in the Seine are done and dusted as the 2024 Olympic swimming programme comes to a close. For this episode Steve and Katie are joined by triple-Olympian Hannah Miley to look back at the British showing in Paris, one that brought with it 5 medals including a successful defence of the men's 4x200 freestyle relay, and to pick up some of the major talking points, personalities and performances of the meet. --------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube
The Paris 2024 Olympics are almost upon us and with them comes nine days of what promises to be an incredible swimming competition. On this episode of the Pullbuoy Podcast Steve, Bob and Katie are joined by double Olympian Lizzie Simmonds to look over events in the La Defense arena as we consider GB's prospects in the pool and river. Can the men's 4x2 defend their title and will we see a three-Peaty in the 100m breaststroke? Which of the ladies could step forward and make a name for themselves? And most importantly, how many medals can we expect? --------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube --------------------- Episode Artwork: Ryunosuke Kikuno on Unsplash
With only weeks until swimming kicks off at the Paris Olympics, Steve and Katie are joined by British Swimming Olympian number 529 Ollie Morgan to chat though his meteoric rise to the top of the country’s backstroke pile, his aims for Paris and a whole lot more. Plus Katie gets to hear all about Olympic Christmas as we dive into kitting out day. --------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube --------------------- Episode Artwork: Morgan Harlow/British Swimming
On this episode of the pullbuoy podcast we are joined by Katie Shanahan, a swimmer now headed to her first Olympics in Paris. Katie shares her experiences training at altitude in Flagstaff and reflects on the Olympic selection process as well as how she ended up focussing on the 400m IM and 200m backstroke. We talk about her mindset and goals going into the Games, the thrill of being part of the Olympic village and much more, including her TV commentary debut. --------------------- To watch the film "Imogen Clark: Leaving it all in the Pool" head to https://www.pullbuoy.co.uk/imogen/ --------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube --------------------- Episode Artwork: European Aquatics
It was a busy week in London for Bob who was in the mixed zone every day. That meant he caught a lot of swimmers fresh from their finals at the Olympic Trials - we heard some of those interviews on our review podcast, but there was a lot more that we didn't include, so on this extra episode we hear from a host of swimmers about their trials experiences. --------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Anchor, Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - Twitter/X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube ---------------------
It was quite the week in London as Britain's swimmers chased Olympic qualification at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships. There were two British Records and nineteen swimmers booked their places as of right, with four more also posting nomination times to put themselves in the box seat for selection. All that means there is plenty for Steve, Katie and Bob to talk about as we review the competition. --------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Anchor, Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - Twitter/X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube ---------------------
It's the second most important meet of the year for Britain's Olympic hopefuls as they seek to secure their places at the year's big event at the British Championships in London. It's a meet that doubles as Olympic team trials and as such will determine the make up of the team that heads to Paris. On this episode of the Pullbuoy podcast, Steve and Katie look forward to a make or break meet which promises some scintillating racing with ecstasy and despair in equal measure. For more on how the GB selection policy works go to: https://www.pullbuoy.co.uk/olympics/discretion-rules-in-slimmed-down-paris-policy/ --------------------- Review, subscribe, share on Anchor, Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts --------------------- Connect on social: - Twitter/X @pullbuoy - Instagram @pullbuoyuk - Facebook @pullbuoyuk - YouTube ---------------------
Producer's note
Steal the structure. Not the show.
Keep the useful structure, then change the audience, point of view, and voice until the idea is unmistakably yours.
