Swimming with Olympic Gold Medalist Jason Lezak

What fun I had Interviewing and having a Swim lesson with Olympic Gold Medalist Jason Lezak..... one of the coolest most interactive interviews I have ever done...

So If you have ever needed inspiration to workout on your own, talk to Jason Lezak, Olympic Gold Medalist, World Record Holder, Nine Time World Champion and eight time National Champion. He’s a team player, who practices alone.

Lezak started training on his own two years ago when his longtime coach left to take a position at the University of Southern California. “I was at a point in my career where I knew what I needed to do to coach myself. But that does not mean just going to the pool.”

Lezak is a firm believer in quality not quantity, “You’ve got to make every stroke count.” It’s not about having a coach poolside to motivate him. “I swim because I have goals, not because anyone is telling me.” He is as strong in mind and in body, and it certainly was evident in the Beijing Olympic Games.

Lezak was one of the swimmers in the epic 4 by 100 relay. The United States has won this race 13 consecutive times until 2000 and 2004 when they started coming in second place. This year the French were favored to win, and they were having a field day trash talking the Americans. It was also the race the Americans needed to win, if Michael Phelps would keep his dream alive of winning eight Olympic Gold Medals.

Lezak was the anchor and when it was his turn to swim, the Americans, as predicted were placing second. “In the lead up to my race, we were behind, and knew I had to get off the block as fast as I could. I thought I false started, and spent the next five seconds thinking I disqualified team USA.”

The average person might have given up, but Jason smiled as he told me his thoughts, “I refocused and kept going. When I got to the 50 wall, I saw the French swimmer had pulled away and I thought there was no way I could catch up.”

World class competitors don’t make it to the games by giving up, and Lezak was in no mood to come in second place.

“It’s all about the power of the mind. I blocked it out, felt strong and good, it was the Olympic Games.” He grinned and leaned forward, “I was breathing to the right side, so every time I took a breath I could see where he was in the water, when I got to the 85 meter mark, typically the body shuts down, but I had an extra surge of adrenaline. I’ve looked at the replays, I did not go faster, but he tightened up and faded, dying like a dog.”

Lezak broke a world record, stunned even the announcers as he overtook the French swimmer who was a full body length ahead of him, and clinched the Gold Medal for Team USA.

So when you need a little inspiration to get moving.... think Jason and get your suit on and hit the pool.......

Special Thanks to my photographer Matreetta Talsi- who is in the photo above-for all her hard work and great shots.