In 2015, the University of Florida’s Natalie Hinds was voted Freshman of the Year at the SEC Championships. That same year, she was part of the trio of Black women that swept the 100 free at the NCAA Div 1 Championships, a first-ever achievement. Five years after retiring and letting go of her Olympic dream, the 27-year-old swimmer mounted an incredible comeback, qualifying for her first Games as one of the oldest first-time American Olympic swimmers in history.
Join Bob and Dana as they visit with this amazing woman and find out how a little girl from Midland, Texas wound up on the Olympic Awards podium in Tokyo. Incredible story!
Email us: swimtalk.a2b@gmail.com
Timeline:
00:01 – Disclaimer & banter
01:41 – ASCA Mentoring
02:38 – Introducing Natalie Hinds
03:10 – Path to Tokyo
08:00 – Andy Korda/COM
11:16 – Florida Gators
14:48 – Georgia & Jack Bauerle
18:11 – Rowdy Gaines PSA
19:11 – Diversity & Culture
23:20 – Getting parents on board
26:00 – Opportunities & role models
30:11 – Elizabeth Beisel
32:21 – Rowdy’s enthusiasm
34:10 – Rookie Veteran
35:00 – Escaping to water
37:36 – Drowning PSA
38:32 – Murray’s Deli in Midland
40:11 – Learn-to-Swim in schools
45:04 – Competition & courage
51:59 – Trials vs. Games
56:43 – Wrapping it up
Music Credits:
[1] Hot Swing Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
[2] Private Eye Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Photo of Natalie Hinds courtesy Peter Bick, Swimming World Magazine
