Episode 4 - Interview with Alan Thompson

Welcome to the Shannon Rollason Podcast, a swimming podcast like no other.

Today Shannon changes up the format and goes one on one with former Australian Swimming Head Coach and a man who lead Australia to it's equal most successful Olympic Medal tally in the pool Mr Alan Thompson.

In this podcast Shannon and Alan discuss the late 90s to 2000s in our sport, and share rare stories of a time where both coaches were right in the thick of it when it comes to the Australian Swim Team. Alan is a unique coach in that he has appeared on the Australian team in many forms from a manager, Open Water head coach, Olympic coach in 2004, to Head Coach. The boys discuss trying to ensure both the Men's and Women's teams are firing at the same time come Olympic Games which isn't easy to get right, as well as Alan's take on the super suit era.

We ask him his favourite Swimmers of all time, as well as his role as Head Coach and what he got right, and if there's anything he would change.

Of course we also ask about his time working at Campbelltown Swimming Club and the great athletes and coaches that came from that pool out west.

It's very rare you get to hear from Alan Thompson, and such is the respect he has for Shannon in agreeing to come on the podcast for a chat, very insightful, great stories, from one of the most respected men in the business.

Enjoy