Regan Smith: “I Wish Summer Was Here” & Other World Cup Day One Quotes ...Middle East

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2025 SWIMMING WORLD CUP – CARMEL

Day one of the first stop of the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup brought the heat with multiple national and even U.S. Open records being broken in Carmel, Indiana.

We’re treated to a plethora of domestic talent paired with a strong international contingent, with swimmers stemming from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Europe and beyond.

After the dust settled, several of night one’s big winners took to the mic to convey details about their performances, their mentality and excitement over racing the world’s best.

Lani Pallister (AUS) – Winner, Women’s 400m Freestyle (3:54.38)

“I was just trying to get my heart rate up in this race. I didn’t know that the fastest 8 swimmers weren’t swimming in the morning heats until I got here this morning, so, that was a bit weird, I guess, 

I am coming off a flight from Australia right into short course racing. The turn at the other end in this pool is actually really weird so I feel like a lot of my turns were spent trying to figure out where to turn properly, but that’s fine for the first week, I’ll take it.

“I’m hoping it improves as the weeks go on, so it’s the fastest fingers to the wall. I don’t think time was all that important. It was getting your hand on the wall. I’m a racer, I love to race, and I think I’ve said that quite a few times that I much prefer to be head to head with someone. Honestly, if I was head to head and swum a slower time but then got the touch, I’d be stoked. I like winning, but winning with a time that I’m not happy with kind of is a bit meh. 

“We’re not tapered, I’m still swimming at a pretty high volume in training.

“I honestly wanted to be as close to my best time as possible. I think I’m only, like, 3:537 from December last year in a full taper, so 3:54 off the back of training isn’t bad.

“I think it’s more just about getting out racing and getting used to the States and the differences between here and Australia in the lead up to the LA28 Olympics. I haven’t been in America since 2017 when I raced at the World Juniors in Indianapolis. Still in Indy, just at the Natatorium.

“I feel like I’ve been a bit of a tourist, to be honest. I’ve gone out to Trader Joe’s and got my peanut butter cups, and I did a podcast with Elizabeth Beisel and Katie Hoff and that was the one thing that makes me so happy

“I had this tub of Trader Joe’s peanut buttercups and all of my Australian teammates have been here because I told them you need to go and get them. So all of us are snacking on them at the moment, which is kind of a novelty, but it’s been really cool. 

“Honestly, everyone here is so friendly and it’s so nice, for spending time with the Aussies and getting to see the Americans in Euros in a more relaxed environment.”

Carson Foster (USA) – Winner, Men’s 400m Freestyle (3:37.80)

“I’m happy with that race. There’s literally no expectation here. I think it’s a great step in my process to learn how to love swimming and love racing again. Getting to race in October in the middle of a big training cycle, in front of a huge crowd of swim fans against people that I’m racing at worlds is awesome. There’s no better opportunity than this to really enjoy racing with friends and training partners who are also your competitors.

“This summer was tough. I definitely struggled more this fall mentally than I have in the past.  It’s hard to work 11, nearly 12 months for something, and then you get to the part where you’ve been training for and it just gets taken from you. So that was hard. I think this season in general has been about getting more comfortable with Bob (Bowman) in training. I’ve really hit a groove the last couple weeks and it’s been enjoyable.

“I hit my short course worlds times from last year, which I didn’t think I swam very well. I don’t really feel like I am the best judge of how good it was. I was just going out with no expectations. I was trying to beat Leon (Marchand) this morning. That was it. 

“The race was pretty intense. I actually lost count of my laps. In the last 25 I was like, do I do a flip turn just in case this isn’t the last lap? I was pretty sure I knew that it was the finish but there was a part of me that was thinking that I should flip just in case. I could see with my peripheral vision that Kieran put his head down, and I was like, this is the finish, so I’m just going to sprint. But I was I would have been in trouble if there was another 50.

“My plan was to swim the first 200 and just get into the race, get my rhythm down. At the 150, where I’d pick up my tempo a little bit, and that’s something I’ve really gotten good at this season is like picking up my arm tempo and saving my legs. hen the last 50 hours just like, I’m just gonna race. And I tried to sprint the whole last 50. My comfort level was about as low as you can get. 

“The only bad part of that race, I think it was my turns. I probably went like that in every single one of them But it’s fun.”

Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – Winner, Women’s 50m Backstroke (25.42)

“The 50 is always hard. There’s been a bit of jet lag that I am still adjusting to. In Australia it’s already tomorrow. So a lot of Australians are having a bit of a rough time sleeping, but it’s good practice heading into the next Olympic cycle in Los Angeles.

“I’m hoping that I get a bit faster. That’s the goal anyway, so it’s nice to start off on a high note. I like the pool. It’s a beautiful facility and there’s a great crowd that’s come out. 

“The last time I was in America, I was 12 years old. I was watching my sister swim actually. I don’t have a lot of memory of what America is like, so I’m just soaking in the atmosphere, taking in the environment and all the things that you guys do over here. It’s been really, really nice. It’s definitely different, but it’s like being at home because everything’s comfortable. I could not ask for anything more. 

“Honestly it’s been an adjustment getting back in the water. I’ve had a bit of a shoulder “niggle”. I dislocated my shoulder two weeks before the World Championships so I am just trying to rehab it and get it strong again. I haven’t done as much as I would have liked to. That’s been the theme this year. Honestly I am just trying to get through the next three weeks and hopefully my shoulder holds up.”

Regan Smith (USA) – Winner, Women’s 200m Butterfly (2:00.28), *World Cup, American, and U.S. Open Record*

“That was great. I said this morning that I wanted to go a PB (personal best) I have never been under 2 minutes so that was really great.

“I knew that Alex (Shackell) was going to push me on the front half. She’s so fast going out, and I knew the crowd was gonna have great energy for her and I tried to feed off of that, and I am psyched.

“I try not to think that Alex has the advantage. At the beginning of every race, everyone’s on an even playing field, and it’s just fine. I always get a kick out of racing Alex, she’s great. 

“It’s been a really, really hard training block so far. Bob just kind of threw us into things and I’m sure he wanted to impress Summer (McIntosh) with all the hard work that we do. That’s another thing, too, I wish Summer was here. I know that she is pretty sick right now, so she’s resting, but I’ve had so much fun getting to know her and training with her. She would have been lights out tonight, so I’m hoping that I’ll get the opportunity to have a good 200m fly with her sometime soon. 

“I didn’t know how this would go,’cause, I mean, I’m tired, honestly. Like, it’s been a really hard training block, so I was expecting that I would get faster at the stop to go on, so, this is the starting point. I hope I can keep, you know, getting faster and building off of it, but not a bad place to start.

“Our training group with Summer has been insane like, actually insane. You kind of walk into practice every day and you’re like, wow. Every Tuesday, Thursday, we swim long course and my lane includes Summer, Leon (Marchand) and Hubie (Kos), and that’s, like, a really impressive lane. The only thing that I could hold a candle to her in is, like, active rest up when we do, like, shorter verse, 

“I’m getting the biggest kick out of training next to her. I think it’s doing wonders for my confidence. So I’m really, really liking it a lot, but I miss her. I wish she was here. 

“I didn’t swim the 50m back today. I hate that double. I know it’s a 50 back, but I think I would like it a lot more if it was reversed. and the 200m fly was first. I remember last year at the World Cups and every time I’m at the World championships. When I’m behind the blocks with the 50m back, I’m thinking about the 200m fly. I just feel like I’m not able to give it my all. So I didn’t want to find myself in that situation. I just wanted to really focus on the 200m fly. So I think I made the right decision.”

Noe Ponti (SUI) – Winner, Men’s 100m Butterfly (48.53), *U.S. Open Record*

“I am very happy. This morning I didn’t feel great in the  the water. I think I was swimming a little bit too slow and I felt a bit heavy, but tonight was good. It aligns with what I did last year.

“The 100m fly was a little bit slower than last year, the 100m IM as well. But it’s in the moment, and it’s a different kind of training. So, yeah, I’m excited for the next world cup races in Carmel and also the next world cup stops. I feel a different kind of motivation. Perhaps last year I wanted it more, maybe. I was coming from a challenging Olympic Games. 

“The world cup is always like this. It’s a fun meet, and I enjoy racing these guys. Maybe there is not a long time in between races, but that’s how it is. With good training I can manage to swim the 100m and the 200m events. So that’s not the problem. 

“I’m happy to be racing because it’s always fun racing. I know the overall ranking is important, but first of all, I have to enjoy racing, and then if I enjoy racing and I’m happy, then all the other things will come around.”

Kate Douglass (USA) – Winner, Women’s 200m Breaststroke (2:13.97), *U.S. Open Record* 

“It was good. I definitely wasn’t super happy with my times. I feel like we’re all kind of hurting a little bit. We don’t feel the best right now, but I definitely think as we get going the next few stops, I’m hoping to get a little bit faster and feel a little bit better in the water. I think tonight was just a good first stop. 

“I think that that was my fastest 100 IM following the 200m breaststroke. I think it was faster than last year, so I’m pretty happy with the 100 IM. I think I handled that double a little bit better than expected, but the 200m breast definitely hurt a lot more than I was expecting.

“It’s super nice that we’re not dealing with jet lag, like we were last year. The travel was super easy. I think this year it’s great that there’s so many Americans swimming. I feel like there’s just a huge group of swimmers from the U.S National team that are here. I think that’s fun that we all get to compete on our own here. Not all of our coaches and teams are here, but we have each other, so that’s fun. It is also definitely exciting to hear the cheers from the people in the stands, especially for all the U.S. swimmers. They cheer extra loud for us, and so that’s very exciting. I think it’s awesome that there’s all these young girls up there and they’re screaming our names. I think it’s super cute that they came to watch us compete against the rest of the world. 

“I think that with my 200m breastroke I felt like I found my stroke count from when I broke the world record. Although I added a little bit over a second in that race I think that I just need to kind of focus on finishing that race a little bit better. I should focus a little bit more on doing some 200 breaststroke work, short course meters in between each stop to try and get a little bit better. I think I’m super happy with how it went and I think I just need to keep a positive attitude and just have fun.”

Caspar Corbeau (NED) – Winner, Men’s 100m Breaststroke (56.67)

“My race was a little bit more sloppy than this morning, but a win is a win, so I’m happy with that for sure. I’m pretty happy with the results. Training short course meters is a little bit more difficult because I’m really oriented towards the long course pool with how long my strokes are and how well I glide. So it’s always a little bit of an adjustment.

“I’m now in Belgium. I have done a lot of moving around, but I think this should be the place for me for the next few years. It’s been great and I have a great support group around me. I have all my friends, family, and coaches who have supported me. This has been pretty special and they’ve helped me make the adjustment in my training.  It’s been really good.

“I started training in the last week of August. Then we got really sick and I was out for a week. I was back for a few days and then got really sick again and I was out for another week. Then I went to Colombia for three weeks for a training camp. And now I’m here.

“I think it’s been the most specific and also professional. You need to have a specific training and everything needs to fall in place where it is necessary for you. I think it’s going pretty well and I’m looking toward to swimming in the world cup.”

Kasia Wasick (POL) – Winner, Women’s 50m Freestyle (23.29)

“It was amazing. I’m happy to open the World Cup with a season best. Way better than last year, so hopefully I can train a little bit and with each race shave off a little bit of time. We’ve had a pretty hard training block in the lead up to world championships and then we took some time off. Recently we have shifted to short course. Just a week ago I swam a best time in 50 yards and that kind of set me up to come to the World Cup very confident. 

“I saw a 21.03 and for my underwaters, it’s amazing. It’s my goal to go under 21. That’s definitely a very fast time, but, it’s a goal for me. I have been working on my technique. I’m training at Southern Methodist University with Coach Ozzie (Quevedo) and we have an addition to the coaching staff in Mike Bottom. He has really been helping me with my technique. I’m very happy and of course it’s the beginning of the season and my technique is not perfect, but I think it will improve with every race. I’m starting to feel it, so, yeah, I’m excited.”

Maximillian Giuliani (AUS) – Winner, Men’s 50m Freestyle (20.83)

“It definitely feels good to get that one under my belt. I am swimming against these guys all the time, so I definitely get used to it. It’s always a great opportunity to go out there and race against those guys. 

“I feel that my endurance has really been much better than in the past. I feel extremely fit. I really put together some great practices these last few weeks. I like being really confident. 

“This morning I had a little trouble with that turn. So you learn from it and fix it. I need to try to take another stroke. 

“I shaved for this meet; I gotta get out here and make some money. Every time I get a chance to race like this, you know, I want to take advantage of it when I can. 

“I don’t really have a big meet until August when we swim at Pan Pac Swimming Championships. I’m kind of taking this as a midseason meet. 

“I’m split my training between Bob (Bowman) and Trevor (Maida) and I think the split’s like 40% with Bob and 60% with Trevor. I am getting out there and like racing those guys every day, and it’s awesome. It really is! Being able to build confidence this fall has really helped. And I like being around those guys.”

Gretchen Walsh (USA) – Winner, Women’s 100m IM (55.91), *World Cup and U.S. Open Record*

“It feels kind of like a relief. I don’t really expect to be so nervous going into the event, but there’s some really good competition here. I’m excited to be pushed in this new environment of professional swimming. I think it’s a good way to kind of kick off what has always normally been my NCAA season. But now it’s looking different in my new reality.

“I feel like I hold myself to a really high standard after the short course world championships in Budapest, I’m constantly reminiscing on when I was handed those $25,000 checks. But being here, I just want to try to be at a place where I’m happy, given the lack of training base I have right now. It’s been a good month and a half of training, but I wish I had a little bit more under my belt.  I’m just trying to be at a place that I’m happy with. I have such good people to race against, and to push me to where I should be. 

“I honestly can’t tell you if I would be there if the world cup series was all the way on the other side of the world. It was a really long summer and it’s really hard to travel that far and not necessarily know where you’re at in the water. So I’m so grateful the three world cups are in America and Canada as well. I think it’s going to be really exciting and I feel like seeing familiar faces is nice right now. 

“I feel like I had a disappointing “gear up race” last weekend, but I just was kind of like, where’s my speed at? Because we’ve been doing a lot of aerobics. So when I say I don’t really know where I’m at, I know that I’m aerobically in really good shape right now, but I think my sprint events take time and it takes a lot of emphasis on sprinting and power workouts. I just don’t have the time to do that. 

“Hopefully this endurance base that I have will help get me through the three world cup stops. And as I go along, I I can swim faster and faster. I think that’s a plan in my head and that’s a really good way to kick things off. 

“I just really wanted to be my best and give myself the best chance to win that event. I felt like in the 50 free, I might not have the time to recover given that I would have only had about five minutes. So I just wanted to guarantee that I was gonna put my best foot forward.  It’s interesting. In these meets you have to literally strategize what events you’re going to do. You have to come up with a strategy to perform best overall. And so I knew that I needed to pull out a win tonight. I was just trying my best to do that, so that was the goal. I’m sure I’m going to swim several events over the course stops and probably the 50m back at some point. But we’ll see.”

Shaine Casas (USA) – Winner, Men’s 100m IM (50.86), *U.S. Open Record*

“It was good. I don’t have many expectations, especially right now. I know where the Texas group is at and I don’t think many people have too high of expectations for their first swim at their first swimming world cup or at a major type of meet. So I think it was a great start. I swam one of the faster times here, and I definitely want to be a bit quicker towards the end. That’s the goal, at least. 

“You know, this first stop’s just kind of all about details and just kind of doing what you’ve been practicing. I am trying to improve on what I’ve learned from myself in long course (training) and where I’m at with Bob and our training and our journey together. This is just one more step in the process. It’d be great to get some really fast times and some good money, hopefully, towards the end. 

“Right now, I’m just kind of locking in on that mindset and that approach. I’m just trying to enjoy it. This definitely beats, you know, doing 7 or 8K practices with Bob and Trevor and Eric. I’ll take this all day.”

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