Olympic Champion Olivia Smoliga is diving back into the competitive swimming scene, and this time, she's charting a new course with a renowned coach at Texas Ford Aquatics! After an extraordinary eight-month hiatus from the sport, Smoliga, a celebrated Olympic gold medalist, has revealed her next professional chapter. She expressed, "These last eight months have been extraordinary. I’m not surprised they led me back to the pool, but I’m in awe of the path getting here." This sentiment hints at a profound personal journey that has reshaped her perspective on her athletic identity.
For those keeping track, the 31-year-old swimmer has only graced the competitive waters once since the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – a brief appearance at the Toronto leg of the 2025 World Cup. This period away seems to have been a crucible for self-discovery. Smoliga shared, "Maybe it was from this space that I could hear myself better and shed the things that weren’t mine. I thought I’d end up shedding my identity as an athlete completely, when really, I just became aware of the ways that I would block me from myself." It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, stepping back is the most effective way to move forward.
Now, Smoliga is poised to channel these newfound insights into a comeback, aiming for a resurgence reminiscent of her 2023 performance. Her new mentor in this endeavor is Coley Stickels, a highly respected coach leading the professional group at Texas Ford Aquatics. This move sees Smoliga relocating from Tempe, Arizona, where she had been training with Bob Bowman’s elite group since 2021.
But here's where it gets interesting... Coley Stickels isn't just any coach; he boasts a decorated history of guiding numerous high-profile swimmers, including names like Daiya Seto, Beryl Gastaldello, Ryan Held, and Blake Pieroni. His coaching tenure includes significant stints at Indiana University and the University of Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide to strong performances at the SEC Championships before stepping down to focus on international competition training. This background suggests a strategic and results-oriented approach that Smoliga will now benefit from.
Smoliga's own impressive trajectory began on the international stage at the 2012 Short Course World Championships, where she famously out-touched Katinka Hosszu for the 100 backstroke gold. Her collegiate career at the University of Georgia was equally stellar, marked by an NCAA Championship win in the 50 freestyle during her freshman year under the guidance of Jack Bauerle. Her Olympic accolades include a gold medal in the women’s 4×100 medley relay at the 2016 Rio Olympics, alongside a collection of five long course World Championship medals, three individual NCAA titles, and a remarkable eight gold medals at the 2018 Short Course World Championships.
After her move to Bob Bowman’s ASU pro group in 2021, Smoliga secured relay spots for the 2023 U.S. International Team Trials and went on to win two silver medals at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka. Now, under Stickels' guidance, Smoliga is set to experience a notable shift in training philosophy. Moving from Bowman’s emphasis on higher yardage to Stickels' more sprint-oriented approach presents a fascinating dynamic. And this is the part most people miss: Will this strategic pivot in training methodology be the catalyst for another significant career resurgence for the 31-year-old phenom?
What are your thoughts on this strategic move? Do you believe a change in training focus can truly reignite an elite athlete's career, or are there other factors at play? Share your opinions in the comments below – we’d love to hear your take!
