Coach Don Regenbogen :: Episode 1

The Swimnerd Show

Coach Don Regenbogen (currently with OCCS) was lured down from Pittsburgh in the 1980's by Doug Fonder (who founded QDD). There he met a young age group swimmer named Jeff Rouse. We touch on... ...how Bill Ripol really taught him to train. Bill was the 1987 ACC Champion for UVA in the 400 IM. ...how he broke his wrist 8 weeks before his first World Champs Trails meet. ...how Coach Don rigged up a bucket to a 10 meter diving platform at the old Marines pool. ...how David Berkoff inadvertently lit a fire under his butt at the 1988 Olympic Trials. ...how Coach Don knew, after losing to Mark Tewksbury in 1992, that Jeff Rouse was prepared to go on a mental journey for the next 4 years to find himself. ...how Pablo Morales got him pumped up for the 400 Medley Relay in 1992, where he broke his own World Record leading off in 53.86. This record lasted for 7 years, 24 days. Nobody has held the 100 LCM Back World Record longer than Jeff Rouse. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/swimnerd/message