The Greg Bennett Show Brett Hawke [returns] - Multiple Olympic Swimmer & one of the worlds greatest swim coaches
Dec 19, 2022
01:08:16
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"The Greg Bennett Show"
In this episode of The Greg Bennett Show, Greg has an insightful conversation with swimming legend Brett Hawke.
Brett is one of the rare few who not only reached the top of the world as an athlete in his chosen sport of sprint swimming, but he has also coached numerous athletes to do the same—a five-time Olympian, twice as an athlete, and three times a coach. He was an Australian Olympian at the 2000 Sydney & 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Before his Olympic career, he went to Auburn University to swim. There he earned seventeen All-American honors and was a nine-time NCAA individual champion, and helped Auburn win two national team championships.
After his Olympic athlete career, he returned to Auburn to become an assistant coach in 2006. And then became head coach from 2009 – 2018. During that time, Auburn won the NCAA National title in 2009. And he trained countless Auburn swimmers for the Olympics.
He Coached Brazilian swimmer Cesar Cielo to the 50m freestyle gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games In 2008
He was last on the Greg Bennett Show on episode 62, almost 2 years ago. A lot has changed since. He now works as the Head of Expert Acquisition at AnyQuestion, has the world's number one swimming podcast, “inside with Brett Hawke”, and we’ve become good mates in the process.
I’m excited to discuss with him the various pivots and transitions throughout his career.
Simply, a wonderful conversation with a great athlete and coach.
Timestamps
2:13 - Interview with Brett Hawke begins.
5:27 - Brett explains how he sees opportunity and commits 'all-in' and throws himself into ensuring success.
7:49 - Brett and Greg discuss his determined journey to becoming a world class athlete. Being smacked in the face when he didn't make his first Olympic trial, but how he went to work. A defining moment that carved his pathway to success at the highest level as a swimmer and a coach.
10:50 - Being at the olympics in a period that was incredibly special for Australian Swimming, Brett's burning desire, and his humbleness in understanding how much he could learn and be inspired by his equally world calss teammates.
I was like a spongue sitting there right next to Ian Thorpe 10 minutes before his greatest swim at the 2004 Olympics.
14:10 - Brett talks through his pathway from athlete to coach.
20:26 - Brett explains how he coached César Cielo and how he brought what he knew from his own learnings from being around the greatest athletes. Brett had the knowledge, César had the talent, and together they tapped into it and created a magical partnership.
23:33 - Swimming is in Brett Hawke's blood. He now hosts a successful podcast - Inside With Brett Hawke. Be sure to check out the recent ep with Cody Simpson, global teen-popstar turned athlete.
25:50 - Brett is all about 'constant and never-ending improvement' and he is utilising all facets of his life and career 9and his podcast) to analyse and learn from other people.
I have the full ability to control my brain and my thoughts, that then affect my physiology and performance in every single way
30:07 - Brett describes his favourite learnings from his time producing in excess of 220 podcast epsiodes.
33:55 - Brett is now part of the anyquestion.com team as Head of Expert Aquisition and explains why he is so inspired and what he contributes to the day-to-day organisation.
Everybody has a voice, everybody wants to heard
39:14 - A day in the life of Brett Hawke
48:22 - Brett has built his career by recognising that surrounding himself with people better than he is, knowing that they make him smarter and better! Brett tells a beautiful story about Grant Hackett who also understands how the transition from pro-athlete, to the corporate world works.
52:47 - What would Brett Hawke tell his 18 year old self now?
Everyone runs from being uncomfortable
55:27 - Brett shares a very raw and authentic answer to the question; "who he would want to have dinner with?"
58:59 - Where will Brett Hawke be in 3 years?
If someone has put a lot of trust and faith in me, I better put some action behind this
59:59 - To finish the episode, Greg asks some Rapid Fire questions to get Brett's twitch reflexes pumping.
- One book you would recommend?
- Two most-used apps on your phone?
- What time of day are you most productive?
- First job?
- Out of 10, how cool are you?
- Who would you want to play a movie of your life?
- Which decade of music is the best?
- If you could be transformed into one animal, which one would you choose?
- Where is somewhere you haven’t been, you’d like to go?
- Greatest movie of all time?