Q&A With Kevin Cordes

Q&A WITH KEVIN CORDES

Kevin Cordes is an ambitious Olympic gold medalist and professional swimmer. At the 2012 NCAA Division I championships, Cordes won the 100 breast in 51.32, breaking the American Record. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Cordes won his first Olympic gold in the 400-meter medley relay. He joined the ranks of those like Cullen Jones, Nathan Adrian and Missy Franklin in 2016 when he signed with team Speedo.

TeamUSA

All American Swim: How did you begin swimming? Who got you started? Kevin Cordes: I started swimming on my neighborhood’s summer park district team when I was 6 years old. My parents decided to sign me up very last minute and my mom waited in line at 6AM to make sure I was able to join the team. I think she waited in line that early because she didn’t want me bugging her all summer

AAS: What makes swimming a passion of yours? Why does it stand out? KC: I have always loved racing and the feeling that comes standing on the blocks. Diving into the pool, I am able to get into this zone and be completely taken over. That feeling is what really sets swimming above all the other sports that I played growing up.

AAS: What are some things you are looking forward to in the near future? KC: I always look forward to new ideas and thoughts on training, whether it is in the pool or with dry land work. It really keeps things interesting and helps me stay engaged.

AAS: What are some other things that drive you both personally and professionally? KC: I think goal setting is very important in and out of the water. Both short term and long term goals help keep me moving forward. I don’t ever want to get complacent- there is always something pushing me to get better everyday

AAS: What is something you cannot live without, and how does it help push you forward in your career? KC: I am a foodie at heart. I love to try new and interesting styles of food from around the world. Whenever I’m at an international competition with the national team I make it my top priority (after training) to eat the best local cuisine. I use this as motivation to work hard everyday in the water so I can keep competing internationally and eat amazing food!

AAS: What is something you get excited to do daily? KC: I get excited to be able to do what I love everyday. Not everyone is that lucky and I am grateful every time I jump into the pool, even the early morning practices!

AAS: Tell me about a time when you were challenged from swimming and you learned a great lesson from it.

KC: At Olympic Trials in 2012, I got 3rd place in the 100M Breaststroke, just missing out on making the Olympic team. I never wanted to let that happen again. I used that as motivation everyday to push myself in practice whenever I was feeling tired. The next summer I won the 100 and 200 Breaststroke at World Champ Trials. It really taught me that you can turn any negative into a positive.

AAS: • Do you have any nutritional or fitness recommendations for other swimmers? KC: I try to stay on top of my nutritional knowledge at all times. I spend a lot of time researching how nutrition helps an athlete. Sleep and Hydration are two things I take very seriously because they are vital for performance and recovery. They are also the easiest things you can do/fix because they are in your control.

AAS: you had any advice for aspiring athletes, what would it be? KC: Set goals and commit to them- even small goals. Don’t let anyone try to convince you that you are not good enough or try to fill you with negative thoughts. Stay true to who you are as an athlete and yourself.

AAS: Where do you see your future going right now and what are your plans? KC: My plans are to keep working everyday with the goal of representing Team USA at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo!

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