Anastasia Gorbenko on IM Training, Pro to NCAA Transition & Breaststroke Flip Turns | Ep. 289

Anastasia Gorbenko on IM Training, Pro to NCAA Transition & Breaststroke Flip Turns | Ep. 289

From Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories by Social Kick

March 14, 2026 · 54 min · Episode 288

About this episode

Anastasia Gorbenko discusses her transition from professional swimming to NCAA, her experiences during the Olympics, and her unique training methods.

What happens when you’re the first alternate for an Olympic final and get the call only 40 minutes before the blocks? Israeli star Anastasia Gorbenko joins the Social Kick crew to break down the "Paris Drama," her transition from the professional ISL ranks to the Louisville Cardinals, and the story behind the most famous flip turn in breaststroke history. Anastasia discusses the intensity of the "American way" of training, the emotional weight of representing Israel during a time of war, and how she maintains range from a 29.3 50 breaststroke to a world-class 400 IM. Whether you're here for the technical breakdown of relay starts or the "rapid-fire" segment on her favorite snacks (spoiler: it’s mango), this episode is a deep dive into the mind of one of the most versatile swimmers on the planet.

People in this episode

Host: Social Kick Crew

Guest: Anastasia Gorbenko

Topics covered

  • IM Training
  • Pro to NCAA Transition
  • Breaststroke Flip Turns
  • Swimming Techniques
  • Athlete Mentality
  • Sports during Conflict

Keywords

  • Anastasia Gorbenko
  • Olympic final
  • NCAA swimming
  • breaststroke
  • IM training
  • Louisville Cardinals
  • swimming techniques
  • sports psychology
  • athlete transition

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Louisville Cardinals

Places: Israel, American

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