
Kacper Stokowski on Leveling Up Athlete Mentorship & The Future of NIL | Episode 293
From Social Kick • Swim Culture & Stories by Social Kick
April 18, 2026 · 1h 4m · Episode 292
About this episode
Kacper Stokowski discusses athlete mentorship, the future of NIL, and his journey from swimmer to sports business.
In this episode of the Social Kick Podcast, we welcome back NCAA Champion and Polish Olympian Kacper Stokowski. Known for his legendary celebrations and underwater dominance at NC State, Kacper is now pivoting his competitive drive into the world of sports business. We discuss his new venture, Level Up Mentorship, a platform designed to bridge the gap between young athletes and elite mentors. Kacper shares his personal journey from a young swimmer in Poland with unanswered questions to an elite athlete realizing the power of a one-on-one connection. We also get Kacper’s takes on the current state of swimming, including: The 19-Second Barrier: Why we haven't seen a 19-second 50 backstroke yet and who he’d bet on to do it. The "Wolfpack" Culture: Lessons learned from Braden Holloway and how swimming for "the Diamond" shaped his business philosophy. Monetizing the Sport: How mentorship can create revenue streams for non-revenue collegiate sports to prevent program cuts. Injury & Comeback: Kacper opens up about his recent back struggles (the "old man problems" of underwater specialists) and his excitement to return to the water with a smarter, higher-intensity training approach…
People in this episode
Guest: Kacper Stokowski
Topics covered
- athlete mentorship
- NIL
- swimming
- sports business
- revenue streams
- injury recovery
Keywords
- Kacper Stokowski
- Level Up Mentorship
- NIL
- swimming
- athlete mentorship
- 19-second 50 backstroke
- revenue streams
- injury recovery
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Level Up Mentorship, NC State, Wolfpack, Braden Holloway
Places: Poland
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