U.S. National Team
Sam is a former University of Texas standout and Olympic Trials finalist. In the run up to the 2020 Olympic Trials, where he placed 5th in the 200IM and 8th in 400IM, he was training under his mom, Ann Fairey. He is now training with Club Kickstart under Ann Fairey and Claudio Battaglini and looking to expand his talents into the 100s.
“Sam fits perfectly with our team and our mantra. He’s a really great, down-to-earth person and despite his enormous successes he’s still seeking new ways to swim different and reach his highest potential.” -James Fike
Sam Stewart's swimming accomplishments include:
“I am excited to announce my partnership with Fike Swim! I am thankful to have Fike supporting the continuation of my swimming career and I look forward to using their products to help make myself a stronger and faster swimmer. Fike Swim's emphasis on new and unique ways of training matches my philosophy of making swimming fun and enjoyable!” -Sam
U.S. National Team
Sam is a former University of Texas standout and Olympic Trials finalist. In the run up to the 2020 Olympic Trials, where he placed 5th in the 200IM and 8th in 400IM, he was training under his mom, Ann Fairey. He is now training with Club Kickstart under Ann Fairey and Claudio Battaglini and looking to expand his talents into the 100s.
“Sam fits perfectly with our team and our mantra. He’s a really great, down-to-earth person and despite his enormous successes he’s still seeking new ways to swim different and reach his highest potential.” -James Fike
Sam Stewart's swimming accomplishments include:
“I am excited to announce my partnership with Fike Swim! I am thankful to have Fike supporting the continuation of my swimming career and I look forward to using their products to help make myself a stronger and faster swimmer. Fike Swim's emphasis on new and unique ways of training matches my philosophy of making swimming fun and enjoyable!” -Sam
Q&A with Sam Stewart
Q: Who is your coach and which team do you compete for?
A: "I swim for Club Kickstart and my current coaches are Ann Fairey and Claudio Battaglini."
Q: How did you get into swimming?
A: "I got into swimming at 6 years old because my mom would take me to get ice cream after practice/swim lessons!"
Q: What are some of the highlights of your career?
A: "Making the US National team for three years is pretty special. A few others are qualifying for the 2019 World University Games Team, making NCAAs as a freshman, and qualifying for two Olympic trials finals."
Q: What is your favorite event?
A: "200IM"
Q: How many yards per week do you train?
A: "About 20-30,000, which is down from what I swam in college. I’m trying cut out some of the yards to focus more on speed."
Q: What does your favorite set look like?
A: "I like doing suited, broken swims. For instance, I’ll do a 200 meter backstroke swum 50/100/50 on the :60/1:30/:60. My most recent times were 29.0 / 58.1 / 27.9."
Q: What are your practice goals to help you reach your race goals?
A: "I want to improve my underwaters, sprint speed, and details like starts and turns."
Q: Favorite dryland exercise?
A: "Pull ups because it is a good upper body strengthening exercise and works the pulling muscles used in swimming."
Q: Favorite post-workout meal?
A: "Chicken/steak with rice and green beans. Pretty simple but it checks all the boxes for what my body needs."
Q: Who is your swimming role model?
A: "Ian Crocker. He is a very accomplished swimmer but is a kind and humble person. He is open about the times he struggled in his life swimming career and is generous with his wisdom and advice. I also love to watch his 100 fly world record swim from 2005. It is my favorite swim of all time."
Q: Non-swimming role-model?
A: "Jim Lovell. He was the astronaut in command of the Apollo 13 mission to the moon that failed. I admire his life of service as a Navy pilot and astronaut and his display of skill under pressure to save himself and his crewmates. It's a level of composure under pressure that I aspire to emulate in my swimming and the rest of my life."
Q: Something most people don't know about you
A: "I earned a first degree black belt in karate when I was 15 and had to travel to Port of Spain, Trinidad to be graded for it."
