Faster Than Michael Phelps at 10 | Gabriel Brown

Feb 23, 2026

Gabriel Brown, a 10-year-old swim phenom from Greenfield, Indiana and the No. 1 ranked 10-year-old in the U.S., describes his intense routine and why he skips early mornings. He talks training details like two-hour practices and dryland workouts, his breakthrough moments and record chase, goals from National Age Group marks to Olympic Trials, and how he balances school, food rituals, and everyday kid life.

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ADVICE

Daily Two Hour Swim With 11 Weekly Workouts

Train consistently with volume and cross-training to accelerate progress.
Gabriel swims two hours a day six days a week plus five dryland/weight sessions, totaling 11 workouts weekly.

INSIGHT

Prioritize Sleep Over Early Morning Practice

Protect sleep as part of training design rather than forcing early sessions.
Gabriel avoids 5:30 AM practices because waking at 4:45 would compromise his sleep and recovery as a 10-year-old.

ANECDOTE

State Cut At Seven Sparked The Commitment

Early success fueled commitment when Gabriel earned his first state cut at seven.
His coach told his dad he'd be 'something' after that cut, and Gabriel used it as motivation to pursue bigger goals.

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On today's show, I jumped into the deep end with 10-year-old competitive swimmer Gabriel Brown from Greenfield, Indiana.

Gabe is the No. 1 ranked 10-year-old swimmer in the United States, has climbed the National Age Group rankings, and has set multiple Indiana 10-and-under records.

We talk through Gabe's training routine, including swimming two hours a day six days a week, plus five additional weekly workouts. Gabe explains why he avoids early morning practices to protect his sleep and how he balances training with friends. He also shares key moments that fueled his motivation: earning his first state cut at age seven, hitting zone cuts at eight, beating a top backstroker, and becoming the youngest athlete to win High Point through consistency.

Gabe then covers his short- and long-term goals, including chasing a 10-and-under National Age Group Record by the end of the season, aiming to qualify for Olympic Trials as early as age 12, and eventually swimming at IU while pursuing American and world records.

He also discusses switching to online school at the start of the year to create more time for workouts, his go-to foods, favorite swimmer, and favorite Indiana spots like the Natatorium.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - What It Takes to Train as America's Top 10-Year-Old Swimmer - How State, Zone, and All-Star Qualification Works in Youth Swimming - Goals for National Records, Olympic Trials, and IU

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:29 Guest Introduction: Gabriel Brown, 10-Year-Old Swim Phenom 01:42 Training Like a Champion 03:21 11 Workouts a Week 04:27 The Switch Flips 05:23 How National Rankings Work 06:02 Breaking Down the Backstroke, Free, IM, and Pool Formats 07:16 Rules, Referees, and Getting DQ'd 08:10 Swim Lessons at 3, Competitive at 6, State at 7 08:54 First Big Win & High Point 12:08 Motivation & Mindset 12:50 Faster Than Phelps at 10? 14:06 Other Sports, State Titles, and Racing Psychology 17:47 Favorite Events & Selling Swimming to Kids 19:58 Chasing Age Group Records 20:46 Switching to Online School for Training 22:01 Race-Day Fuel 22:56 Coolest, Coldest, & Fastest Pools 24:33 Big Dreams 26:30 How Close Are the All-Time 10U Records? 28:19 Mid-Distance Mindset + Favorite Swimmer 29:59 Life Outside the Pool 32:45 All Things Indiana 35:04 Advice, Where to Track Records, and Socials

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