#MySydney2000 podcast: Four-time Olympic medallist Daniel Kowalski talks overcoming challenges

At Atlanta 1996, Daniel Kowalski became the first swimmer since 1904 to win a medal in the 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle events at the same Olympic Games, bringing home silver and two bronze medals, plus a 4th place from the 4x200m Freestyle relay.

Four years later at Sydney 2000, he was a member of the Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay team, swimming in the heats alongside Grant Hackett, William Kirby and Todd Pearson.

Kirby and Pearson would go on to swim in the final with Ian Thorpe and Michael Klim, winning the gold medal and shattering the World Record in the process,

However Kowalski has struggled to come to terms with being an Olympic gold medallist – a title he didn’t feel like he deserved for some time.

In this insightful and enlightening discussion with Tim Gilbert on the My Sydney 200 podcast, presented by Swisse, Kowalski shares the highs and lows of his swimming career, how he felt his mental game let him down, and how he has overcome those challenges.

Daniel, now the Olympian Services Manager at the Australian Olympic Committee, shares his advice for overcoming challenges and reveals the magic behind the five rings.