SK278 John Shortt

John Shortt is one of the fastest-rising backstrokers in the world — and he’s just getting started.

In Episode 278 of The Social Kick Podcast, we sit down with the Irish swimming star and World Junior Champion to break down his rapid rise, highlighted by dominant performances at World Juniors and the European Short Course Championships. Known for devastating back-half speed and elite turns, John shares how training in a 20-meter pool helped shape his underwater skills and race finishes.

We dive deep into what separates his backstroke, from stroke efficiency and body position to stroke rate control under fatigue. John also opens up about confidence-building training sets, how he approaches racing across multiple distances, and why technique has always come before strength in his development.

The conversation goes beyond the pool as well — touching on life at Ireland’s National Training Centre in Limerick, why he turned down U.S. college offers despite NIL opportunities, and what’s fueling Ireland’s growing presence on the international swimming stage.

You’ll also hear lighter moments throughout the episode, including crowd-sourced fish names, signature struggles, karaoke picks, and the mindset of a young swimmer learning how to handle visibility, expectations, and momentum.

Whether you’re a swimmer, coach, or fan of elite racing, this episode offers a rare look at how world-class backstroke talent is built — and what’s coming next for one of Ireland’s brightest stars.