Little Man Big Mouth Podcast Episode: Abi Burke — Five-Star Swim Recruit & Junior Nationals Champion

Host: Jonah Guest: Abi Burke

Description: Jonah sits down with Abi Burke, a five-star swimming recruit ranked second in the class of 2029 and fresh off a 200-meter freestyle win at Junior Nationals. They talk about how she got started in summer swim league back in Connecticut, the coaches and family who push her to the next level, and how she balances elite training with a non-traditional high school setup at the Freedom Institute of Collier County. Abi also opens up about her goals — committing to a Division I program, chasing the 200 free state record, and winning 2026 Southwest Florida Girl of the Year and Girls Athlete of the Year. Plus, a lightning-round closer that reveals she's played 13 sports and has never bowled a strike.

Topics & Timestamps:

• Intro & welcome — 0:00
• How Abi got into swimming — 0:47
• What motivates her in the pool — 1:53
• Biggest influences, including Coach Eric — 2:29
• Balancing school and swimming at the Freedom Institute — 3:29
• Reacting to her #2 ranking in the class of 2029 — 4:48
• Southwest Florida Girl of the Year & Girls Athlete of the Year — 5:50
• Goals before graduating in 2029 — 6:36
• Daily routine: 6 days a week, 3 hours a day — 8:07
• What sport she'd play besides swimming — 9:35
• Bowling Chops? — 10:50
• Sign-off & outro — 11:28

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