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"How Hard Are You Really Looking? — Bex Freebairn" is an episode of The Swim Brief. Runtime 39 min. Published November 2, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.
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What does it take to keep good coaches in swimming—and how hard are we really looking for the people we say we want to hire?
UCLA associate head coach Bex Freebairn joins Chris to discuss the everyday choices that shape coaching culture. From paying coaches enough to build sustainable careers to actively seeking out women for opportunities, Bex challenges the idea that our individual influence is too small to matter.
We also explore her journey from rural New Zealand to American college swimming, how she earned trust and responsibility as a young assistant, and why doing everything yourself eventually becomes a limitation. Plus: disagreeing with your head coach, finding the confidence to ask for help, and loving a sport without needing it to lead anywhere.
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