Gregory O.

I have a lifetime of swimming experience, beginning competitive swimming when I was five years old until I reached twenty-two. I have been coaching with a local swim team. I have worked with children as young as four and up to eighteen. I have accumulated close to three years of coaching experience through summer programs and working for some time with the Columbus Hurricanes. I am a certified USA Swim Coach with CPR/First Aide/AED/Lifeguard certifications through the American Red Cross. I have also passed the Safety Training for Swim Coaches through USA. I am also about to complete the level one requirements to become certified through the American Swim Coaches Association.

I began competitive swimming when I was five years old and competed at both the high school and collegiate level. I was two-time top-16 finisher at Georgia High School Swimming in the 500 yard freestyle and four-time top-16 finisher at the NAIA Championships in the 1650.

I can do many things depending on the level of the swimmer. The closer to a novice the swimmer is, I would focus on simple technique of freestyle (front stroke/crawl) and of backstroke. I would be sure to have the swimmer focus on technique rather than speed. Improper technique can lead to injury. As the level of the swimmer goes to more advanced, I would work on the other strokes, breast stroke and butterfly, if the child and parents' were interested in that avenue, and prep the kids to join a swim team.