News Americas, New York, NY, August 1, 2024: Anthony Nesty’s role as the US Olympic men’s swimming head coach is a vision fulfilled. Nesty, who was born in the Caribbean Community nation of Suriname, was named head coach last fall. He led the US men’s swim team at the 2024 Paris Olympics in what was a groundbreaking and historic appointment.
Nesty, 56, initially only swam because his father made him. “I didn’t enjoy swimming,” he shared in an interview with TODAY.com recently. “Why he chose swimming, I think, is because of the discipline of the sport. It’s just you and the clock.”
Nesty’s first swim at age five was in Suriname, where he grew up. At the time, the country had only one 50-meter pool. What began as a reluctant activity turned into a distinguished career, culminating in his appointment as the head coach for the men’s Olympic team for the 2024 Games in Paris, making him the first Black person to hold this position in U.S. Olympic swimming history. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Tokyo Games.
“My dad, he had a vision for me,” said Nesty.
Nesty’s journey to the top began with victories in local and regional meets across Suriname, the Caribbean, and South America. His specialty, the butterfly stroke, earned him a gold medal in the 100-meter race at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, making him the first Black male swimmer to win individual gold.
Nesty continued his swimming career at the University of Florida on an athletic scholarship, becoming a three-time NCAA champion in the 100-yard butterfly from 1990 to 1992.
As a prominent Black swim coach in a predominantly white sport, Nesty understands the significance of his role. “You know you’re a role model,” he told The Associated Press in June 2023. “You have to take that very seriously. Maybe it’s why I work so hard at what I do. I try to be the best Anthony Nesty I can be.”
Nesty’s ascension to US Olympic swim team head coach is particularly significant given the complicated history of Black people and swimming in the U.S. Access to swimming facilities directly correlates to whether Black people swim, a barrier Nesty and experts are keenly aware of.
Anthony Nesty moved to Florida as a teenager to pursue swimming more seriously. He attended the Bolles School in Jacksonville, where the rigorous practice routine was a stark contrast to his previous training in Suriname. “We used to only train five days a week, Monday through Friday, maybe two hours per practice,” he said. “And then you come to the States, you’re running nine practices, two hours-plus, dry land, weights. For me, I had to get adjusted to that for sure.”
Despite the challenges, Nesty thrived, advancing to collegiate and Olympic competition. Reflecting on his achievements, he said, “I stay busy preparing the athletes. I don’t think of my accomplishments. Our sport is demanding for the athletes, the coaches, the families. I want to be the best coach for the University of Florida and of course this summer for us.”
Nesty’s father, who invested significant time, effort, and financial support into his son’s swimming career, would be thrilled to see how far Nesty has come. “He would be jumping up and down to see that his son is the head coach of the U.S. men’s team,” Nesty said. “That’s kind of the pinnacle of our sport and he would be happy that I’ve reached the top now.”
In recent years, the sport has seen contributions from standout Black swimmers such as Simone Manuel, Lia Neal, and Natalie Hinds. “It’s very encouraging,” Nesty said of the increased representation in swimming. “The sport is going to keep growing. There are a lot of opportunities for all races to get scholarships in our sport.”
Despite these advancements, racial disparities in swimming persist. A 2023 demographics report by USA Swimming revealed that only 2.1% of athlete members identified as Black or African American, while 62.4% identified as white.
Nesty believes the lack of Black swimmers in the sport is more of a socioeconomic issue than one based on ability. “It’s also very expensive,” he noted. “And you have to find a pool.”
For Nesty, creating a welcoming environment on his teams is paramount. “Whichever team you belong to, you’re going to be welcomed with open arms because the sport is so demanding,” he said. “You have to have empathy for each other. I tell our athletes you got to respect the athlete next to you because you guys are doing the same thing. If you do it as a group, it becomes more palatable. It becomes more fun, and that’s the experience I had as a swimmer. And I would love to hear the athletes of color, when they join a team, sense that they have that camaraderie.”
As Nesty leads the U.S. men’s swimming team to the Paris Olympics, his story serves as an inspiration, highlighting the importance of perseverance, representation, and breaking barriers in sports.
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