“I quit swimming so your kid does not have to.”
Our story
I started competitive swimming at the age of five and spent more than a decade swimming for Nashville Aquatic Club under legendary coach John Morse. I had success in the water, great teammates, and opportunities that many young swimmers dream about.
Then one day, I climbed out of the pool in the middle of practice and said, “I quit.” I was burned out. I was tired. Most importantly, I didn't love swimming anymore.
The following year, I watched former teammates and relay partners compete at the Olympic Trials, and I watched one of them go on to win a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. People often ask if I regret quitting. The answer is no.
In fact, I've often wondered something else: if I had kept swimming and eventually burned out later in life, would I still love the sport today? Would I still swim? Would I have dedicated my life to coaching and helping others experience the joy that swimming can provide?
Swimming has given me a lifetime of friendships, lessons, opportunities, and purpose. It has shaped who I am. That's exactly why we started C26 Aquatics.
Over the past decade, I have worked individually with youth swimmers, competitive age-group athletes, collegiate swimmers, and adults of every ability level. Since opening our pool at C26, our staff has coached hundreds of swimmers competing at every level of the sport.
What we kept hearing from parents was simple: “Our kids are getting lost.” Too many swimmers in the water. Not enough coaches on deck. Not enough actual coaching. We saw talented athletes struggling with overuse injuries, especially young female swimmers during critical growth and maturation years. We saw kids who didn't know their coaches well and teams so large that culture and connection became difficult to build.
We knew there had to be another way. C26 Aquatics was built around a simple idea: every swimmer deserves to be known, coached, and developed as an individual.
We believe swimmers should be challenged without being overwhelmed. They should work hard and pursue excellence without sacrificing their physical health, mental well-being, or love for the sport. We believe in long-term development, meaningful relationships, and creating an environment where every athlete feels seen and valued.
Because our goal isn't simply to help swimmers achieve faster times. Our goal is for your swimmer to love swimming — and to love the person they are becoming through swimming. To gain confidence, resilience, discipline, and friendships that last a lifetime.
Swimming can be demanding. It can sometimes feel lonely. But it doesn't have to be. At C26 Aquatics, we're building something different: a place where swimmers belong, where they are coached with purpose, and where hard work and fun can exist together.