Sarasota is a city that seems to never sleep. Beautiful sandy beaches, exquisite shoreline attractions, marine life, and an outstanding shopping and entertainment district make it a place people visit year round from all over the world. One thing that sets Sarasota apart is the Sarasota Sharks. This swim team is nationally and internationally recognized for its excellence in teaching and training. From learning the basics to competitive swimming, the community boasts an outstanding local team unlike any other. Find out more about Sarasota Sharks and why they are one of the hidden gems of this amazing city.
Who Are the Sharks
The Sarasota Sharks offer many options for swimmers. From Gold Medal and Podium Club USA Swimming to recreational classes, adult swim (Masters) and synchronized teams, the Sharks perform at a high level but also give back to the community. They meet at Selby Aquatic Center in Sarasota, offering Open Swim for adults every day to practice and stay healthy. Since 1961, they have been swimming and building individual champions and teams. A tradition of excellence has been built around the Sarasota Sharks team, unrivaled by any other team in the area or even across the United States.
Award-Winning Team
The Sarasota Sharks Swim Team won the YMCA Florida State title for 18 straight years from 1985 to 2002. The Sharks also won Florida Age Group Swimming Championship title twenty-seven times, not to mention the many other accolades and accomplishments from this team, including:
- Around 200 competitive swimming athletes
- Small team within top 20 competitive clubs in USA Swimming Club
- Swimming program has built into and lifted up Olympic athletes including Kim Linehan and Tripp Schwenk, along with 50-plus Olympic trial qualifiers and many other collegiate swimmers
- Athletes attend college and focus on education along with swimming excellence
Giving Back
Part of giving back for the Sarasota Sharks is about letting the community know about their focus on excellence and all-around individual character development. Students develop lifelong friendships and focus on their education and service to the community. Their focus on volunteering is key to helping lift up team members and the community. The core values of honesty, respect, and responsibility develop young swimmers into successful champions and adults. Parents and coaches are key to this success. Some things they offer are keeping meets local to avoid travel costs, asking families to volunteer at meets to give back and support the kids and team. With the support of everyone, the team can continue to thrive.
The Sarasota Sharks are a team that excels because they work together and play hard while also winning. Their love of serving each other and the community with public swimming and other options gives everyone a chance to learn how swimming is healthy and good for the mind, body, and spirit. We hope their 2022 season is full of medal winning opportunities as well as continued chances to grow and thrive as a team.
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