Sid Cassidy is not just a coach. He is a legend in the world of open water swimming. He has been involved in the sport for over four decades, as an athlete, an official, and a mentor. He has coached some of the best open water swimmers in history, such as Olympic champions Ous Mellouli and Haley Anderson. He is also the head coach of the St. Andrew’s Aquatics Club in Boca Raton, Florida, where he trains a group of elite swimmers who have their eyes set on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The road to Paris
The Summer Olympics in Paris are about 7 1/2 months away, starting on July 26. The open water swimming events will take place on August 8 and 9, in the Seine River, in the first point-to-point races at an Olympics since the first time the Games were held in Paris in 1900. The competition will be fierce, as only 25 swimmers per gender will qualify for the 10 km marathon swim, the only open water event on the Olympic program.
To secure a spot for Paris, swimmers have to either finish in the top 10 at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, in February, or in the top nine at the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Setubal, Portugal, in May. Only one swimmer per country can qualify at each event, and a maximum of two swimmers per country can compete in Paris.
Coach Sid knows how hard it is to make the Olympic team. He has been there himself, as he competed in the 1984 Los Angeles Games in the pool, finishing 11th in the 1500 m freestyle. He also knows how rewarding it is to represent your country on the biggest stage. He has helped his swimmers achieve their Olympic dreams, such as Mellouli, who won gold in the 10 km swim in London 2012, and Anderson, who won silver in the same event in London and Rio.
The secret of success
Coach Sid has a simple but effective philosophy for coaching open water swimmers: “Train hard, race smart, and have fun”. He believes that open water swimming is not just a physical challenge, but also a mental and tactical one. He teaches his swimmers how to deal with different conditions, such as water temperature, currents, waves, and visibility. He also trains them how to navigate the course, draft behind other swimmers, and sprint for the finish.
He also emphasizes the importance of having fun and enjoying the sport. He says that open water swimming is a “beautiful adventure” that allows you to explore different places and cultures. He encourages his swimmers to appreciate the nature and the history of the venues they compete in, such as the Seine River, which flows through the heart of Paris and offers a stunning view of the city’s landmarks.
Coach Sid is not only a coach, but also a friend and a father figure to his swimmers. He cares about their well-being and their happiness, both in and out of the water. He says that he is “proud of them as people, not just as athletes”. He supports them in their academic and professional goals, as well as their personal and family lives. He says that he is “blessed” to work with such a “wonderful group of young men and women”.
The stars of the future
Among the swimmers that Coach Sid trains at the St. Andrew’s Aquatics Club, there are some who have already qualified for Paris, and some who are still chasing their Olympic dreams. Here are some of the names to watch out for in the upcoming months:
- Chelsea Gubecka: The Australian star is the first athlete to be named to the Paris 2024 Olympic team, after finishing fourth in the 10 km swim at the 2022 World Championships in Abu Dhabi. She is a two-time Olympian, having competed in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. She is also a four-time national champion and a Commonwealth Games silver medalist. She trains with Coach Sid during the winter months, when the water is too cold in Australia.
- David Heron: The American ace is a two-time Olympian, having competed in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. He is also a two-time national champion and a Pan American Games gold medalist. He trains with Coach Sid full-time, and he is one of his closest friends. He is aiming to qualify for Paris at the Olympic Qualification Tournament in May.
- Ashley Twichell: The American star is a two-time Olympian, having competed in Tokyo 2020 and qualified for Paris 2024. She is also a five-time world medalist and a six-time national champion. She trains with Coach Sid part-time, and she is also a mentor and a role model for the younger swimmers. She is looking forward to competing in Paris, where she hopes to win her first Olympic medal.
- Marc-Antoine Olivier: The French star is a three-time Olympian, having competed in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. He is also a three-time world champion and a two-time European champion. He trains with Coach Sid occasionally, when he visits Florida for training camps. He is one of the favorites to win gold in Paris, where he will have the home crowd advantage.
These are just some of the swimmers that Coach Sid has helped to reach their potential and their goals. He says that he is “honored” to be part of their journeys, and that he is “excited” to see them compete in Paris. He says that he is confident that they will “make themselves, their families, and their countries proud”.
