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A Brief History
The Wichita Swim Club was founded in 1954 by
legendary Wichita sports figure Bob Timmons. Coach Timmons
led the Swim Club through the early years and later became the
Track & Field Coach at the University of Kansas. Soon after its
conception, the Wichita Swim Club became known across the Midwest
as a quality program which gave Wichita youngsters an excellent
activity and vehicle for growth. In 1960, Wichita Swim Club
member Jeff Farrell won 2 gold medals in the Olympic Games and his
story was chronicled in the book, Six Days to Swim.
Throughout the years, the Swim
Club has continued to provide excellent coaching and has produced
many excellent swimmers. For many years the team practiced at
the Love Aquatic Center on the campus of Wichita Collegiate
School. In 1980, Wichita native and WSC member Ron Neugent
earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. In 1986, Anne Mahoney
represented the United States on the World Championship team and
won four national titles in backstroke from 1987-89. In 1988,
the United States Olympic swim team was headed by former WSC
swimmer Richard Quick. Recently, WSC has been well
represented at the Olympics by Caroline Bruce in 2004, and Jarrett
Perry in the 2004 and 2008 Paralympics.
In February of 1991, the Wichita
Swim Club moved into our present home, the Garvey Aquatic
Center. One of only a few parent-owned swim club in
the nation with it’s own pool and facility. Financing
of the pool and facility was and remains the sole responsibility of
the parents in the organization. Thanks to the generous
support of Willard Garvey, Bob Love and others, the Wichita Swim
Club enjoys unrivaled flexibility and convenience which is the envy
of swim clubs across the nation.
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