Jonty Skinner

Infobox Person

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image_size = 150px
name = Jonty Skinner
birth_date =
birth_place = flagicon|RSA Cape Town, South Africa
occupation = Freestyle swimmer, Swimming coach

John ("Jonty") Alexander Skinner (born in Cape Town, South Africa) is a former South African swimmer turned national American swim coach.

Swimming career

At the 1973 South African National Swimming Championships he won the 100 metre freestyle event and backed that up by winning the event again at the 1974 National Championships. He was awarded the title of South Africa Athlete of the Year and was also awarded South African National Colours in Swimming and Life Saving.

He decided to move to the United States and attend the University of Alabama. Whilst there, he won gold in the 100 yard freestyle at the 1975 Division I NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships and was voted Alabama's most valuable swimmer in 1975, 1976 and 1977. He was also voted as Alabama's Athlete of the Year.

In 1976, he weighed 185 pounds and stood 6'5" and had a good chance of taking the gold medal in the 100 metres freestyle at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, however at the time South Africa was still banned from the Olympics hence making Skinner ineligible to compete. [cite web|title=International Swimming Hall of Fame profile|url=http://www.ishof.org/honorees/85/85jskinner.html|publisher=International Swimming Hall of Fame|accessdate=2007-04-07]

However, after the completion of the Olympics, at the 1976 United States Summer National Swimming Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and after just qualifying for the final, Skinner broke Jim Montgomery's 20-day old world record in the 100 metre freestyle by 0.55 seconds beating home the Olympic champion and Joe Bottom who won silver in Montreal. His record stood until 3 April 1981 when Rowdy Gaines swam the distance in 49.36 seconds in Texas. [cite news|first=Neil|last=Amdur|title=Skinner swims to mark|work=UPI|publisher=The New York Times|page=5 of sports|date=1976-08-15]

In addition to his world record, he set three American records in the 100 yards freestyle.

In 1985, he was recognized by the swimming world when he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer. [cite web|title=ISHOF 1985 Honorees|url=http://www.ishof.org/honorees/class/honorees1985.html|publisher=International Swimming Hall of Fame|accessdate=2007-04-07]

Coaching career

Skinner began his coaching career in 1978 when appointed head coach of University of Alabama's swim team. After three years he moved to California and became the head coach of the San Jose Aquatics Club where under his guidance the club won five junior national championship team titles and in 1986 took the national championship team title at Phillips 66 Long Course Senior Nationals. He served as head coach until 1988. [cite web|title=Club History|url=http://www.teamunify.com/About.jsp?_tabid_=408&team=svaa|publisher=Silicon Valley Aquatic Association|accessdate=2007-04-07]

From 1994 to 2000 Skinner served as USA Swimming's Resident Team Coach, which involved coaching some of the nation's top swimmers at the elite national and international level.

He currently serves as USA Swimming's Director of National Team Technical Support, which involves coordinating all of the testing, tracking and assessment of the National Team athletes.

Personal life

Skinner currently resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado with his wife Carol and two children Cleone and Cydney. [cite web|title=ASCA profile|url=http://www.swimmingcoach.org/worldclinic/ASCA2002/jonty_skinner.asp|publisher=American Swim Coaches Association|accessdate=2007-04-07]

References

Persondata
NAME=Skinner, John Alexander
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Skinner, Jonty
SHORT DESCRIPTION=American swimmer
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=Cape Town, South Africa
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=