#30MostSwimfluential: Dave Salo

Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch

Who is Dave Salo?

Author of SprintSalo: A Cerebral Approach to Training for Peak Swimming Performance (1989) and Complete Conditioning for Swimming (2008).
Earned his doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Southern California in 1991.
Head coach of Irvine Novaquatics (1990-2006) where he won several age group, junior national, and senior national championships.
Head coach of USC (1996-present) and assistant coach at USC (1985-1990).
In 2015, he lead USC to its first men’s Pac-12 team title since 1979.
Three-time FINA World Championships head coach (2005, 2013, 2015).
Three-time Olympic assistant coach (2000, 2004, 2012).
Mentored several U.S. and international Olympians including Jason Lezak, Aaron Piersol, Amanda Beard, Vladimir Morozov, Katinka Hosszu, and Ous Mellouli.
USA Swimming Coach of the Year in 2002.
Inducted to the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010.

How did he influence the swimming community?

Dave Salo is considered the premier creative mind in the sport of swimming. He has proven that his swimmers do not need to “swim more” to be successful. With a doctorate in exercise physiology, Salo is at the front of elite coaching and international success. It’s this ingenuity that has made him the premier destination for collegiate student-athletes at USC and elite post-graduates at the Trojan Swim Club. Salo has positively impacted the southern Californian community at every level, winning championships with Irvine Novaquatics and USC.

“I have had a dream coaching career, coaching some of the best swimmers in the world.”

*USA Swimming and Speedo invited the swimming community to help celebrate their 30 years of partnership by voting for the “30 Most Influential People in Swimming Over the Past 30 Years.” Votes were cast through social media with the hashtag #30MostSwimfluential and the final vote came from a panel of 10 judges selected by USA Swimming and Speedo. All 30 nominees have had a powerful impact on the swimming community. Many are recognizable names, but some have remained unsung heroes of the sport. Swimming World will profile each swimfluential person over the course of the week.

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