The Israeli Olympian Behind Detroit AquaClub’s Smashing Success

Photo Courtesy: AquaClub

By Annie Grevers, Swimming World Staff Writer

I remember when former University of Arizona head coach Frank Busch announced that a speedy recruit from Israel named Nimrod had committed to swim for the U of A. Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or; a name that’s hard to remember at first, but never forgotten once learned. We asked Frank to repeat the name a few times to be sure we had it right. Busch quickly began calling Shapira Bar-Or “Hotrod,” whilst the rest of us stuck with a simple “Nim.”

Nim was and is a formidable freestyler; representing Israel at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, and currently training for the 2016 Games. He also served the Israeli military, redshirting his senior year, then returning to the Wildcats after serving his country.

Nim has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, founding an online marketplace for study materials called StudyCorner.com as a freshman in college. After moving to Detroit in 2013, Nim wasted no time before founding AquaClub Swim School and Swim Club. After less than two years of operation, AquaClub has expanded to three different locations and was just named a 2016 Bronze Medal Club by USA Swimming.

Nim told Swimming World a bit about the process of founding a club, what he thinks the integral parts of a team are, and how AquaClub has been an instant success!

1. When did you decide to start AquaClub and what were the first steps (for those out there inspired to do the same)?

As I graduated college in May of 2013, I moved to Detroit, Michigan (following my wife Katharine) and found myself in a new environment. After about a month of swimming by myself in Michigan, I realized how fortunate I had been with the swimming experiences I had throughout my career; the teams and coaches I have interacted with. It was only after one of my coaches and mentors (Frank Busch) suggested that I get involved in coaching that I considered it. I soon decided to start coaching as well as hosting some clinics. I soon had a group of followers and saw the need for new energy within the swim community in Michigan. However, I knew it was very hard to get water space and start a swim program, not to mention running it while I’m still training for the 2016 Olympics.

This is where my competitive spirit took over. Personally, I love a good challenge. Why? Because I know that most people won’t do what it takes to start something from scratch, to build something out of nothing and to do it in a high quality way. I will do WHATEVER it takes to achieve my goals. In my naturally competitive mind, there is only one option resulting from my hard work and efforts – WIN!

2. Who helped you get this thing off the ground?

If you look behind the scenes, you will find many people who were involved with the inception of AquaClub and are still involved. I am always looking for outside opinions and ideas– I believe in learning from other people’s experiences as well as my own. Since my path in swimming led me to work with some of the best coaching staffs in the world, I use every possible opportunity to reach out to those who have mentored and coached me and ask for advice.

In fact, Busch suggested that I get involved with the coaching side of swimming while I was on a training trip in Colorado Springs with the Israeli National Team in 2012. I am very thankful and have the utmost respect for this AMAZING group of people in the swimming community that has helped our program get off the ground and continue to grow.

Just a few of the people that have helped me include: Frank Busch (USA Swimming), Sergio Lopez (The former Bolles School Head Coach), Dr. Chass (Israel – Wingate), Mr. David Liles – A British coach, was the head coach of the New Zealand National Team. He understands, lives, and breathes swimming. Prof. Andrei Voronchov, who was formerly the head coach of the Russian National Team. He is true friend and mentor from my time in England. Prof. Suzanne Commings, whom I met as a student at the UA– Suzanne is my business mentor and has a HUGE part in our program helping me making the right decisions. Lastly, and most importantly my wife and family from back home who ALWAYS there to support!

3. You’re in your second year of operation and already a Bronze Medal Club! That’s amazing! To what do you attribute your club’s speedy success?

January 29, 2016 will mark the second anniversary of our program. I truly believe that our program is very unique and brings a special spice to the sport. As a swimmer, I understand that sometimes swimming can seem tedious and working to excel in it is not always the most fun process. From the beginning of AquaClub, I focused much of my time making sure that FUN was a huge factor in our process of learning. I knew that if I make learning to swim a fun and challenging process, kids would stick around for more and would keep wanting to do more with the sport.

How many swim clubs in the U.S. have you heard that have a real life-size mascot? Flipper, the lovable dolphin, is our mascot, cheering for all of our swimmers at all of our home meets and events!

Photo Courtesy: AquaClub

Going beyond the fun aspect, I know that having the RIGHT staff is a HUGE aspect of any organization. For that reason, I don’t settle for just anyone to be part of our program. I’m looking all over the world and the U.S. for the right coaching staff to be part of the program and bring the RIGHT energy to the table. When looking for staff, I look for energetic people who have a great passion for the sport and are willing to be a part of a cooperative environment.

I think everything in life is about consistency, commitment, and not always settling for the easy way. I believe in challenging yourself and your surroundings. Our commitment goes all the way to bringing top level coaches and super star swimmers for clinics to our athletes. I am willing to go through the more difficult process of bringing employees from other parts of the world to AquaClub if it means they will bring something unique to the table.

4. What have been some interesting, maybe unconventional, training methods that have made the club successful?

As for our training, we are not afraid to think outside of the box and try new things. AquaClub is definitely not a program that thinks of swimming as a simple process of coming to practice and swimming everyday for 2-4 hours. We know that swimming is a VERY complex sport. We believe in concentrating on the details, intelligent work, and having FUN in the process! We want our swimmers to be swimmers for life and enjoy what they do.

AquaClub works to build a culture and a community that leads toward a better swimming experience. We work with a method called APR, a 3-practice cycle that repeats over and over with different intensities. APR stands for Aerobic, Power, and Race.

Aerobic practice is the longest practice of the cycle, with the kids swimming long aerobic practices with no higher than 65 percent effort. Power practice is swimming and kicking combined with a lot of dry-land work. We call it Circuit Day as well since swimmers are in dry-land stations that each take about one minute– involving with some fast 25s or 50s.

Race day starts with a meet warm-up and has very challenging, multi-race lineup for the swimmers. A sample race set can be 7x100s kick on five minutes followed by 7x100s swim from the blocks on 10 minutes (in heats). We keep track of all of our practices’ intensity and plan gradual progress throughout each quarter of the season. We also keep track of all of the results from race days and challenge the kids to beat their previous set and to be aware of where they stand.

5. How did your years on the Israeli National Team and as a UA Wildcat affect how you coach?

My process in swimming, I believe, is VERY unique as I have traveled all over the world. Since I was a kid, I was always looking for the BEST place that would make me the BEST that I could be. At the age of 12, I moved to train at England’s Center of Excellence at Bath University under Mr. David Liles and Andrei Voronchov.

Following that, I moved to The Bolles School at the age of 15 and trained under Sergio Lopez. At the age of 18, I was accepted to be part of the UA Wildcats. All of these places, as well as being part of the Israeli National Team, have been part of my process in swimming.

During my journey, I was coached by over 13 coaches, which I think is many coaches. My grandma, a wise woman, once told me that in life, I’ll meet many people and I should take the best from each one. So that’s what I did with all of my coaches and all of my training. I always looked into what we did, how we did it and why we did it.

Yes, I was the swimmer who always bugged the coaches with my questions and sometimes challenged my coaches, but I believe that questioning your environment is a healthy way of progressing and getting ahead. It wasn’t an easy process, but I can thank most of it to the number one most supportive dad in the world, Michael Shapira. Without my father’s constant support and belief I wouldn’t have been able to have gained the success and knowledge that I have.

6. You took on this project instantly and fearlessly after moving to Detroit. What is your advice to those coaches wanting to start a club, but perhaps a tad intimidated?

I think that by working on the small details, having lots of FUN with the process, and taking one step at a time is always going to lead somewhere good. You have just got to BELIEVE and not be afraid to work hard!

7. Do you have a club mantra?

Make these your habits: Dream BIG, Believe, Work Smart, Team Work, Trust & Respect

Photo Courtesy: AquaClub

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

1 Comment

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Leander

8 years ago

He seems to be making a good effort to publicize his team. Last year, he spoke at my younger son’s elementary school last year and then signed things for the kids afterwards. My younger son, who is just starting to swim competitively, was quite excited about it. I just looked at the Aqua Club’s website, and they will be at my older son’s next USS swim meet in a couple weeks.