Lundsten, Turcotte Named Team USA Head Coaches for 2017 FINA World Jr Champs

Photo Courtesy: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

USA Swimming today named Kate Lundsten (Victoria, Minn.) of Aquajets Swim Team and Jason Turcotte (Atlanta, Ga.) of Dynamo Swim Club as Team USA’s women’s and men’s head coaches for the 2017 FINA World Junior Championships, slated for next August in Indianapolis.

Regarded as two of the top age-group coaches in the country, Lundsten and Turcotte have both coached swimmers who competed at past FINA World Junior Championships and Olympic Games in the same quad – 2012 Olympian Rachel Bootsma for Lundsten and 2016 Olympians Gunnar Bentz and Jay Litherland for Turcotte.

“Experience and leadership are USA Swimming’s top priorities when selecting a head coach, and Kate and Jason excel in both areas,” said Mitch Dalton, USA Swimming National Junior Team Director. “They have proven track records of guiding top-level athletes from the junior ranks to the Olympic Team, and that experience will be key as we start the build-up to the 2020 Olympic Games.”

Lundsten has served as the head coach with the Aquajets Swim Team since 2004 and has 20-plus years of experience coaching with USA Swimming clubs. She has served as an assistant coach on a number of National Junior Team trips and is a member of the Minnesota Swimming Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. Aquajets Swim Team has earned gold or silver USA Swimming Club Excellence status each year since 2009.

“I am proud and humbled to be working with the National Junior Team and Team USA again,” Lundsten said. “I am excited to coach these incredible athletes against some the world’s best up-and-coming swimmers.”

Turcotte was named head coach at Dynamo Swim Club in 2006 and shared USA Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year honors in 2014. He has been named to several USA Swimming coaching staffs, and most recently served as Team USA’s women’s head coach at the 2015 Pan American Games. He previously has served as head coach for the FINA World Junior Championships, Junior Pan Pacific Championships and the National Junior Team Camp. Prior to joining the staff at Dynamo, Turcotte coached at the Lake Erie Silver Dolphins, Stanford University and the Naperville Riptide Swim Team. Dynamo is an 11-time USA Swimming Club Excellence Gold Medal Club.

“It is always an honor to work with the National Junior Team, and never more so than when representing the United States on our own home soil,” Turcotte said. “I look forward to hearing ‘USA’ chants at the The Nat.”

The staff will be rounded out with assistant coaches based on the athletes who qualify for the 2017 FINA World Junior Championships roster. Selection for this meet will occur at the 2017 Phillips 66 National Championships, also in Indianapolis. Full selection procedures are available at usaswimming.org.

The top 18-and-under swimmers in the world will come to Indianapolis for the 2017 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, hosted by USA Swimming and United States Aquatic Sports. The event will be held at the iconic Indiana University Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI in late August.

This will be the sixth edition of the prestigious competition which was first held in 2006 in Rio de Janeiro and hosted in 2015 in Singapore. Nearly 1,000 athletes from nearly 100 countries are expected to compete in the six-day meet that will feature an early look at young athletes who will vie for positions on their respective nations’ Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games rosters.

Seven members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team, including six medalists, competed at the 2013 FINA World Junior Championships for Team USA. Among this group was 100-meter backstroke silver medalist Kathleen Baker.

Press release courtesy of USA Swimming.

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John Micha

7 years ago

Seems like USA swimming keeps picking the same staff for these meets.

Sue Ulrich Donkersgoed

7 years ago

Such a Great CHOICE in coaches. Go TEAM USA!