Olympians Giving Back: Jeremy Linn

Feature by Chelsea Howard

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, March 27. AFTER becoming a well-accomplished swimmer and competing on all different levels of the sport, Jeremy Linn was not ready to give up swimming even after he finished competing.

Linn found that there was no better way to give back to the sport and everything it taught him than by taking on a career in coaching.

“Like most swimmers that have dedicated their entire life to the pool, I never planned to be a coach. Once I was retired from swimming and had time to reflect on everything swimming did for me not only as an athlete but also as a person, I began to understand what the process really meant,” Linn, who is currently coaching at Curl Burke, said.

Linn took experiences that he had as a swimmer under previous coaches as inspiration to share what he has learned from them.

“I was so blessed to have such dedicated folks like Phyllis Beck, Ed Frasher, and John Trembley who taught me the lessons that would not only guide my success in the pool, but also help me be the person that I am today,” Linn said. “I wanted to be able to give back to the sport of swimming what it had given me.”

Linn took a different approach towards starting his coaching career than most would. He started by teaching Learn to Swim, which helped him learn how to teach on every level of swimming.

“Doing this gave me the opportunity to really break down swimming and its progressive learning to its core and apply it to upper level racing. I am very blessed to have the opportunity to coach the student-athletes I work with today at Curl Burke,” Linn said.

In addition to coaching on deck, Linn gives back to the sport in other ways by sharing his Olympic story by giving talks and clinics across the country.

“I have done this for the past 15 years. It's one of my favorite parts of what I get to do. I have broken down an hour long story of the self-discovery that led me from being a 4 year-old boy crying on the starting blocks to an older one on the Olympic medal stand,” Linn said.

Each time Linn gives these talks, he is reminded of what's really possible.

“Giving the formula for being the absolute best that you can possibly be at whatever you choose to do really makes these experiences special for me,” Linn said.

Linn hasn't always been walking up and down the side of the pool, leading a group of age group swimmers. He hasn't always been giving sets and encouraging young athletes to reach beyond their expectations. And he certainly isn't new to the sport.

Linn competed at the University of Tennessee where he began to achieve the goals that most would only dream to accomplish. Linn was an individual SEC Champion six times, a three-time SEC Swimmer of the Year, and led five relay teams to finish in first place. At the NCAA Championship competitions, he won four individual titles. He was also a part of the 200-yard Medley Relay that won NCAAs his freshman year, breaking the American record. During his four years at the University of Tennessee, he won 17 All-American honors.

Going beyond the collegiate level, Linn took his swimming career internationally. Linn competed at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta where he set a new American record in the 100-meter breaststroke and was a huge contributor the 400-medley relay, which set a new World record by over two seconds.

“I was a 20-year-old sophomore when I went to the Olympics. It was my second international trip as a National Team member. Both were to Atlanta, which was only two and a half hour drive from where I lived,” Linn said.

Even though it provides a unique experience to travel outside of the country for the Olympics, Linn enjoyed staying in America.

“There is nothing quite like having the opportunity to compete at the Olympics in your home country. One of my most vivid memories from the meet was walking out to the blocks and having 16,000 folks cheering me on,” Linn said.

After the 400-meter relay, Linn remembers receiving a banner that read “Thanks America For Making Our Dreams Come True”.

“This really summed up my experience as it was a dream come true. The best athletes in the world surrounded me and not only that, but I was considered one of them,” Linn said.

Having several international competitions under his belt, Linn not only showed up to compete, but he also showed up to make history by setting new records — both American and World records.

“I was lucky enough to have some experience with breaking American records since the 200 medley relay I was on at NCAA's broke one. Swimming the 100-meter breaststroke at the 1996 Olympics was my first run at doing it individually,” Linn said. “I was proud to be mentioned in the same breath as the 'greats' that came before me.”

Going beyond setting an American record, Linn exceeded expectations along with teammates Jeff Rouse, Mark Henderson, and Gary Hall Jr. to set a new World record. This relay team lowered the previous record by over two seconds.

“You enter a whole new place when you break a World record. To be the best that ever lived certainly changes your perspective on what is possible,” Linn said.

After competing at NCAAs all four years of his collegiate career and experiencing the 1996 Olympics, Linn noticed distinct differences between the two atmospheres.

“NCAAs is a pressure cooker. It's one of the most intense experiences I have ever had the honor of being a part of while also having the opportunity to stand on top of the medals stand seven times,”

Linn also adds, “I thrived on the fact that Short Course Yards swimming is so technical and that there is so little room for mistakes. I think that this meet and the tension that it creates can either make or break a career.”

Linn did not feel the same type of pressure at the Olympics as he did at the NCAAs.

“The Olympics is more of a celebration of great swimming. Everyone seems to swim out of his or her minds while having a fantastic time. It has a lot to do with the tradition of great American swimming. With our American history behind you, how can you not be amazing?” Linn said.

With an enormous amount of experience both as a coach and as a swimmer, Linn finds it important for young swimmers to chase after their dreams.

“They have to dream big. Then focus on their daily goals. You can only be your very best at what you're doing right now so you have to live in the moment.” Linn said.

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