Swimming World Presents “Q&A with University of Florida Head Coach Anthony Nesty”

Swimming World July 2019 - Q and A with Anthony Nesty
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Q&A with University of Florida Head Coach Anthony Nesty

By Michael J. Stott

In his second year as University of Florida men’s head coach, Anthony Nesty was named SEC male coach of the year, extending Gator supremacy to seven straight conference titles.

Credentials:
• University of Florida, B.A., communication, 1994
• University of Florida men’s head coach, 2017-present; associate head coach, 2006-17; assistant coach, 1998-2006
• Assistant U.S. coach, World University Games, 2011
• Head coach, Suriname Olympic team, 2008 (flagbearer), 2012, 2016; assistant coach, 2004
• Assistant coach, Cayman Islands national team, 2009-10
• Coach, Swim Florida, 1996-98; Bolles School, 1994-98
• While at the University of Florida, Coach Nesty’s athletes have garnered 1,164 All-America honors and
have won 43 individual national championships.
• Inducted into ISHOF, 1998, and University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, 2002

As a competitive swimmer, Anthony Nesty is the only Olympic medal winner from Suriname, winning the 100 meter butterfly in 1988 by 1-hundredth of a second over American favorite Matt Biondi, and placing third in 1992.

He also won gold medals in the same event at the 1987 and ’91 Pan Ams, 1989 Pan Pacs and 1991 World Championships. As a college swimmer at Florida from 1989-92, the now 51-year-old was a 16x NCAA All-American, 5x NCAA champion and 11x Southeastern Conference champion.

Q. SWIMMING WORLD: You have said, “I have a lot of mentors I can call on.” Were your father and Suriname coach Kenneth MacDonald
among them, and what did each contribute to your maturation as swimmer and coach?
A. COACH ANTHONY NESTY: Dad was with me throughout my swimming career. My journey started in 1976. My dad taught me to always treat people with respect. He also reminded me to never give up and to always do my utmost “best.” My coach taught me to work hard and encouraged me just to enjoy the sport. “Winning is beating your time,” he would say.

SW: Did river swimming competitions in
Suriname contribute to your strong aerobic
background?
AN: In Suriname, you swim the 50 all the way up to the 1500 year-in and year-out.

SW: What, if anything, from your years with Gregg Troy do you carry with you today?Gregg Troy do you carry with you today?
AN: The most important thing to me was remaining consistent in your attitude and training.

To read more of our interview with Coach Nesty,
check out the full July 2019 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!

SW July 2019 Cover Kyle Chalmers

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FEATURES

019 CRUNCH TIME!
by Michael Randazzo
With the Olympic Games a little more than a year away, the U.S. men’s water polo team—whose head coach predicted a gold medal in Tokyo—has yet to qualify. They’ll get a chance to punch their ticket if they can finish first at the Pan American Games next month in Lima, Peru.

023 THE VALUE OF AQUATIC SPORTS: TEDDY CANN SAVES THE MAY
by Bruce Wigo
While serving as a seaman onboard the USS May in November 1917, Tedford “Teddy” Cann, an elite swimmer, water polo player and all-around athlete, risked his life to find—and fix—a leak in a flooded compartment, thereby saving the ship.

026 DESTINED FOR GREATNESS
by David Rieder
Perhaps it was always meant to be that Kyle Chalmers would be a champion swimmer. Despite his childhood dreams of playing professional football, he eventually decided to pursue swimming seriously in 2015. The next year, at 18, he won Olympic gold in the men’s 100 free. After undergoing heart surgery in 2017, he rebounded in 2018 to win a combined nine medals (five gold) at the Pan Pacs and Commonwealth Games. Now, all eyes are on Chalmers to win gold at this month’s World Championships.

COACHING

010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: RATKO RUDIC
by Michael J. Stott

014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: PREVIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL SWIM COACHES ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME SUMMIT
by Rod Havriluk
The ISCA Hall of Fame Summit, Aug. 27-30, in Clearwater Beach, Fla., will once again include a wide variety of topics, international presenters and participants from many countries. The presentations will emphasize the WHY (the scientific basis) as well as the HOW (the strategies for applying the science) to improve swimmer performance.

016 PLAN B: COLLEGE CLUB TEAM OPTION (Part 2)
by Michael J. Stott
College Club Swimming has been offering more and more athletes the opportunity to continue participating in the sport they love. In Part 2 of this two-part series, Swimming World explores more personal perspectives from swimmers pursuing their aquatic passion while enjoying a college experience unencumbered by the demands of a varsity athlete.

020 SPECIAL SETS: WORKOUTS OF A WORLD CHAMPION
by Michael J. Stott
In 2017, Coach Gregg Troy put together a plan to maximize Caeleb Dressel’s opportunities at the World Championships in Budapest. Following are eight workouts done by Dressel in his preparation for what resulted in a record seven gold medals.

043 Q&A WITH COACH ANTHONY NESTY
by Michael J. Stott

044 HOW THEY TRAIN ROBERT FINKE
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

013 DRYSIDE TRAINING: EXERCISE EQUIPMENT SERIES—MULTI-EQUIPMENT PROGRAM FOR STRENGTH AND POWER
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

046 UP & COMERS: RAQUEL MALDONADO
by Shoshanna Rutemiller

COLUMNS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT

009 BEYOND THE YARDS

022 OFFICIAL WORD

025 DID YOU KNOW? MARK SPITZ & PIETER VAN DEN HOOGENBAND

030 2019 AQUATIC DIRECTORY

042 DADS ON DECK

047 GUTTER TALK

048 PARTING SHOT

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