A new page of history will be opened next year, at the Paris 2024 Games, for American swimming. For the first time, the men’s Olympic team will be led by a black coach. USA Swimming has announced that it has appointed former Surinam swimmer Anthony Nesty (pictured above) as head coach of the men’s team. The women’s team will be coached by Todd DeSorbo. Gold medallist in the 100m butterfly at the 1988 Seoul Games, after beating American Matt Biondi by one hundredth of a second, Anthony Nesty, 55, is currently coach at the University of Florida, where he works with some of the best American swimmers, including Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel. Last year, he had already become the first black coach to lead the American team at the world championships, having been appointed “head coach” at the Budapest Worlds. Anthony Nesty and Todd DeSorbo were assistant coaches for the American team at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where the United States won 30 medals. Since then, Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky have joined his training group in Gainesville, Florida. The American team will be chosen after the Olympic selections, scheduled for June at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
