John "Jonty" Alexander Skinner (born 15 February 1954) is a former South African competition swimmer and world record-holder, who became an American college swimming coach and a coach of the US national team.
Skinner was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and graduated from Selborne College in East London, South Africa. At the 1973 South African National Swimming Championships he won the 100-metre freestyle event and backed that up by winning the event again at the 1974 National Championships. He was awarded the title of South Africa Athlete of the Year and was also awarded South African National Colours in Swimming and Life Saving.
In 1976, he weighed 185 pounds and stood 6 feet, 5 inches and had a good chance of taking the gold medal in the 100-metre freestyle at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, however at the time South Africa was still banned from the Olympics hence making Skinner ineligible to compete.[1]
However, after the completion of the Olympics, at the 1976 United States Summer National Swimming Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and after just qualifying for the final, Skinner broke Jim Montgomery's 20-day-old world record in the 100-metre freestyle by 0.55 seconds beating home the Olympic champion and Joe Bottom who won silver in Montreal. His record stood until 3 April 1981 when Rowdy Gaines swam the distance in 49.36 seconds in Texas.[2]
In addition to his world record, he set three American records in the 100 yards freestyle.
Skinner began his coaching career in 1978 when appointed assistant coach of University of Alabama's swim team. After three years he moved to California and became the head coach of the San Jose Aquatics Club where under his guidance the club won five junior national championship team titles and in 1986 took the national championship team title at Phillips 66 Long Course Senior Nationals. He served as head coach until 1988.[4]
He returned to the University of Alabama in 1988 as assistant head coach, and then took over the reins as the head swimming and diving coach of the men's and women's teams in 1990.
From 1994 to 2000 Skinner served as USA Swimming's resident team coach, which involved coaching some of the nation's top swimmers at the elite national and international level.
From 2000 to 2008 Skinner served as USA Swimming's Director of National Team Technical Support, which involves co-ordinating all of the testing, tracking and assessment of the national team athletes.
He currently operates Athletic Intelligence Consulting and is an UpMyGame coach.[5]
In May 2012 he rejoined the University of Alabama swimming and diving team as an assistant coach.
Personal life
Skinner currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with his wife Carol Ann and two children Cleone and Cydney.[6]
jonty, skinner, john, jonty, alexander, skinner, born, february, 1954, former, south, african, competition, swimmer, world, record, holder, became, american, college, swimming, coach, coach, national, team, personal, informationfull, namejohn, alexander, skinn. John Jonty Alexander Skinner born 15 February 1954 is a former South African competition swimmer and world record holder who became an American college swimming coach and a coach of the US national team Jonty SkinnerPersonal informationFull nameJohn Alexander SkinnerNickname s Jonty National team South AfricaBorn 1954 02 15 15 February 1954 age 69 Cape Town South AfricaHeight6 ft 5 in 1 96 m Weight185 lb 84 kg SportSportSwimmingStrokesFreestyleCollege teamUniversity of Alabama Contents 1 Swimming career 2 Coaching career 3 Personal life 4 See also 5 ReferencesSwimming career EditSkinner was born in Cape Town South Africa and graduated from Selborne College in East London South Africa At the 1973 South African National Swimming Championships he won the 100 metre freestyle event and backed that up by winning the event again at the 1974 National Championships He was awarded the title of South Africa Athlete of the Year and was also awarded South African National Colours in Swimming and Life Saving He decided to move to the United States and attend the University of Alabama where he was a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA and Southeastern Conference SEC competition Whilst there he won gold in the 100 yard freestyle at the 1975 Division I NCAA Men s Swimming and Diving Championships and was voted Alabama s most valuable swimmer in 1975 1976 and 1977 He was also voted as Alabama s Athlete of the Year In 1976 he weighed 185 pounds and stood 6 feet 5 inches and had a good chance of taking the gold medal in the 100 metre freestyle at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal Canada however at the time South Africa was still banned from the Olympics hence making Skinner ineligible to compete 1 However after the completion of the Olympics at the 1976 United States Summer National Swimming Championships in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and after just qualifying for the final Skinner broke Jim Montgomery s 20 day old world record in the 100 metre freestyle by 0 55 seconds beating home the Olympic champion and Joe Bottom who won silver in Montreal His record stood until 3 April 1981 when Rowdy Gaines swam the distance in 49 36 seconds in Texas 2 In addition to his world record he set three American records in the 100 yards freestyle In 1985 he was recognised by the swimming world when he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer 3 Coaching career EditSkinner began his coaching career in 1978 when appointed assistant coach of University of Alabama s swim team After three years he moved to California and became the head coach of the San Jose Aquatics Club where under his guidance the club won five junior national championship team titles and in 1986 took the national championship team title at Phillips 66 Long Course Senior Nationals He served as head coach until 1988 4 He returned to the University of Alabama in 1988 as assistant head coach and then took over the reins as the head swimming and diving coach of the men s and women s teams in 1990 From 1994 to 2000 Skinner served as USA Swimming s resident team coach which involved coaching some of the nation s top swimmers at the elite national and international level From 2000 to 2008 Skinner served as USA Swimming s Director of National Team Technical Support which involves co ordinating all of the testing tracking and assessment of the national team athletes He currently operates Athletic Intelligence Consulting and is an UpMyGame coach 5 In May 2012 he rejoined the University of Alabama swimming and diving team as an assistant coach Personal life EditSkinner currently resides in Tuscaloosa Alabama with his wife Carol Ann and two children Cleone and Cydney 6 See also EditList of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame List of University of Alabama people World record progression 50 metres freestyle World record progression 100 metres freestyleReferences Edit International Swimming Hall of Fame profile International Swimming Hall of Fame Archived from the original on 29 July 2014 Retrieved 4 April 2007 Amdur Neil 15 August 1976 Skinner swims to mark The New York Times United Press International p 5 of sports ISHOF 1985 Honorees International Swimming Hall of Fame Archived from the original on 14 December 2007 Retrieved 7 April 2007 Club History Silicon Valley Aquatic Association Retrieved 7 April 2007 UpMyGame Coach Profile UpMyGame Archived from the original on 13 May 2009 Retrieved 4 May 2009 ASCA profile American Swim Coaches Association Retrieved 7 April 2007 RecordsPreceded bynone Men s 50 metre freestyleworld record holder long course 14 August 1976 3 July 1977 Succeeded byJoe BottomPreceded byJim Montgomery Men s 100 metre freestyleworld record holder long course 14 August 1976 3 April 1981 Succeeded byRowdy Gaines Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jonty Skinner amp oldid 1038180749, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
