For the first time in its existence, the Fishers Area Swimming Tigers (FAST) organization was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal status from USA Swimming.
FAST was eligible to earn the status because of an overall point score of 29,409, and having an athlete, Luke Whitlock, compete in the 800-meter freestyle on Team USA in the Paris Olympics. USA Swimming annually recognizes the nation’s highest-performing swim clubs that are committed to performance excellence and the development of athletes aged 18 years and younger by awarding Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal status. FAST was one of 22 clubs awarded this distinction, and is recognized as an elite swim program nationwide.
FAST Head Coach Joe Keller is proud of the commitment of the athletes and coaches, which led to such an amazing feat. “It is a great recognition for their efforts and validates the investments being made,” he says. “The Gold Medal status creates a level of pride as a team.”
With the Gold Medal status, FAST was awarded funding that will provide some financial reimbursement to the program, to support team growth and initiatives, which Keller says will be used to purchase devices that aide in training at higher levels and understanding.
When Keller came on board as a coach in fall 2017, the swim club only had 170 athletes, and that amount had dropped to about 150 during COVID. Now the club has grown to about 230 athletes and is seeing about 1,000 to 1,200 students in its swim programs annually. This past summer FAST had seven of its athletes compete in the U.S. Olympic swimming trials held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with Luke Whitlock making Team USA.
Founded in 2006, FAST is a family-oriented organization that offers year-round programs that develop positive, healthy and responsible relationships. It provides all ages and abilities a safe space that encourages long-term development, continued improvement and success, both in and out of the pool. With an emphasis on being more than a swim team, FAST offers year-round swimming lessons, pre-competitive and competitive FAST swim teams, the Fishers Diving Tigers team, the FAST College Assisted Placement Program, and adult lap swim.
TIGERS (team, integrity, grit, excellence, respect and sportsmanship) isn’t just an acronym; it is also the foundation of the core values of FAST that the athletes adhere to in swimming and in their lives. To Keller, it is imperative that the students not only develop their athletic abilities, but also gain life skills and character building in the process of honing their swimming skills. FAST creates a foundation of principles that will carry the swimmers throughout their lives by establishing habits to improve self-discipline, time management, and physical and mental health.
Teaching superior swimming in a safe and supportive community is done with the knowledge and expertise of the six full-time and 15 part-time coaches who work year-round. FAST utilizes the Fishers High School natatorium, which is a state-of-the-art facility with an Olympic-sized pool. With a great facility, the FAST swimmers hardly travel, and they host monthly meets.
FAST strives to represent the Fishers community in a positive manner, and the FAST team is very grateful for the relationships being established within the Fishers community.
“The higher the achievements for clubs, the more they traditionally cost for consumers, but FAST tries to create value with lower cost and more personalized coaching,” Keller adds.
