The Swimmer
Tom Shields is one of the most decorated American swimmers of his generation. A two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2016 Rio, 2021 Tokyo), four-time World Champion, and 11-time NCAA Champion, Tom competed at the highest level of international swimming for over a decade.
A butterfly and freestyle specialist, Tom is widely regarded as one of the greatest underwater dolphin kickers in the history of the sport — a skill he has spent years breaking down and teaching to swimmers at every level.
The Coach
Now based in Santa Cruz, California, Tom brings world-class instruction directly to swimmers. His teaching philosophy centers on simple, actionable change. Breaking down the technical fundamentals that separate good swimmers from elite ones — breakouts, turns, underwater work, and race strategy execution.
No club membership required. Programs are open to competitive swimmers of all levels who want to train with and learn from one of the best to ever do it.
The Background
Tom grew up in Huntington Beach, California — a product of the ocean. He came up through Junior Guards, enjoyed bodysurfing and surfing, and set the HB Pier swim record.
He swam collegiately at UC Berkeley, where he became an 11-time NCAA Champion. He went on to represent the United States on the USA National Team for over a decade, competing in multiple World Championships, Pan Pacific Championships, and two Olympic Games.
His career accomplishments include gold medals at both the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2021 Tokyo Olympics, along with breaking American Records over 15 times.
View Upcoming Dates