Carmel Swimming’s Chris Plumb on coaching at the Olympics: ‘It’s what you live for’ – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) – USA Swimming head coach Anthony Nesty called Chris Plumb on the second Saturday morning during Team USA swim trials in Indianapolis.

Plumb, the head coach of Carmel High School and the Carmel Swim Club, had only two days earlier ensured that his second swimmer qualified for the Olympics.

He thought he knew what the conversation would be about. Once he qualified a second Olympian, he figured he would have a good chance of being named assistant coach. Nesty said they would like to have Plumb on the Olympic team this year. Nesty also told Plumb to talk to his wife and then get back to him.

Plumb’s answer was quite simple.

“Anthony, I don’t have to ask my wife,” Plumb said. “I’m going.”

Plumb will travel to Paris this month with his wife to serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. swim team. He will also coach three Carmel swimmers at the Olympics: Aaron Shackell, Alex Shackell and Drew Kibler.

Plumb has worked his entire life to become an Olympic coach.

“This is what you live for,” Plumb said. “This is what you train for. This is what you dream for.”

Plumb was introduced as an assistant coach at the end of the tryout round along with the rest of the US swim team.

“When I was able to go out with the team and be recognized as a coach, it was surreal,” Plumb said. “I thought, ‘What am I doing here? This doesn’t feel normal. This doesn’t feel right.'”

Now that feeling is starting to take hold. It was especially evident when he got to wear his Olympic gear. He’s competed in other events with Team USA, but the Olympics are special.

And although the Olympics are special, he tries to keep the swimmers away from the grandiose stage. He said it is like in the movies Hoosiers. The dimensions of the swimming pool are still exactly the same, whether it is the one at Carmel High School or the one in which they will swim for a gold medal in Paris.

Plumb was named head coach of the Carmel Swim Club in 2006. Carmel’s girls swim team has won the state title every year he has been head coach. The boys team has won 10 consecutive state titles.

“It’s great to be able to represent Carmel because we represent everyone in our community, which is special,” Plumb said.

The swimming competitions at the Olympic Games begin on Saturday, July 27th and last until Sunday, August 4th.