Catawba College swim coach, Michael Sever, has announced that Tharon Drake has been named as assistant coach for the men's and women's swimming programs. Drake comes to Catawba from the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. He is a current member of Team USA and the United States Paralympic National Team.
"I am beyond ecstatic to introduce Tharon as a member of my coaching staff," stated Sever. "Tharon is an amazing person, full of enthusiasm, positivity, wisdom and experience."
Drake, who competes in the S11 classification for blind swimmers, holds 13 current American Records. He won silver medals in the 400 freestyle and the 100 breast at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. At the 2017 World Para Swimming Championships in Mexico City, Drake took gold in the 400 free and the 100 breast. He grabbed a silver in the 200 individual medley.
Drake, a native of Hobbs, N. M., is excited to join the program to be able to introduce a new way to view swimming. Drake has an extraordinary ability to use his hearing to provide technical stroke feedback and split times much like any other coach.
