Chris Stankiewicz
Chris Stankiewicz
QUICK STATS
- Hometown: Fairfax Station, VA
- Club Team: Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP)
- College: George Mason University
- Coach: Damian Rodino
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Atlantic 10 Champion
- TYR Pro Series Athlete
EXPERIENCE
Growing up in Northern Virginia, Chris Stankiewicz began swimming during the summer months for the Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL), the largest summer swim league in the country. He swam for two summers before joining a club team, and credits his experience in the NVSL with his love for the sport and for inspiring him to coach. Chris began giving private swim lessons in high school, and went on to work for a local swim clinic, run by Lou Sharp, that taught technique and short race pace training to NVSL swimmers. As Chris was inspired to coach at a young age, he likes to keep Fitter & Faster camp participants engaged by being actively involved in coaching their peers. He says, “I like to have the kids watch other participants demo an element or a stroke and tell me what they see. It helps them better understand what I’m trying to teach them by having to articulate what their peers are doing well or what they could improve.”
Chris believes in a strong foundation in technique, and his goal when leading Fitter & Faster camps is for participants to walk away with improved strokes, stars and turns so they can train and compete more efficiently. He acknowledges that one size does not fit all, and tries to connect with, and evaluate, each swimmer. This allows him to better understand how the athlete moves through the water and what tweaks and adjustments may help them improve their stroke!
Chris was a conference champion for George Mason University and continues to compete with a goal of qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Trials. He began coaching club swimming during college and has been a coach for The St. James swim team since 2020. In both his club and Fitter and Faster work, Chris fosters a positive team environment where teammates encourage each other and lift each other up. He believes this leads to both personal and team improvement.
