Jake Magahey
Jake Magahey
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
NCAA Champion | 15x All-American | Junior World Record Holder
Hometown: Dacula, Georgia
College: University of Georgia (UGA)
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- NCAA Division I Dominance (University of Georgia)
- 2021 NCAA Champion (500-yard Freestyle)
- 15x First-Team NCAA All-American
- Showcased immense versatility by becoming an NCAA Finalist in 5 different events
- International & Age Group Success
- 2022 Short Course World Championships: 7th place (400m Freestyle)
- Junior World Record Holder (800m Freestyle Relay)
- Elite Training Background
- Developed under the guidance of legendary coaches Jack Bauerle, Neil Versfeld, and Chris Davis.
BIO
Jake Magahey is an NCAA Champion and one of the most analytical, versatile mid-distance freestylers in recent collegiate history. Training under legendary coaches Jack Bauerle and Neil Versfeld, Jake became a powerhouse for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. In 2021, he captured the NCAA title in the 500-yard freestyle, solidifying his status as a premier distance talent. Over his highly decorated collegiate career, he earned 15 First-Team All-American honors and proved his incredible versatility by reaching the NCAA finals in five different individual events.
On the international stage, Jake represented Team USA at the 2022 Short Course World Championships and etched his name in the record books as a Junior World Record holder in the 800-meter freestyle relay. Having recently stepped away from competitive racing, Jake brings a highly reflective and strategic approach to the pool deck. He possesses a deep understanding of the crushing lows and unbelievable highs of elite swimming. Patient, flexible, and deeply passionate about giving back to the sport, Jake offers young athletes unparalleled insight into race pacing, visualization, and the mechanics required to succeed across multiple disciplines.
FROM THE CLINICIAN
The Strategy of the 500 Freestyle: Being a 500 freestyler, I believe there is a massive amount of strategy involved in the race that is rarely discussed. I spent countless hours researching the splits of historic 500 swims to come up with the absolute best pacing strategy for myself. By knowing those exact splits and executing them daily in practice, I was incredibly prepared when the end of the season arrived. Towards the end of my career, I also did a lot of work on visualizing my races and scripting my meet-day preparations so that all I had to worry about was swimming. That mental scripting is something I wish I had done earlier in my career, and it is a tool I actively teach to my athletes.
The Delayed Payout of Hard Work: From the age of 13, I set incredibly high goals for myself. I worked tirelessly to meet them, but it wasn’t until I was 16 that I actually started to achieve them. Once that breakthrough happened, I quickly surpassed even my own expectations. That three-year stretch instilled the unshakable belief that hard work pays off, even if it takes time to catch up. Because I have lived that, I have a very high level of patience as a coach. I cater my teaching to exactly where a swimmer is currently at, and I am always flexible in my approach to help them get where they want to be.
Don’t Overcomplicate the Race: My biggest piece of advice is to stop overcomplicating things. When race day comes, the pool will be the exact same length, the race will be the exact same distance, and you will be swimming the exact same way you have been training. All that is left is to swim the race and do your best. If you try to make it any more complicated than that, it will only lead to anxiety and problems.
Handling the Highs and Lows: I have experienced everything this sport has to offer, from crushing lows to unbelievable highs. Taking some time away from competing has given me a much healthier perspective on my career. I tell kids never to take a bad performance too harshly. If you have a bad swim, feel what your mind is telling you to feel—be mad, angry, or sad—but at some point, you have to move that energy in a positive direction. In a sport that relies so heavily on individual execution, it is not worth crushing yourself when things don’t go your way. Because of swimming, I met incredible competitors and coaches, learned the value of hard work, and realized that the most rewarding thing in life is helping others improve.
