Justin Ress
Justin Ress
Elite Clinician
Justin Ress
2x World Champion | 4x World Championships Medalist | NCAA Champion
Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
College: North Carolina State University (NC State)
Career Highlights
International & World Championship Stature
- 2x World Champion at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships: Gold in the 50m Backstroke and Gold in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay
- 4x World Championships Medalist, including Silver in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay and Bronze in the 50m Backstroke
NCAA Division I Dominance: NC State Wolfpack
- NCAA Champion in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay and multi-time NCAA All-American
- 12x ACC Conference Champion across individual and relay events
- Played a foundational role in building NC State into an NCAA powerhouse
USA Swimming & Olympic Trials
- Multi-time U.S. National Champion in the 50m Backstroke and 100m Backstroke
- Multi-time U.S. Olympic Team Trials Finalist
Elite Mentorship & Coaching
Trained under top-tier coaching minds including Braden Holloway, Bobby Guntoro, and Jeff Julian.
Bio
Justin Ress is a two-time World Champion, four-time World Championships medalist, and one of the premier sprint backstroke and freestyle talents in American swimming. Hailing from Cary, North Carolina, Justin made a massive splash on the collegiate stage at NC State under head coach Braden Holloway and assistant coach Bobby Guntoro. During his storied Wolfpack career, Justin won an NCAA title, earned 12 ACC Championship titles, and served as a pillar in transforming NC State into a national powerhouse program.
On the global stage, Justin reached the pinnacle of the sport at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, capturing individual Gold in the 50-meter backstroke alongside Relay Gold in the 4x100m freestyle. His professional journey took him across the country to California under coach Jeff Julian, a move that tested his resilience and ultimately unlocked his world-champion caliber speed. Deeply committed to youth mentorship, Justin conducts weekly swim lessons in his community, bringing elite analytical insight, empathetic leadership, and world-class technical knowledge to every swimmer he teaches.
From the Clinician
The Person Above the Swimmer
I am a deeply analytical, passionate, and caring person, and my core philosophy is simple: I care about the human being standing in front of me far more than just the swimmer. To be a great teacher is to share knowledge and experience, both of which I have in abundance. Parents can trust that my technical experience and understanding of the sport will match nearly anyone on the planet, but it is my dedication to developing kids as whole people that truly sets my coaching apart.
Removing the Pressure by Becoming Well-Rounded
The biggest leap forward I ever made in swimming occurred when I became a more well-rounded person outside of the pool. Developing a strong sense of self-worth that valued the non-swimming aspects of my life allowed me to strip away the suffocating pressure that can strangle you at a high-stakes meet. The sport is a fantastic place to start building character, but the younger generation faces so many challenges in life. I do weekly swim lessons because I am passionate about preparing kids to navigate those real-world obstacles with confidence and resilience.
Facing Hardships and Taking Risks
The defining experience of my career was taking a huge risk and moving my life across the country to California. Finding a new social circle and building a life in a completely foreign environment was tougher than any race I have ever swum in my life. The hardships of that transition were deeply discouraging at times, but pushing through that period transformed me, and just a few months after making that move, I became a World Champion. I want young athletes to know that taking uncomfortable risks is often the prerequisite for extraordinary breakthroughs.
Find Your Own “Why”
My advice to every athlete is to always find your own reason “why.” Never let someone else define your goals or tell you what your motivation should be. The relationships I have built, the mentors I have gained, and the places I have traveled across this planet made every bit of pain and sacrifice in my swimming career completely worth it.
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