Matthew Heilman
Matthew Heilman
Elite Clinician
Matthew Heilman
2x NCAA All-American | 2x UVA Men’s Team Captain | Top-10 UVA Breaststroker
Hometown: Crozet, Virginia
College: University of Virginia (UVA)
Career Highlights
NCAA Division I Standout (University of Virginia)
- 2x NCAA All-American (400 Medley Relay in 2025 and 2026)
- Ranks Top 10 All-Time in UVA program history for the 200 Breaststroke
- Walked on to the UVA swimming program and developed into a First Team All-American
Leadership & Character
- 2x Men’s Team Captain for the Virginia Cavaliers
- 2x recipient of the Ramirez Family Award for Leadership
Elite Training Background
Competed under the world-class guidance of Gary Taylor, Todd DeSorbo, Jake Shrum, and Tyler Fenwick.
Bio
Matthew Heilman is a two-time NCAA All-American, a two-time team captain, and a premier breaststroker for the University of Virginia. Hailing from a deep swimming family in Crozet, Virginia, Matthew’s journey to the top of collegiate swimming is the ultimate testament to grit and perseverance. Though he was not the standard blue-chip recruit out of high school, he earned a walk-on spot at UVA. He embraced the opportunity, approaching every single practice with a chip on his shoulder, swimming like he had something to prove and absolutely nothing to lose.
His relentless work ethic and meticulous attention to detail transformed him into a cornerstone of the Cavaliers’ roster. Matthew broke into the program’s all-time Top 10 list in the 200 breaststroke and earned a coveted spot on the ACC 400 Medley Relay, dropping a massive 1.5-second personal best during his first taste of major championship relay swimming. He ultimately reached the pinnacle of the sport by becoming a two-time All-American in the 400 Medley Relay. Widely respected by his peers and coaches, he was named a two-time Men’s Team Captain and won the Ramirez Family Award for Leadership twice. Having coached youth swimmers at clinics and camps, Matthew brings a profound obsession with technique, an analytical eye, and a deep appreciation for the daily grind to the pool deck.
From the Clinician
The Walk-On Mentality
A defining moment of my career was simply being offered a walk-on spot at the University of Virginia. I probably wasn’t the caliber of swimmer they typically recruit, but they took a chance on me. That opportunity completely shaped my mindset. It made me approach every practice like I had something to prove and nothing to lose. I learned how to deal with delayed gratification, knowing I was willing to do more than most other people to reach my goals. I want to teach young athletes that hard work, when paired with immense patience, can take you from being an underdog to an All-American.
An Obsession with the Details
I have coached ages 6 to 15 in the past, giving me direct experience with youth development. However, what truly makes me an effective teacher is my intense attention to detail, my obsession with technique, and my analytical approach. True performance improvement happens when you are willing to go the extra mile outside of the pool, dialing in your diet, your sleep, your stretching, and your recovery. I have been coached by some of the best minds in the world, and I made it a priority to learn their systems. My coaching reflects those world-class standards.
How You Do Anything is How You Do Everything
I am a huge swimming fan. I come from a swimming family, and I’ve swum most of my life. I love the motto, “How to do anything is how to do everything.” I approach my clinics with the exact same intensity and dedication that I gave to my swimming career, my classes, and my job. When I work with young athletes, it is incredibly important to me to make swimming fun while still allowing them to work hard, improve, and find genuine joy in the process.
Finding Pride in the Process
My biggest piece of advice is to enjoy the process. This sport is far too hard to only be in it for the end-of-season championship meet. By the time I went into my tapers, I was always confident in the work I had put in. Regardless of how I actually swam, I was going to be proud of the season I put together. If kids can learn to find pride in their daily grind, the fast times will follow naturally.
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