Zach Fong
Zach Fong
QUICK STATS
- Hometown: Moorestown, New Jersey
- Birthdate: September 22, 1997
- College: University of Virginia
- Coaches: Todd Desorbo, Blaire Bachman, Cory Chitwood
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 2020 and 2024 Olympic Trials Qualifier
- UVA Record Holder (100-yard butterfly, 200-yard butterfly, 400-yard medley relay)
- NCAA All American
- UVA Team Captain
EXPERIENCE
Zach Fong, a two-time Olympic Trials qualifier and Team Captain at the University of Virginia, shares his love of swimming with Fitter and Faster clinic participants. He says, “First and foremost, I love the sport. I’ve been passionate about being in the water and competitive swimming since I was six years old.” He brings high energy and fun to the pool deck, encouraging young athletes with positive reinforcement. “I want to make sure every camp participant learns something and is excited about it. As coaches and clinicians, we can do a better job of getting young athletes excited about the sport while improving their technique.”
Zach’s camps are technique focused and detail oriented. He shares the belief that “Much is made of generating speed, but it’s equally important to maintain it. The quickest we are ever moving is coming off a block or pushing off a wall. It’s so critical to maintain that speed at all costs.” Zach emphasizes strength and flexibility in the core and shoulders to assist the arms and legs in moving water to generate, and maintain, speed.
Athletes like Zach often relate their experience swimming to their experience in life; to be successful you must work hard, have passion, care, and show up every day. It’s not always easy, and not always fun, but you get out what you put in. Zach says, “Because of swimming, I’m a better version of myself. That might seem over simplified, but it’s true. I’ve met my best friends at the pool, I learned how to work hard at the pool, I suffered my greatest heartbreaks at the pool, and I’ve had my greatest triumphs at the pool.“
