Jamie Barone, founding Chelsea Piers Aquatics Club head coach, has returned to the club, and this week he was named to the U.S. Paralympics coaching staff supporting the 33 American swimmers at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
— an announcement from Chelsea Piers Connecticut
Photo from Chelsea Piers
Barone, again the head coach at Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club, was recently selected as one of eight coaches named to the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Games in Paris.
Barone, who grew up in Stamford and is now raising his children there, previously oversaw the Chelsea Piers Aquatics Club (CP-AC) from 2012 to 2021.
“I’m thrilled to be back at Chelsea Piers after a hiatus from club coaching,” he said. “The management, staff and available resources provide the perfect ingredients to help the Aquatics Club give our swimmers unparalleled opportunity to be their best.”
During that time he earned CP-AC recognition as a top 20 program in the United States and designation of a “Silver Medal Club” in 2016. In 2020 was named a “Gold Medal Club” by USA Swimming.
Since leaving his head coaching role in 2021, Barone has remained active in the swimming community. Most recently, Jamie has been the personal coach of Ali Truwit, a former CP-AC swimmer, Yale graduate, and now a member of Team USA for the Paralympics in Paris this summer.
“Jamie has always helped me achieve more than I or others thought I could,” Truwit said. “His coaching skill, expertise, and care first helped me be recruited to Yale Women’s Swim & Dive and most recently to be selected for Team USA at this summer’s Paralympics. I would not be the swimmer or person I am today without him.”
Photo from Chelsea Piers
One of the pools at Chelsea Piers Connecticut. The athletic complex is about a mile from Darien (turn left at McDonald’s), and is worth a visit just to see how gargantuan the indoor space is, including football/soccer fields, several tennis courts and squash courts.
Two former CP-AC swimmers, Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh, swam in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and have qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, with a third former team member, Gretchen Walsh.
“To have someone of Jamie’s caliber and proven track record return to the pool deck at Chelsea Piers is extraordinary,” said Kevin Burton, the club’s athletic director. “His approach to training and uncanny ability to build meaningful relationships with young athletes perfectly complements our overall athletics philosophy.”
Photo from Chelsea Piers
The main entrance at the south side of Chelsea Piers Connecticut. The building formerly housed a Clairol factory. Next door, on the other side of the building, NBC Olympics has been preparing for its 9-hour-a-day coverage of the Paris Olympics.
An accomplished swimmer in his own right, Barone competed at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic trials, ranking as high as 10th in the United States in the 100-meter breaststroke.
“He is a world-class coach whose leadership will propel the club to greater heights,” said Greta Wagner, executive director of Chelsea Piers Connecticut.