Making waves with Richmond area youth swimmer Jack Danahy
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia summers are hot. The sun can be brutal. The humidity makes the air thick and covers you with a dewy film. This doesn’t deter the dedicated young Jack Danahy as he hits the water 4 to 5 times a week to train. He has big plans for the future, and the full support of his parents, Katie and Chris. They own and operate a local gem, the Tavern at Triangle Park located across from the Village at Patterson and Three Chopt.
Jack began swimming in his backyard pool at just a year old with his parents and took to it like a fish to water. With no official lessons or training, Jack enrolled at NOVA at 6 years old to begin swimming. Within a matter of days, his father, Chris, was called into the office. She said that he had risen through their program faster than anyone previously had, and she wasn’t quite sure what else to do with him. She asked which summer league team he swam for, and when she learned that he wasn’t on a team at that time, she recommended he get on one immediately. Through their recommendations, and Chris’s network, Jack began swimming for Ridge Top during the summers. He simultaneously entered the Novice program at NOVA, which is the starting program for the team there.
Jack is a rising 6th grader and will attend Tuckahoe Middle School in the fall. During the school year, Jack practices indoors 4 times a week at NOVA. He works hard to balance school and swimming, always making sure that schoolwork is finished first. Just before Covid, he also started playing the piano, which he has continues to do year-round.
During the summer months, Jack enjoys swimming for Ridge Top. He keeps up his rigorous training during the summer, often adding an extra day of practice to his schedule. When he isn’t in the water, he also enjoys playing baseball with Tuckahoe Little League. For the past few seasons, he has played in the Majors for the Royals. Jack likes to be flexible and enjoys alternating between pitching, catching and playing 1st base. At the end of this most recent season, the coaches of all the teams voted Jack to be the recipient of the Roger Munnings Sportsmanship Award. Katie and Chris are especially proud of this award. Jack appreciates the responsibility that comes with his incredible talent. He is very aware of the younger kids looking up to him, and he tries hard to lead by example. Coaches and parents alike frequently mention to Chris and Katie what a great attitude Jack has towards the sport and his fellow swimmers.
As a result of his hard work and dedication to his craft, Jack has earned several titles and awards. He is the record holder in the 10 & Under 50 free at the NCSA National Championships, where he won 7 events. He won those same 7 events at the Virginia State Championships, as well as the same 7 events at USA Swimming Eastern Zones Championships in Ithaca, NY, where he swam for Virginia Swimming. Last summer, he broke a record at NOVA held since the 1980s! That was just 1 of his 10 records at NOVA last year. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he also simultaneously held all 5 James River Aquatic Center records in his age division last summer and was named Virginia Swimming Swimmer of the Year in his age group the last 2 years.
Jack is most inspired by professional swimmer, Caeleb Dressel. Like Dressel, Jack aspires to go far in the world of swimming. He knows that he wants to swim in college, and at the moment, he is hoping that will be at the University of Texas – Austin, or Stanford University. In times where it is difficult to keep pushing forward, Jack likes to recall a phrase his coaches often remind him of, “Your body can do more than your mind says it can.”
In the water or out, Jack is a force to be reckoned with. Keep your eyes on this boy, as he is likely to put our small town on the map one day. We are so glad to call him a part of our community.
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