COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Keenan Robinson, two-time head athletic trainer for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team, has joined the USA Swimming staff as National Team High Performance Director.
In the newly-created position, Robinson will aid the National Team in achieving international success by providing information, programs and services that will help coaches and athletes make decisions that are optimize performance.
Key aspects of Robinson’s role include the management of USA Swimming’s High Performance staffing at key competitions and camps; overseeing the organization’s Sports Medicine and Science Network; providing individualized National Team coach and athlete support; and managing the competition and performance support at a variety of domestic and international events.
“It is a tremendous honor to serve the USA Swimming membership,” Robinson said. “The High Performance staff and Sports Medicine and Science Network are the absolute best in the world and its humbling to join this esteemed team.
Serving as head athletic trainer for the 2016 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Teams and numerous international trips with USA Swimming, Robinson was responsible for the well-being of the entire roster of swimmers in both preventive care and treating acute needs to allow them to compete in top physical condition.
“Keenan is a tremendous addition to the USA Swimming staff and will help us increase our athlete services to an even higher level,” said USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch. “He is incredibly well-respected within our sport by athletes, coaches and staff.”
Robinson comes to the national office from Arizona State University, where he was head of high performance services for aquatic sports. A longtime member of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club staff as director of athlete services, he worked with Olympic gold medalists Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt and as a key advisor to Head Coach Bob Bowman.
A 2002 graduate of Adrian (Mich.) College and a 2005 graduate of the Arizona School of Health Sciences, Robinson was assistant athletic trainer for swimming and diving at the University of Michigan and an athletic trainer with Club Wolverine.
Robinson is married to 2004 Olympian and University of Southern California All-American Kalyn Keller. The couple has a two-year old daughter, Regan Molly.
“The move to USA Swimming is a natural progression for Keenan,” said Bowman, head men’s coach for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team and head coach at Arizona State University. “He has been a key contributor to our staff since 2004, and we would not have achieved the successes we have without him.”
About USA Swimming
As the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, USA Swimming is a 400,000-member service organization that promotes the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches of all backgrounds to participate and advance in the sport through clubs, events and education. Our membership is comprised of swimmers from the age group level to the Olympic Team, as well as coaches and volunteers. USA Swimming is responsible for selecting and training teams for international competition including the Olympic Games, and strives to serve the sport through its core objectives: Build the base, Promote the sport, Achieve competitive success. For more information, visit www.usaswimming.org.
USA Swimming contributed this report.
If Keenan Robinson can figure out how to produce and develop the next Muchael Phelps by the time Tokyo rolls around the he’ll have earned his stripes. Otherwise he’s another body in an already bloated number of bodies iin Colorado Springs just taking up space.
What U.S. Swimming needs to do is beat the bushes of our inner cities and find eight, nine, ten year old kids with long limbs, good coordination and a desire to become an Olympic champion, get ’em into learn- to- swim programs and see if the next Michael Phelos can be developed scientifically, not just rely on happenstance and good fortune.
Imagine if Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson had been spotted by some age- group when they were little kids and introduced to swimming instead of basketball.
That’s what USS MUST do RO ensure continuing success.
And working to see that NO more men’s college swim programs get the axe and seeing about reinstating those that have hit the chopping block wouldn’t hurt either.
Yes, Phelps, Spitz and Ledecky are all one in a million but there are other kids out there w/ similar talent and desire who need to be nurtured too.
BTW: has Molly started doubles yet?
This hire makes absolutely no sense. Keenan is an athletic trainer now in charge of performance of the US National team? Based on what background and crednetials?
So because Keenan gave Phelps a few massages over the years this entitles him to oversee the national team?! Time for Frank Busch to go.
Agree with aforementioned comments.
Director of High Performance? Is Keenan a PhD, coach of Olympians, or an established leader in the industry? What are his credentials other than being Phelps’ athletic trainer? Seems like a questionable hire for such a position.
Another hire in the ‘good ole boy’ network of Mr. Busch.