Swimming World Presents “Up & Comers – Team Santa Monica’s Zach Tower” – Sponsored By Spectrum Aquatics
Up & Comers
Team Santa Monica’s Zach Tower
By Shoshanna Rutemiller
Zach Tower, 12, of Team Santa Monica (Calif.) has done something many swimmers find difficult: he has found success in all strokes…at all distances!
At the Mission Viejo ISCA Elite Showcase in February, Zach swam 10 individual events and placed first in the 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 yard freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 200 and 400 IM, and second in the 100 backstroke.
Zach’s time in the 1000 free (10:02.28) makes him the fastest 12-year-old in the nation by more than seven seconds. He is also ranked among the top 10 nationally in the 100, 200 and 500 free, 200 fly and the 200 and 400 IM.
“For us, the biggest achievement at that meet was not the time drops or the national rankings,” says Coach Iman Khadembashi. “It was the range of events in which Zach was dominant.”
Unfortunately, Zach didn’t get to finish out his amazing short course season because his end-of-season meet, the Spring Junior Olympics, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with his 13th birthday just around the corner, Zach has many upcoming opportunities for new competition—which is a plus, because, according to Coach Iman, Zach hates to lose!
Swimming World: What is the best thing you do in swimming?
Zach Tower: My focus before a race is what I do best.
SW: What is your favorite thing about swimming?
ZT: I love to make friends—both with people on my team and from opposing teams.
To read more about Up & Comer Zach Tower,
Check out the full issue of Swimming World July 2020, available now!
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Swimming World Magazine July 2020 Issue
FEATURES
017 A NEW HOPE
by Dan D’Addona
The COVID-19 pandemic has swept across the globe and changed the lives of everyone in the world. Now, there is some light at the end of the tunnel as the world struggles to find normalcy again.
020 ISHOF: “CALLING ALL TROUBLEMAKERS”
by Bruce Wigo
Sprinters are a different breed of swimmer. They’re not just free spirits, but they seem to be rule breakers and troublemakers who also are catalysts for positive change. In the first of a two-part feature, Swimming World takes a look at the stories of two of the most well-known female sprinters who fit this image: Dawn Fraser and Eleanor Holm.
023 GREAT SCOT(T)
by David Rieder
Scotland’s Duncan Scott should be an Olympic medal threat next year in the 100 and 200 free and maybe even the 200 IM, and he will be a key cog for British 800 free and 400 medley relays with gold medal aspirations.
026 TAKEOFF TO TOKYO: A STAR OF SWIMMING…AND HOLLYWOOD
by John Lohn
The latest installment of our Takeoff to Tokyo series looks at the career of the legendary Johnny Weissmuller, one of the first stars in the sport, and then a Hollywood hero.
COACHING
012 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: THE VALUE OF HAND FORCE ANALYSIS: PART IV—FREESTYLE
by Rod Havriluk
The first three articles in this series (Part I—Butterfly, Part II—Backstroke and Part III—Breaststroke) presented information about the value of using hand force analysis to reinforce positive technique elements and identify limitations. The current article includes more general information about force analysis with a freestyle example.
014 AEROBIC OVERLOAD: VOLUME REVISITED (Part 2)
by Michael J. Stott
Last month, Swimming World examined the role of volume in aquatic training. This month, some of America’s most successful swimmers share how volume shaped their development.
042 Q&A WITH COACH TOM JOHNSON
by Michael J. Stott
044 HOW THEY TRAIN EMILY OVERHOLT AND MARKUS THORMEYER
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
011 DRYSIDE TRAINING: THE NEED FOR STRENGTH
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
046 UP & COMERS: ZACH TOWER
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
010 THE OFFICIAL WORD
019 DID YOU KNOW? NO TO TOPLESS BATHING; HIGH DIVING; AND FIRST FULLY AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC TIMING SYSTEM
029 2020 AQUATIC DIRECTORY
041 DADS ON DECK
047 GUTTERTALK
048 PARTING SHOT