About NCAP

Mission

The Nation’s Capital Swim Club strives to create a pathway to excellence for athletes, ensuring success in life and in swimming while maintaining a safe, healthy, and positive environment for all.

Core Values

Competitive Excellence

Help athletes reach the highest level they can attain in the sport of swimming

Leadership

Encourage athletes to become leaders in and out of the pool while demonstrating good sportsmanship.

Accountability

Hold athletes accountable for their actions.

Dedication

Teach the importance of setting long term goals and achieving them through sustained effort.

Diversity

Provide an environment where all cultural backgrounds can work together toward individual goals.

Mentorship

Guide young athletes to make good choices.

Team Records

Club History

Renowned for its rich Olympic legacy, NCAP has been home to the following US Olympic Athletes: 

  • Katie Ledecky: 2012, 2016, 2020

  • Phoebe Bacon: 2020

  • Andrew Seliskar: 2020

  • Andrew Wilson: 2020

  • Taylor Knibb: 2020, Triathlon

  • Lawrence Sapp: 2020, Para Olympian 

  • Becca Meyers: 2012, 2016, Para Olympian

  • Andrew Gemmell: 2012

  • Ed Moses: 2000

  • Tom Dolan: 1996, 2000

  • Mark Henderson: 1996

  • Susan Bartholomew Williams: 1996, Triathlon 

  • Rogue Santos: 1992

  • Mike Barrowman: 1988, 1992

Founded in 1978, the Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP) has emerged as one of the foremost swimming clubs in the United States. Demonstrating remarkable growth, NCAP has been recognized as a Gold Medal Club in USA Swimming's Club Excellence Program since 2011.  Its expansion is evident, with a presence across ten sites in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The club boasts a dedicated team of over 90 skilled professional coaches, including an ASCA National Coach of the Year and a Hall of Fame inductee. The team's first national championship came only eight years after NCAP’s founding, in 1986, at the short course spring nationals in Orlando where NCAP won the women's title.

NCAP has also been home to the following International Olympians:

  • Masami Tanaka -- 2000 & 2004 Japan

  • Markus Rogan - 2000 & 2004 Austria  (Silver Medallist 200 back)

  • Juan Valdivieso -- 1996 & 2000 Peru

  • Fred Hviid - 1996 & 2000 Spain

  • Alejandro Bermudez - 1992 & 1996 & 2000 Colombia

  • Sergio Lopez - 1988 & 1992 Spain (Bronze medallist 200 breast)

  • Kristina Han - 1988 South Korea

  • Molly Freedman - 1998 200M Fly National Champion

  • Jarrod Marrs - Pan Am 2001 Silver Medallist

  • Matt Brado - World University Games Medallist

  • Ellyn Baumgardner - SCM World Championships

  • Jarrod Marrs - Pan American 

  • Todd Dudley - 3x Gold medalist Pan American '87

  • Michelle Griglione - WC '86 Madrid S medalist

  • Susan O'Brien - 84 National Champion 100 M back -- our team's first + Pan Pac Medallist

Other Notable Accomplished Team Members Include:

  • Erin Gemmell - World Championships Medalist 2023, SC World Championship 2022

  • Brooke Travis - Open Water 2022 National Team

  • Chase Travis - Pan Pacs 2018

  • Cassidy Bayer - National Team Member

  • John Shebat - World University Games medallist

  • Sam Pomajevich - Pan American medallist

  • Lauren Stinnett - National champion 100-200 M fly

  • Pam Minthorn - National Champion 200M fly

  • Mark Liscinsky - Rep for U.S.A. in 2003 World University Games

NCAP boasted 22 athletes at the 2000 USA Olympic trials. A record-breaking 25 swimmers from NCAP qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials, a feat unmatched by any non-collegiate USA Swimming Club. NCAP had 24 Qualifiers in 2020.

The club's history is adorned with notable Olympians, including the exceptional achievements of Katie Ledecky. Katie is a seven-time Olympic gold medalist and has just recently won her 21st world championship gold medal, standing as the most accomplished female swimmer in history. Tom Dolan, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, set a precedent as a World Record Holder in the 400m IM and Silver Medalist in the 200m IM. Ed Moses, an 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist in the 400 Medley Relay and Silver Medalist in the 100m Breaststroke was the former world recorder holder in the short course meters 100 & 200 Breaststroke. Ed Moses set long course meters World Records in the 50 and 100 breaststroke at the World Champ Trials in 2001. He then went on to race short course meters for 2 more years, where he broke and re-broke the 100 and 200 breaststroke world records. 

NCAP remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering holistic growth among its swimmers. NCAP boasts an impressive 18 USA Swimming Scholastic All-Americans.

NCAP has a program for every age and ability from stroke school to senior-level swimming. The club develops children transitioning from learn-to-swim programs to competitive swimming, as well as those who participated in summer leagues that would like to swim year round.

To learn more, go to our location page to find a training site near you.