Chelsea Piers Aquatics Club Announces the Return of Jamie Barone
August 5, 2024
By: Chelsea Piers Athletic Club
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.
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.”
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.”
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.