Jeff Float

Jeff first discovered his gills when he joined Sacramento's Arden Hills Swim Club, home to "big kids" Mark Spitz, Debbie Meyer and Mike Burton, all of whom were trained by legendary US Olympic Coach Sherm Chavoor. The pool proved itself the perfect outlet for this seven-year-old's pentup energy and frustration; for at 13 months of age, Jeff contracted viral meningitis and consequently lost his hearing.

Soon he was flying through the ranks of regional swimming. After winning the State champs with Jesuit High School, Jeff chose to attend USC, from which procured a BA in psychology. A member of both the .80 and .84 Olympic teams [peer-elected team captain in LA], Jeff had the great fortune of swimming in his "home pool" at USC.

On Day One of competition, he placed fourth in the 200m free.

On Day Two, swimming his retirement race, he and his 800m free-relay teammates stunned the West Germans, smashed the World Record by five seconds, and captured Gold. Now employed by Spare Time, Inc., as an aquatics director, "Coach Jeff" enjoys age-group rec and year-round USA Swimming programs as well as conducting one-on-one personal training and group clinics.

Also a popular motivational speaker, Jeff is the inventor of an ondeck training device called Floatwister, which was featured in Sports Illustrated.

Residing in Sacramento with his wife Jan, Jeff considers it an honor to have participated in SAA swims for the past 14 years.