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Gulf High Swim Coach Breaks World Record

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By ERIC HORCHY

The Suncoast News

Published: December 27, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Unlike many conventional team sports, swimming is one that can be participated in competitively well after athletes surpass their physical "prime."

Tarpon Springs resident Casey Claflin, who also serves as the swim coach for Gulf High and coaches at the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatics Center, continues to prove that reality throughout his life.

The 55-year-old swimmer broke another U.S. Masters Series world record recently at a short-course, meter-distance meet in Coral Springs.

Claflin swam the 50-meter backstroke event in 30.15 seconds to edge out the previous fastest time of 30.25.

It is the fourth time he has set a new world mark, he said, with the first coming nine years ago.

"I hope to do it until I can't do it anymore, because it's one of the few things you can do for just about your whole life," Claflin said while speaking of his lifelong love of the sport and future aspirations.

Beyond his own personal accomplishments, he said coaching and growing the sport is his main focus.

"One of the reasons why I do what I do is to try and raise the level of consciousness of competitive swimming. My goal up here is to educate people about the benefits of swimming for their health, and we've got such a nice facility here to do that."

Despite the amenities of the center, Claflin is looking for an uptick in public activity. He said the phenomenon of Michael Phelps during the Summer Olympics has lifted participation, but that more will have to be done once that luster fades.

Claflin, who works in real estate when not at the pool coaching, swimming or lifeguarding, said he would like to stick around on the job in New Port Richey for at least three to four years to give the center some consistency in coaching that it has previously lacked.

Afterward, he said he is willing to coach collegiately at some point if the opportunity presents itself.

Until then, Claflin is keeping himself and his wealth of experience in the sport available to any and all residents of New Port Richey and the surrounding areas.

"People just don't understand how wonderful it is to come in, get in shape, swim, lose weight and feel good," he said. "You don't have to be world class to come here; you just have to be able to swim."

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