After 20 years of operating a successful international advertising, promotional merchandise, marketing and public relations agency, Louis Tharp needed a change. Determined to better his overall lifestyle, he not only began swimming as part of a comprehensive fitness and health regime, but also changed career paths. Louis Tharp is now a social entrepreneur, coach of a successful tri team, well-decorated swimmer and co-founder of two international organizations that increase the quality of life for persons living with chronic diseases.
When Louis Tharp first began swimming, he struggled with conventional, outdated training methods. Fed up with the lack of performance results, he discovered a new technique that had a successful outcome. In the next ten years, he lost 80 pounds, competed in local, regional and international meets and eventually became a World Master’s medalist.
In 2006, during a regular training swim at the U.S. Military Academy, a cadet in the next lane asked him for help. Two cadets asked for assistance the next day and within a week, he was invited to their triathlon swim practice. The next year, thanks to his guidance and the overachiever mentality of the cadets, the 2007 US Army tri team swam to success, placing fifth in triathlon Collegiate Nationals and third in the ITU Worlds in Hamburg.
He chronicled the Army tri team‘s rise to the top in a collection of inspiring, informative and humorous emails that detail the team’s rigorous training methods. In addition to authoring and coaching, he is a well-decorated competitive swimmer, winning medals in the 1998 World Masters, the 2006 Gay Games and the 2009 Outgames.
With the right mindset, it’s possible for every person to change their lifestyle for the better. Louis Tharp is only an illustration of this; you don’t have to write a book, win international medals or coach a triathlon team to experience success. Every person is different, so every person will achieve success in their own unique way.
Louis Tharp is a competitive swimmer and swim coach of the U.S. Army triathlon team, one of the premiere college triathlon teams in the United States. Louis Tharp is also the author of “Overachiever’s Diary: How the Army Triathlon Team Became World Contender,” which chronicles the team’s rise to success.
avikahejo 