After many years of successfully running an international advertising, marketing, public relations and promotional merchandise agency, Louis Tharp decided it was time for a change. Determined to improve his lifestyle, he not only began swimming regularly as part of a comprehensive health and fitness routine, but also switched careers to become a social entrepreneur. Louis Tharp is now a well-decorated swimmer, coach of a successful triathlon team and co-founder of two global organizations that improve the quality of life for those living with chronic diseases.
At first, Louis Tharp struggled to find success in outdated, conventional swim training methods. Tired of the lack of results, he discovered an exceptional training method that generates quicker, better performance results. Over the next ten years, he competed in international, local and regional meets, became a World Master’s medalist and lost eighty pounds.
In 2006, during a regular training swim at the U.S. Military Academy, a cadet in the neighboring lane asked his for swimming advice. The following day, 2 cadets asked for help. By the weeks’ end, he was invited to attend their triathlon swim practice. With the cadets’ overachiever mentality and his guidance, the 2007 US Army tie team achieved victory, placing third in the ITU Worlds in Hamburg and fifth in triathlon Collegiate Nationals.
In 2007, he wrote a book that details the team’s rigorous training through a collection of emails. In addition to coaching and authoring, he is also an accomplished swimmer, medaling in the 2006 Gay Games, the 2009 Outgames and the 1998 World Masters.
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 well-decorated swimmer and swim coach of the U.S. Army triathlon team, one of the best 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.