Jamie Slater will be one of our athletes recognized at the NCA Go For Gold event this Saturday 11-1pm at Alga Norte Park. Please come and show your support at this fun team building event!

From: Fairfax, VA

High School:  W.T. Woodson Cavaliers 1998 (4yr V.Swim, 1yr Cpt)

College:  Elon University, Elon, NC – Bachelors Science, Exercise Sports Science, 2002, recipient of Elon University’s Top 10 Under 10 Award in 2012 for his military service within the United States Navy.

Military Service:
United States Navy from Dec 2003 – his medical retirement in June 2015.  11.5 yrs of honorable service.

Occupations:  (8404) Hospital Corpsman; (0317) Marine Corps Scout Sniper
Deployed 4 separate times to both Iraq and Afghanistan in both combat and within medical facilities.

Injury:  While screening for an advanced medical support role with a Navy SEAL Unit, I suffered a ruptured disc in my lumbar spine.  I was unaware of the true nature of seriousness of the injury and treated it as a running injury.  After finally diagnosis was complete as of this month and that initial injury suffered while preparing for the screening, I had 5 separate spine surgeries resulting in 1 total fusion of my L4/L5; a total disc replacement at the L3/L4 level; and total disc replacements at both the C5/C6 and the C6/C7 levels.  In between my 2nd and fifth surgeries, I was able to restart the entire swimming process over 5 separate times and continue to improve the technical aspects of my stroke to successfully break 6 SB9 Paralympic American Records for the short course yards and meters breaststroke events.

Why do you swim?  If I can have a positive influence on at least ONE service member who has suffered a career ending wound, injury or illness diagnosis to NOT give up; to continue to CHARGE forward with everything you have … maybe, just maybe, its the LAST treatment/surgery; and YOU were the only one who could’ve survived it all!  Never give up.  I also hope that I can be the absolute best representative of everyone who has ever had an influence on m life with great sportsmanship and LOADS of energy!  I am absolutely humbled and truly blessed I am in the water with all the amazing swimmers around the world; especially all my teammates (North Coast Aquatics; United States Marine Corps Wounded Warriors and Oceanside Swim Club) Thanks for sharing the lanes with me and trusting in my Coaching to improve your strokes, times and overall experience as swimmers.

Fun note:  Coach Michael Galindo and I swam for the same club team, York,  a short period while in High School.

Paralympic SB9 American Records
Short course yards 50:  30.71 @ UCLA 29Mar2015
Short course yards 100: 1:06.89 @ UCLA 29Mar2015
Short course yards 200: 2:28.55 @ UCLA 29Mar2015

Short course meters 50:  35.76 @ Mission Viejo, 27Sep2015
Short course meters 100:  1:15.20 @ Mission Viejo, 27Sep2015
Short Course meters 200: 2:24.10 @ Mission Viejo, 27Sep2015