Photo by Luke Beck

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**Please note: The article in this month’s issue incorrectly referenced Olympic Gold Medalist Brooke Bennett as Brooke Benton. We apologize for the error.

Some people cultivate the land. Peter cultivates Olympic swimmers. The aquatics director and head coach of the swim team at the Brandon Swim and Aquatics Center works with both adults and children at the family-oriented, multi-sports facility. Former students include 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist Brooke Bennett and Silver Olympic Medalist Maritza Correia. “When I begin working with a new athlete, I look for a passion for the sport, a sense of wanting to be part of the program and the mental fortitude and desire to work harder and get better,” he says. Peter and his wife live in Carrollwood and enjoy traveling together, including home to his native Ireland to see family. “As a coach, I enjoy getting so many kids involved and seeing my kids have the opportunity to become Olympic-level swimmers,” he says. “I want our center to be the best sports facility in the area.”

What does Peter like most about skirt!?

“Good to see it’s about more than regular news and you get to meet people in the community.”

And wearing a skirt?

“It’s breezy, and look how well it goes with my shirt and hat!”

*******MORE ABOUT PETER******

Peter moved to the United States back in 1989 after many years in recreational management in Ireland. His career shifted to an emphasis on coaching, what he insists he’s always been most passionate about. “Personally, I get something out of being a coach and contributing to a young person’s development, he says. “And if they get something out of the program, they can contribute back to the local community.”

Peter says that while he enjoys coaching people of all ages, he’s noticed a difference in how to coach boys versus girls. “Teenage girls are a bit more focused and sometimes the boys can take a little longer,” he says. “You can’t coach boys and girls the same way, even of the same age group.”

While growing up, he too found peace in the pool and was himself a committed athlete in both swimming and rugby. It’s this appreciation of the time, commitment and effort an athlete invests in their sport that keeps Peter energized as a coach. “I try to stress most the importance of taking control and ownership of their career. If they can develop these skills as an athlete, it will help them later in business and their personal growth,” he says.

The Brandon Swim and Aquatics Center has worked closely with local organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa to provide access to the center’s top-notch amenities. “It’s great to be able to provide a healthy outlet for kids who might not otherwise be able to afford facilities like ours and watch their enthusiasm for the sport grow,” he says.