Seven-Year-Old Swimmer Finishes Top in Nation

When longtime YMCA swim coach Kamal Farhat took Finn Maguire to an out-of-town swim meet, he wasn’t surprised when the young swimmer was successful. The surprise came later when he heard back from United State Swimming.

“We went to the meet last weekend,” Farhat said as he put his swimmers through their paces at the Y pool. “He swam the 50 free, the 100 free, and the fly.”  

Farhat wasn’t overly impressed with Maguire’s accomplishments at the time.

"And then the result comes out,” Farhat said. "It goes to United States Swimming, and they compare his times to everybody else around the country. He was set as number one in the 100 free among the seven and under swimmers. He was number one and the next one behind him was ten seconds behind. And he was second in the 50 free.”

Maguire has been swimming with Farhat for about a year.

Farhat has had outstanding young female swimmers in the past who have gone on to collegiate and even Olympic swimming careers. He is encouraged by Maguire’s early promise.

“It means he has potential to be a very powerful swimmer,” Farhat said. "If that drive is still there and the love of the sport stays there, then he has the potential for success."