Joe Zemaitis Athlete
With sixteen years of competitive swimming experience and international accolades as a Professional Triathlete, Joe Zemaitis -at age 29- brings a lifetime of experience in competitive sports to his work with the Swim Neptune. Joe’s coaching philosophy is rooted in the film belief that every child has a genius - a natural talent that, when recognized and unlocked, paves the way to a lifetime of success. Knowing the vast array of critical life skills and lessons learned through sports participation, Joe is a strong proponent of the myriad benefits for every child.In 2002, Joe launched Swim Neptune, a year-round competitive USA Swimming Club that has grown to include six locations across the Phoenix metro area and continues to nurture young swimmers in pursuit of their competitive goals. Swim Neptune has won 4 Arizona age group state championships.In support of childhood drowning prevention and water safety initiatives, Joe created FAST - The Foundation for Aquatic Safety and Training in 2006. A non-profit organization, based in Phoenix, Arizona, FAST is about Kids Saving Kids. The mission of FAST is to leverage the talents, energy, and skills of competitive swimmers of all ages to spread the message of water safety and take an active role in teaching kids to swim. Programs such as the FAST Talkers Educational Outreach and Water Safety for Refugees are examples of the FAST commitment to water safety and drowning prevention.Beginning in 2006 Joe trained teams of young swimmers to complete the swim from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco. After one swimmer achieved this goal in 2006 the program grew to over 75 athletes in 2007 and again in 2008.In 1998 Joe set the 19 and under record at the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon, the result of a goal he set when he was 12 years old. He has completed a total of seven Ironman races, including four at the World Championships in Hawaii. In 2003 Joe set an age group course record and was the Overall Amateur Champion at the Ironmam Langkawi Malaysia. His pro career highlights include a top 5 finished at the 2005 Long Course National Championships, selections to two USA World Championship Teams, a top 5 overall finish at the 2005 Ironman Langkawi Malaysia and competing as a professional in the 2005 Hawaii Ironman. He was named the USA Triathlon 2005 Professional Rookie of the Year. Joe won two Junior National Championships, is a six-time Triathlon All-American, and has represented the USA in ten World Championship events. He competed in 13 countries and 27 states during his career as an amateur and professional triathlete.Joe earned a full tuition academic scholarship to Lake Forest College where he graduated in 2002 Summa Cum Laude and Phie Beta Kappa. He was a Rhodes Scholarship semi-finalist and recipient of the Graduating Scholar Athlete Award and the Senior Inderpendent Scholar Prize. While at Lake Forest College Joe was a two-time captain of the Varsity Swim team and three-time captain of the Varsity Cross Country team, setting school records in both sports. At Horizon High School in Phoenix, Arizona he lettered in swimming and cross country.His first book, Joe’s Rule How Every Parent Can Help a Child Excel in Life- Through Sports, was published in 2007 and promises to be the first of a Joe’s Rules sires dedicated to yound people the world over and those who love and supoort them as they grow to become the leaders and the champions of tomorrow.