Jack Alexy made it to the front page when he outpaced Caeleb Dressel’s record in the 100 m freestyle prelim in an impressive 47.08s. Alexy’s name has been surging up on the list of top swimmers in the USA. The splashing pirate has clinched various notable honors like Golden Goggles and prominent championships like the 2019 Budapest Jr. Championship, the 2023 World Championship, and the 2024 NCAA Championship, and is soon going to compete in the Paris Olympics.

Alexy has come a long way on his journey; from being an eight-year-old boy who dreamed of pursuing swimming to a 6’8″ 21-year-old who is known for being one of the fastest swimmers, he has worked with a level 5 ASCA-certified coach, Lori Riegler, to Dave Durden, who gave him the footing training, to his childhood coach, Doris Schieppe—each of these people had a part to play in his success. Yet it was Doris who inspired him to be the most. But who is Doris Schieppe behind the shadows of his star athlete?

Who is Doris Schieppe and how does the octogenarian still mentor Jack Alexy?

Alexy’s coach, Doris Schieppe, trained him to be the best. In February 2024, NBC Sports shared a video of Doris meeting Jack Alexy after 10 years, where the coach stated that they correspond but do not really get the chance to meet in person. Jack describes Doris as a strict trainer and a source of dedicated support for the past ten years. Defining his ‘straightforward’ relationship with Doris, he explains, “She is not negative, but she will make comments and criticism that are trying to make you the best version of yourself.”

In the video, it can be seen that as Jack practiced swimming further, the coach kept correcting his forms in the pool. Jack Alexy describes Doris as a strict trainer and a source of dedicated support for the past ten years—a strict mentor whom not many swimmers would’ve had the guts to deal with. The two still share the same bond that they had since his childhood; Jack calls Doris a part of his ‘family.’ But it’s not just his coach. Every step that Alexy has taken in sports, including his joining the California Golden Bear, has chiseled the swimmer to stand where he is today!

How has California Golden Bear chiseled Jack Alexy as a pro swimmer

‘Practice does not make perfect. Practice makes permanent,’ this quote resonates perfectly with Alexy’s journey and the impact that the California Golden Bear had on him, teaching him to be consistent and leading to his growth. In his interview with Social Kick, Jack shared details about his rigorous practice schedule. Sharing a closer look at the rigorous routine, he mentions, “I was doing 4 x 75 freestyles from the block to a hand finish, and it would be on like 15 minutes, just plenty of rest in between and kinda go as fast as possible.”

Alexy mentions the competitive spirit of his teammates as well as the practice schedules that everyone shared, like the “insane” routine of fellow swimmer Destin Lasco’s 20–50 laps. Indeed, the practice sessions and training he received during the peak of his career have helped him to be who he is today, and now Jack Alexy is ready to compete in his second season at the Olympics. The path forward has been golden, indeed!