Todd DeSorbo is the man behind some of the biggest names that the world saw at the 2024 Paris Olympics. DeSorbo has been the head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers swim team since 2017. He coached names including Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh, Kate Douglass, Emma Weber, and Aimee Canny to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Coming off the high of competing on the world stage, DeSorbo recently went on to candidly talk about the experience.

DeSorbo pointed out that there was a stark difference between the challenges of trials and the competition. “I would say that the Olympics was for me personally more stressful than the Olympic trials, but in an entirely different way,” he revealed. He went on to talk about how there is an insurmountable amount of pressure during the trials because “you’re hoping you have athletes swim well and make the team, and there’s a lot of pressure.”

However, the Paris Olympics was a different story. A much more relatable one for Todd DeSorbo. “The Olympics, at least, I relate it to,” he reflected, in a recent SwimSwam podcast episode. Despite being able to relate, there was something unexpected coming DeSorbo’s way. He went on to talk about how the experience of the Olympics as the head coach, “But this go-around, it was like—not just because of our athletes—but you’re responsible for the whole team and responsible for making the right calls on relays. It’s brutal.” The weight of the responsibility to carry was huge.

Long days at the pool became second nature to Todd DeSorbo. “My outlook is, as head coaches, we should be the first ones at the pool, and we should be the last ones to leave, and we were. It was a lot,” he added. The intensity of the pressure, coupled with the emotionally charged environment, turned out to be a far more daunting task than he imagined. But despite it all, Desorbo said, “I loved it. I can’t wait to do it again.” And why wouldn’t he? His coaching paid off in more ways than one.

Come the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, Gretchen Walsh went on to create history. She broke the world record in the long course 100-meter butterfly. At the Olympics, Gretchen won two gold and two silver. Similarly, Kate Douglass also won two golds and two silvers at the Paris Games. “I feel like I did a good job,” but acknowledged the importance of feedback. “I don’t know if I didn’t do a good job until somebody tells me that I didn’t.” Todd’s love story with Olympic wins is one that dates back to a different Olympics.

Todd DeSorbo and the Tokyo Olympics

DeSorbo’s relationship with the Olympics is one that dates back to 2020. His reign over the Virginia Cavaliers was as dominant as a shark in the ocean. Leading his team to four straight NCAA titles, he carved his name into the history books. But his journey wasn’t always a smooth swim. Before taking the helm at Virginia, he honed his skills as the U.S. women’s swim team’s right-hand man at the Tokyo Olympics.

A role that he now describes as “The Tokyo Olympics when I was an assistant coach, and I was kind of along for the ride. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. You know, I had swimmers there, but there wasn’t a ton of pressure on them because they were kind of newbies. If they meddled, it was great, but if they didn’t meddle, they probably weren’t supposed to anyway.” This is a far cry from his days as the head coach.

For DeSorbo, the Olympics aren’t just about strategy and drills. It’s about the raw emotion, the heart-pounding moments, and the unwavering support that binds him to his athletes. “But it was awesome! I loved it.” For DeSorbo, the pressure isn’t a burden. Instead, it is the pulse of why he keeps coming back, eager for more!