Nation's Capital Swim Club

Nation's Capital Swim Club

Nickname	The Finest Swimming in the Nation’s Capital
Short name	NCAP
Sport	Swimming
Founded	1978 (1978) [1]
League	USA Swimming (Potomac Valley Swimming LSC)
Location	Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area, U.S.
President	Tom Ugast [2]
CEO	Tom Ugast [3]
Members	c. 3,000 (2024) [4]
Website	https://www.ncapswim.com/
The Club utilizes private aquatic facilities across the Washington Metropolitan Area

The Nation's Capital Swim Club (NCAP) is an elite, multi-site competitive swim club based in the Washington metropolitan area. Founded in 1978 as the Curl-Burke Swim Club, it was rebranded to NCAP in September 2012. ^[1] The club is a member of USA Swimming and has been consistently ranked as one of the top swimming clubs in the United States. It is also the Largest Swim Club in the United States by Membership. NCAP is one of the most popular and prestigious swim clubs. It has consistently ranked very high in the USA Swimming Club Excellence program since its inception in 2002, and the club has also produced a vast number of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

History

Founding as Curl-Burke Swim Club

The Nation's Capital Swim Club (NCAP) was founded in 1978 as the Curl-Burke Swim Club in Burke, Virginia. ^[8] Co-founded by coaches Rick Curl and Pete Morgan, the club quickly grew into a prominent organization within the Potomac Valley Swimming LSC and on the national stage. During its early years, Curl-Burke developed a reputation for producing high-caliber athletes. Swimmers such as Mike Barrowman, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist and world record-holder in the 200-meter breaststroke, and Tom Dolan, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 400-meter individual medley (1996, 2000), trained with the club and brought it national recognition. ^[9]

Rebranding and Expansion

In September 2012, the club announced a major rebranding, changing its name from the Curl-Burke Swim Club to the Nation's Capital Swim Club. The change was made due to the Rick Curl Controversy and to better reflect the club's expanding footprint, which included numerous training sites across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Under the leadership of CEO Tom Ugast, the restructuring consolidated several area programs into a unified organization, creating the largest swim club in the United States by membership, with over 3,000 Members. ^[10] This larger, integrated structure allowed for more extensive resource sharing and a streamlined developmental pipeline for its athletes. ^{[11] [12]}

Rick Curl Controversy

In 2013, USA Swimming permanently banned club co-founder Rick Curl from the sport following allegations of a past sexual relationship with one of his swimmers, Kelley Davies, in the 1980s. The allegations were detailed in an ABC News 20/20 report and a story by The Orange County Register. At the time the ban was issued, Curl had not been an active coach with the newly formed NCAP for several years. The club released a statement acknowledging the situation and affirming its commitment to athlete protection policies. This Controversy was one of the main reasons why the club was rebranded from the Curl-Burke Swim Club to the Nation's Capital Swim Club. ^{[13] [14] [15]}

Era of National Prominence

Following its rebranding, NCAP established itself as the preeminent swimming club in the United States, consistently earning the #1 ranking in USA Swimming's Club Excellence Program for multiple consecutive years. ^{[16] [17] [18]} This period of sustained success was built on a combination of deep talent pools, elite coaching, and the historic performances of its top athletes.

The era was spearheaded by the rise of Olympic champion Katie Ledecky. Training under NCAP coach Yuri Suguiyama, Ledecky captured her first Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games in the 800-meter freestyle as a 15-year-old. ^[19] After the London Olympics, she began training with NCAP coach Bruce Gemmell and launched an unprecedented run of dominance in international swimming. Throughout this period, Ledecky set 14 world records in the 400, 800, and 1500-meter freestyle events and won five medals (four gold, one silver) at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, establishing herself as the most dominant female swimmer in the world. ^{[20] [21]}

While Ledecky was the club's most visible star, NCAP's success was marked by its considerable depth. The club's elite group consistently produced a large number of U.S. National Team members and other Olympians. This included Andrew Gemmell, a 2012 Olympian in the 1500-meter freestyle, and Jack Conger, who won a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics as part of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. ^{[22] [23]} The consistent high-level performance across a wide range of athletes, from age-group swimmers to Olympians, solidified NCAP's reputation as a national powerhouse and the top-ranked club in the nation throughout the mid-2010s. ^[16]

Programs and Structure

NCAP operates a multi-site program, with dozens of training locations grouped into geographic regions, such as "NCAP-MD" (Maryland) and "NCAP-West" (Virginia). This structure allows the club to serve a large number of swimmers, from novice age-groupers to post-graduate professionals. The program follows a tiered model, with swimmers progressing through different groups based on age, skill level, and commitment. The top training groups bring together the club's most elite athletes to train for national and international competitions, including the Olympic Games and the World Aquatic Championships. ^{[24] [25]}

USA Swimming Club Excellence Program

NCAP has been a dominant Gold Medal Club in USA Swimming's Club Excellence Program, which recognizes the nation's highest-performing clubs based on athlete performance. The club's top ranking for seven consecutive years (2015-2021) is the longest streak in the program's history. The club also holds the most Gold Medal recognitions all time at 23. Currently, NCAP was the #6-ranked club in the country, as a Gold Medal Club in the 2025-2026 USA Swimming Club Excellence Results, with over 49,389 points. NCAP is also one of the only 12 swim clubs recognized as a Podium Club. ^[26]

Notable swimmers

NCAP has produced a number of world-class swimmers who have competed at the highest levels of the sport, including the Olympic Games and the World Aquatic Championships. ^[27]

U.S. Olympic Swimmers

• Katie Ledecky
• Tom Dolan
• Mike Barrowman
• Mark Henderson
• Ed Moses
• Jack Conger
• Andrew Wilson
• Phoebe Bacon
• Erin Gemmell
• Andrew Seliskar
• Roque Santos
• Andrew Gemmell

Swimmer	Primary Event(s)	University (NCAA)	Olympic Medal Details	World (LC) Medal Details	Career Highlights & Records
Katie Ledecky	Freestyle (200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m)	Stanford University	2012 London: 1 Gold (800m free) 2016 Rio: 4 Gold (200m, 400m, 800m, 4x200m free), 1 Silver (4x100m free) 2020 Tokyo: 2 Gold (800m, 1500m free), 2 Silver (400m, 4x200m free) 2024 Paris: 2 Gold (800m, 1500m free), 1 Silver (400m free), 1 Bronze (4x200m free) [28]	26-time World (LC) medalist (21 Gold, 5 Silver) (e.g., 2013, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023)	Most decorated female swimmer in history. Current WR holder in 800m & 1500m freestyle. Former WR holder in 400m freestyle.
Tom Dolan	Medley (400m), Freestyle	University of Michigan	1996 Atlanta: 1 Gold (400m IM) 2000 Sydney: 1 Gold (400m IM), 1 Silver (200m IM) [29]	1994 Rome: 1 Gold (400m IM) 1998 Perth: 1 Gold (400m IM)	Former WR holder in the 400m IM (held for 8 years). 9-time NCAA Champion.
Mike Barrowman	Breaststroke (200m)	University of Michigan	1988 Seoul: (4th place, 200m breast) 1992 Barcelona: 1 Gold (200m breast) [30]	1991 Perth: 1 Gold (200m breast)	Former WR holder in the 200m breaststroke. Set the 200m breast WR 6 times.
Mark Henderson	Butterfly, Freestyle	University of California, Berkeley	1996 Atlanta: 1 Gold (4x100m medley relay) [31]	1991 Perth: 1 Gold (4x100m medley relay) 1994 Rome: 1 Gold (4x100m medley relay)	Part of the world record-breaking 4x100m medley relay team in 1996. 5-time U.S. National champion.
Ed Moses	Breaststroke	University of Virginia	2000 Sydney: 1 Gold (4x100m medley relay), 1 Silver (100m breast) [32]	2001 Fukuoka: 1 Gold (4x100m medley relay), 1 Bronze (100m breast)	Former WR holder in 50m & 100m breast (LC). Former WR holder in 100m & 200m breast (SC).
Jack Conger	Butterfly, Freestyle	University of Texas at Austin	2016 Rio: 1 Gold (4x200m free relay - prelims) [33]	2017 Budapest: 2 Gold (4x200m free, 4x100m mixed free), 1 Silver (4x100m free), 1 Bronze (200m fly)	12-time NCAA Champion. Former American record holder (200y fly).
Andrew Wilson	Breaststroke	Emory University (Division III)	2020 Tokyo: 1 Gold (4x100m medley relay - prelims) [34]	2017 Budapest: 2 Gold (4x100m medley, 4x100m mixed medley) 2019 Gwangju: 1 Silver (4x100m medley)	First Division III swimmer to make the U.S. Olympic team. 10-time DIII NCAA Champion.
Phoebe Bacon	Backstroke	University of Wisconsin–Madison	2020 Tokyo: (5th place, 200m back) 2024 Paris: (4th place, 200m back) [35]	2022 Budapest: 1 Silver (200m back)	2019 Pan American Games champion (100m back, 4x100m medley). NCAA Champion (200y back).
Erin Gemmell	Freestyle	University of Texas at Austin	2024 Paris: 1 Silver (4x200m free relay - prelims) [36]	2023 Fukuoka: 1 Silver (4x200m free relay)	6-time World Junior Champion (2022). Daughter of coach Bruce Gemmell (Ledecky's former coach) and sister of Andrew Gemmell.
Andrew Seliskar	Freestyle, Butterfly, Medley	University of California, Berkeley	2020 Tokyo: (4th place, 4x200m free relay) [37]	2019 Gwangju: 1 Bronze (4x200m free relay)	3-time NCAA Champion (2019). 2019 Pan American Games medalist (3 Gold, 2 Silver).
Roque Santos	Breaststroke	University of California, Berkeley	1992 Barcelona: (Participated) [38]	N/A	1991 Pan American Games medalist (Gold, 200m breast). 7-time NCAA All-American.
Andrew Gemmell	Freestyle, Open Water	University of Georgia	2012 London: (9th place, 1500m free) [39]	2009 Rome: 1 Silver (10k Open Water)	2011 Pan American Games champion (1500m free). U.S. National champion in both pool (1500m) and open water (10k).

Notable International, Paralympic, and Multi-Sport Athletes

Notable International, Paralympic, and Multi-Sport Athletes Trained at NCAP

Athlete	Country	Sport	Olympic/Paralympic Games	Other Notable Accomplishments
Markus Rogan	Austria	Swimming	2000, 2004 (2 Silver) [40]	Former world record holder (200m backstroke, short course).
Sergio Lopez	Spain	Swimming	1988, 1992 (Bronze) [41]	Head coach for the Singapore swimming team.
Masami Tanaka	Japan	Swimming	2000 (Bronze), 2004 [42]
Alejandro Bermúdez	Colombia	Swimming	1992, 1996, 2000 [43]	Multiple South American Games medalist.
Fred Hviid	Spain	Swimming	1996, 2000 [44]	European Champion (400m IM).
Juan Valdivieso	Peru	Swimming	2000, 2004 [45]	Competed in butterfly events.
Kristina Han	South Korea	Swimming	1988 [1]
Becca Meyers	United States	Para-swimming	2012 (Silver, Bronze), 2016 (3 Gold, 1 Silver) [46]	Former multiple world record holder in Para-swimming.
Lawrence Sapp	United States	Para-swimming	2020, 2024 [47]	American record holder in S14 100m butterfly.
Susan Bartholomew Williams	United States	Triathlon	2004 (Bronze) [48]	First U.S. triathlete to win an Olympic medal.
Taylor Knibb	United States	Triathlon & Cycling	2020 (Silver, Mixed Relay), 2024 (Silver, Mixed Relay) [49]	Youngest woman to qualify for the U.S. Olympic triathlon team. Also competed in cycling time trial in 2024.

References

1. "About — Nation's Capital Swimming". www.ncapswim.com. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
2. https://www.ncapswim.com/main-office
3. https://www.ncapswim.com/main-office
4. https://www.gomotionapp.com/pvncbf/__doc__/208041_2_2024-2025%20Welcome%20Packet%209.12.24.pdf
5. https://www.usaswimming.org/news/2020/02/19/an-overview-of-the-club-excellence-program-by-the-numbers
6. https://www.ncapswim.com/about
7. https://swimswam.com/ncap-ceo-tom-ugast-gets-real-about-the-state-of-club-swimming/
8. "Club History". NCAP Swimming.
9. "Tom Dolan - ISHOF". International Swimming Hall of Fame.
10. "Curl-Burke Rebrands as Nation's Capital Swim Club (NCAP)". SwimSwam. September 10, 2012.
11. https://swimswam.com/ncap-ceo-tom-ugast-gets-real-about-the-state-of-club-swimming/
12. https://swimswam.com/cubu-rebrands-becomes-ncap/#:~:text=Curl%20Burke%20Swim%20Club%20announced,and%20approved%20by%20USA%20Swimming.
13. Reid, Jason (February 9, 2013). "USA Swimming bans coach Rick Curl for life". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
14. Rosenberg, Michael (February 9, 2013). "Swimming coach Rick Curl banned for life by USA Swimming". USA Today. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
15. https://swimswam.com/ncap-ceo-tom-ugast-gets-real-about-the-state-of-club-swimming/
16. "USA Swimming Announces 2016 Club Excellence Program Results". USA Swimming. December 15, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
17. Keith, Braden (December 19, 2017). "NCAP Repeats as USA Swimming Club Excellence Champions for 2018". SwimSwam. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
18. https://swimswam.com/ncap-tops-usa-swimming-club-excellence-rankings-for-seventh-straight-year/#:~:text=NCAP%20Tops%20USA%20Swimming%20Club,straight%20year%20with%2071%2C900%20points.
19. Maese, Rick (August 3, 2012). "London 2012: Katie Ledecky, 15, wins 800 free". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
20. "Official FINA Profile: Katie Ledecky". World Aquatics (formerly FINA). Retrieved October 6, 2025.
21. Brennen, Christine (August 13, 2016). "Katie Ledecky completes historic Olympic run with another gold, world record". USA Today. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
22. "Jack Conger - Team USA Profile". Team USA. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
23. "Andrew Gemmell - Team USA Profile". Team USA. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
24. https://www.ncapswim.com/location
25. https://www.ncapswim.com/about
26. https://www.usaswimming.org/news/2025/10/24/usa-swimming-recognizes-2025-26-club-excellence-recipients
27. https://www.ncapswim.com/about
28. "Katie Ledecky". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
29. "Tom Dolan". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
30. "Mike Barrowman". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
31. "Mark Henderson". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
32. "Ed Moses". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
33. "Jack Conger". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
34. "Andrew Wilson". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
35. "Phoebe Bacon". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
36. "Erin Gemmell". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
37. "Andrew Seliskar". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
38. "Roque Santos". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
39. "Andrew Gemmell". olympics.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
40. "Markus Rogan". Olympics.com. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
41. "Sergio Lopez". Olympics.com. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
42. "Masami Tanaka". Olympics.com. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
43. "Alejandro Bermudez". Olympics.com. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
44. "Frederik Hviid". Olympics.com. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
45. "Juan Pablo Valdivieso". Olympics.com. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
46. "Becca Meyers". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
47. "Lawrence Sapp". Team USA. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
48. "Susan Williams". Olympics.com. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
49. "Taylor Knibb". Olympics.com. Retrieved July 18, 2025.