Bethlehem YMCA’s Adam Barlow Brings Home the Gold in National Swim Competition

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BETHLEHEM, PA — River Crossing YMCA’s Adam Barlow, 15, who swims for the Bethlehem YMCA Stars, won the national championship in the 100-yard breast stroke at the YMCA National Short Course Swim Competition, held March 30-April 3 in Greensboro, NC.

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Barlow, a sophomore at Liberty H.S. in Bethlehem, achieved the top seed nationally in the men’s 100-yard breaststroke heading into national competition. The five-day event took place at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. He maintained top seed through all of the qualifying races at the meet leading up to the finals, when he finished first by five 100ths of a second.

Barlow, the youngest of three swimming siblings, said he has always been motivated by his older brother and sister to push himself harder to excel because, until lately, he has always been the underdog to them.

“When I was younger, I was given the nickname Shark Bait because I was always chasing my older siblings and older cousins, who were already much better than me at swimming. Now I am at the top of the family in swimming, and this is the proof.” Adam referred to the championship medal he brought home from Greensboro. The Barlow family has been swimming competitively for the YMCA since 2014. The Bethlehem YMCA Stars practice at Liberty High School.

Barlow is quick to acknowledge how important his YMCA swim coaches have been in his development. The team is led by Head Coach Reik Foust and assistant coaches Diana Kocon, Cody Fink, Evan Kocon, John Herron-Buttillo, Sarah Cepin and Sara Collins.

“I give all credit to my coaches who have supported me through this journey. They always offer to stay after practice to work on stroke and technique with me and give me opportunities to learn new things as I was working through my swimming journey from a young age. They took video with an underwater camera, showing me a technique that I was doing wrong and how to improve on it. They helped me improve and used the tools that were available to teach me how to swim better.”

River Crossing YMCA has shared information about the fall season tryouts for new swimmers who want to be on Y swim teams, including the Bethlehem Stars. Evaluations for swimmers new to the Bethlehem Stars Swim Team will be held on Monday, August 31st and Wednesday, September 2nd at the Bethlehem YMCA, 430 E. Broad St. Both dates will have 8 sign up slots available from 5:30-6:00 and 6:00-6:30. Interested swimmers should follow this New Swimmer Evaluation Signup Genius Link.

The annual short course national YMCA swim competition brought together more than 1,200 elite YMCA swimmers, ages 12–21, for five days of competition across 38 individual and relay events. More than 30 YMCA championship alumni have gone on to compete in the Olympics, many earning medals and global recognition.

River Crossing YMCA (formerly YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties and Greater Valley YMCA) is a charitable, nonprofit organization committed to strengthening communities through membership and programs that foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility for all. Annually, the Y serves over 142,000 members and participants at its 11 member branches, 12 early childhood centers, 20 summer camp locations and 44 school age child care programs. River Crossing YMCA provides over $12 million of community impact annually in the form of financial assistance to individuals and families in need and free programming for veterans, cancer survivors, older adults and more. To learn more visit ymcarivercrossing.org.

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