Anthony Nesty

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Anthony Conrad Nesty (born November 25, 1967) is a former swimmer from Suriname who won Olympic gold in the 100-meter butterfly in 1988. He is the current head coach of the Florida Gators’ men’s and women’s swimming teams at the University of Florida. In 2023, he was named the head coach of the U.S. men’s swimming team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with Todd DeSorbo leading the women’s team.

Early life and career
Nesty was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and moved to Suriname as a baby. He began swimming at age five and competed for Suriname, including at the Pan American Games in 1983 with his sister Pauline. He attended The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, where he set records and prepared for high-level competition. He finished high school in 1987.

1988–1992: Olympic and international success
At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Nesty won the 100-meter butterfly by one hundredth of a second, defeating American favorite Matt Biondi. He remained the only Olympic medalist for Suriname. He went on to win gold in the 100-meter butterfly at the 1990 Goodwill Games and the 1991 World Championships. He also earned a gold at the 1987 Pan American Games and a gold and a silver at the 1991 Pan American Games. He competed in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, earning bronze in the 100-meter butterfly.

College and coaching beginnings
Nesty swam for the University of Florida from 1989 to 1992, coached by Randy Reese and Skip Foster. He won multiple NCAA titles: three straight 100-yard butterfly championships (1990–1992), one 200-yard butterfly (1990), and was part of a 400-yard medley relay (1991), earning 16 All-American honors. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1994. He later returned to coaching at Bolles School and Nease High School before moving into college coaching.

Coaching career and leadership
Nesty joined the Florida Gators’ coaching staff in 1998 as an assistant coach and became associate head coach in 2006. In 2021, he was named the head coach of the Florida women’s swimming team, expanding his oversight to both the men’s and women’s programs. He has helped guide prominent swimmers such as Caeleb Dressel, Katie Ledecky, Bobby Finke, and Kieran Smith.

National team and Olympic leadership
In 2021, Nesty was named an assistant coach for the U.S. men’s Olympic team. He later served as the head coach for the U.S. men’s team for the 2022 World Championships in Budapest and was appointed the head coach of the U.S. men’s team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.