Jack Nelson

Jack Weyman Nelson (November 8, 1931 – November 5, 2014) was an All-American competition swimmer for the University of Miami who competed in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in butterfly and served as a Hall of Fame swimming coach at Fort Lauderdale's Pine Crest School, the Jack Nelson Swim Club, and the University of Miami. He allegedly sexually abused many of his athletes. He managed teams that won 6 National Championship titles, and 30 High School State Championships.

Remaining a Southerner nearly all his life, Nelson was born on November 8, 1931 in Chickamauga, Georgia. He graduated from the University of Miami in 1960.

1956 Olympics Nelson represented the United States at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, and competed in the men's 200-meter butterfly, finishing fourth in the event final.

Coaching In 1962 he began coaching Pine Crest School's swim team, and also coached his own Jack Nelson Swim Club which he founded as the Fort Lauderdale Swim Club in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He led his Jack Nelson Swim Club, to an exceptional six US National Championship titles. In Florida High School coaching, he managed teams that won 30 High School State championships.

After coaching in Fort Lauderdale, Nelson served as head swim coach for the University of Miami from 1986-90. In 1993 Nelson was selected as Man of the Year for the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Man of the Year. Nyad more recently said publicly that Nelson molested her beginning when she was 14 years old, around 1963, until she graduated from high school at Pine Crest School, as he did with other girls he coached. The incidents of sexual assault are depicted in the 2023 film Nyad with Eric T. Miller as Nelson.

Personal life Nelson died on November 5, 2014, of complications from Alzheimer's disease; he was 82.