Paul Blair

Arkansas Dolphins Swim team coach Blair was known around the world for his sprinting methods, which became apparent through the accomplishments of his swim team, the Arkansas Dolphins, based in Little Rock, Arkansas which he coached from 1979 to 2006.

Blair was one of the early coaches to emphasize the need for sprinters to have timed intervals to complete swim distances similar to the distances they would swim in competitions or somewhat longer, as the foundation for their workout sessions. This method would balance sprints with rest intervals to improve primarily speed, but would also benefit technique and endurance. In fact, many sprint coaches today have based portions of their swim workouts on Blair's coaching focus.

Blair led the Dolphins to a men's U.S.A. Swimming U.S. Open title in Indianapolis in December, 1988 and then a men's U.S.A. Swimming National title in Los Angeles in 1989 in less than ten years as head coach. It was one of the smallest teams to ever take a U.S. National Championship.

Honors Blair was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his alma mater, West Liberty State College in 1991, and the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame in 1992. In 2004, he received the International Swimming Hall of Fame Yutaka Terao Award, and was posthumously inducted into the American Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame in 2008.

Swimming administration He served on the Olympic International Operations Committee, the International Swimming Hall of Fame Board of Governors, the State of Arkansas Governor's Council for Sport and Fitness, the USA Olympic Operations Committee and is past vice-president of the American Swim Coaches Association.

In the fall of 2006, his health declined. After a three-year battle with prostate cancer, Blair died on the morning of November 8, 2006 in Little Rock, and was survived by his wife Mary Dawn and three daughters. 1989 US Men's Team National Champions 57 Arkansas State Age Group Championships 10 time Region VIII Team Champions

Individual achievements Blair coached swimmers who had the following individual achievements: 6 US National Champions 1 US Open National Champion 12 Junior National Champions 2 Olympic Festival Gold Medalists 35 National Age Group Champions 17 National Age Group Records 7 Masters National Champions 1 Pan American Silver Medalist 25 World Ranked Swimmers 25 Olympic Trials Qualifiers 4 Pan Pacific Team Members 6 Olympic Swimmers 1 World Team Silver Medalist 1 Olympic Gold Medalist