North Shore Sharks Coach To Assist U.S. Paralympic Swim Team In Paris

BEVERLY, MA — YMCA of the North Shore Sharks swim team head coach Dave Modzelewski is one of eight coaches chosen to provide support for the United States Paralympic Games Paris 2024 swim team later this summer.

Modzelewski, who helped coach Paralympic medalist and Salem native Leanne Smith at her second Paralympic Games, will provide support for the 33 American swimmers competing in France.

"We selected a diverse coaching staff with a wealth of experience that will partner well with the 33 athletes competing in Paris," U.S. Paralympics Swimming Director Erin Popovich said. "We wanted to bring in a coaching staff who know our swimmers well, and who have proven their dedication to Para swimming.

"These coaches have been outstanding resources for our program in the past three years since Tokyo, and we have no doubt they will help lead our team to a successful Games."

Modzelewski serves as head coach of Competitive Aquatics for the YMCA of the North Shore Sharks as well as the New England LSC's Disability Coordinator. He has also been on staff for numerous Para swimming events, including the 2024 Allianz World Championships, Parapan American Games, and was Team USA's Head Coach for the CITI Para Swimming World Series in Scotland.

"I started this journey a little over a year ago when Leanne moved back to the North Shore after her residency at the US Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, and asked me to be her coach," Modzelewsk said. "I'm honored she entrusted her training to me at the highest level of sport. Being a part of Team USA is one of the greatest honors in our sport of swimming. The fact that I can say I will now be representing Team USA on a Coaching Staff for a third time (2023 World Championships, 2023 Parapan American Games, & 2024 Paralympic Games) is not something that I take lightly.

"I am thrilled to help lead a Roster of 33 of the best Para Swimming Athletes in the world and excited to help lead Team USA through this year's Paralympic Games, while representing the YMCA of the North Shore along the way."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)