**“FROM SOUTH BEND TO THE WORLD STAGE: Tommy Janton and Marcus Reyes-Gentry Represent Notre Dame at World Aquatics Championships”**
From the quiet discipline of early morning laps in the Rolfs Aquatic Center to the global spotlight of the World Aquatics Championships, Notre Dame swimmers Tommy Janton and Marcus Reyes-Gentry have carved a path from South Bend to Singapore, carrying both national pride and the Fighting Irish legacy into the international arena. Representing the United States and Mexico respectively, these two elite student-athletes have become the embodiment of Notre Dame’s global reach, elite athletic development, and commitment to excellence across borders.
Their journey to the World Aquatics Championships is not merely a tale of personal ambition, but also a reflection of the culture cultivated within Notre Dame’s swimming and diving program. Head coach Chris Lindauer and his staff have overseen a transformation at Notre Dame, turning a respected but often overlooked program into one that now produces international-caliber athletes capable of standing on the blocks with the best in the world. Janton and Reyes-Gentry aren’t just participants—they are competitive threats, and their performances serve as proof that South Bend is becoming a serious player in the global swimming conversation.
For Tommy Janton, representing the United States is both a dream realized and a responsibility shouldered with quiet confidence. Known for his fluid technique, powerful underwaters, and relentless drive, Janton has earned his way into Team USA through sheer performance and a relentless work ethic that has defined his collegiate career. He has become a mainstay in the backstroke events, particularly the 100 and 200-meter distances, where his smooth rhythm and explosive transitions set him apart. At Notre Dame, Janton’s leadership in and out of the pool has earned the respect of teammates and coaches alike, but it is on the international stage where his growth has truly become evident.
In Singapore, Janton showed no signs of nerves under the brightest lights. With the stars and stripes stitched to his cap and a quiet focus in his eyes, he delivered a set of performances that not only justified his selection but also hinted at an even brighter future. Racing against Olympic medalists and seasoned veterans, Janton held his own and then some—clocking times that placed him among the top competitors and earning praise from commentators and coaches alike. His poise, power, and technical mastery reflect years of dedication, but also the support system Notre Dame has provided.
While Janton’s story is rooted in American swimming tradition, Marcus Reyes-Gentry’s path is a tale of dual identity and international ambition. Born in Mexico but raised and trained in the United States, Reyes-Gentry carries the flag of Mexico with pride while sharpening his craft in one of the most competitive collegiate swimming environments in the world. At Notre Dame, Reyes-Gentry has found a home that honors both his heritage and his potential, nurturing his talent in freestyle and butterfly events that demand a unique blend of explosiveness, endurance, and race intelligence.
Reyes-Gentry’s journey to the World Aquatics Championships has been fueled by both personal and national motivation. In representing Mexico, he is not only pursuing personal glory but also seeking to inspire the next generation of Mexican swimmers, proving that they too can ascend to the world stage with the right support and opportunity. In Singapore, his swims were marked by fierce determination, raw speed, and the kind of joyful defiance that comes from knowing you’ve already beaten the odds. Each stroke he took reverberated beyond the lane lines—a message that national pride and global impact can go hand in hand.
Together, Janton and Reyes-Gentry represent a new chapter in Notre Dame swimming history—one defined not solely by conference championships or NCAA success, but by global presence and Olympic potential. Their simultaneous emergence on the world scene marks a moment of arrival for a program long hungry for recognition beyond the ACC. And with each successful international outing, they pull the Notre Dame banner further into the limelight, showing that elite swimming is not confined to the traditional powerhouses on the coasts.
What makes their stories especially compelling is the way in which they intersect and diverge. Janton’s pathway through the American system—the club scene, national age group meets, junior nationals—has provided a foundation built on structure and competition. Reyes-Gentry’s route, while overlapping in many ways, includes the complexity of international representation, cross-cultural identity, and the drive to elevate a nation’s swimming profile on his own shoulders. Yet both athletes find common ground in the grind of collegiate training, the bonds forged through adversity, and the pursuit of excellence that transcends borders.
Behind their breakout appearances in Singapore is the daily reality of commitment. Double practices, weight room sessions, nutritional discipline, mental training, and academic balance are the unseen foundations of their success. Notre Dame’s ability to provide this holistic support structure—along with elite coaching and facilities—has been instrumental in shaping them into world-class competitors. The role of strength coach Dan Noble, performance nutritionist Jessie DeZiel, and the academic services team cannot be overstated; each plays a critical role in ensuring these athletes can compete at the highest level while thriving as students and leaders.
Notre Dame’s mission to educate the mind and the heart resonates deeply in the stories of Janton and Reyes-Gentry. Their time in Singapore is not the culmination of their journeys, but rather a crucial waypoint. With Olympic Trials and Paris 2024 looming on the horizon, both swimmers have their eyes set on the next summit. The World Aquatics Championships offered a stage to test themselves against the best—and they responded with performances that signal more is coming.
Equally important is the message their presence sends to recruits around the world: you can come to Notre Dame and go to the world stage. For decades, top international prospects often chose schools with long Olympic legacies—Cal, Texas, Stanford, or Florida. But Janton and Reyes-Gentry are helping change that narrative. They’ve shown that the Fighting Irish program can cultivate not only conference champions but international stars. Their example could serve as a tipping point for a new era of global recruiting and athlete development at Notre Dame.
The symbolism of their journey—starting in the heartland of America and ending in one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities—also speaks to the increasingly global nature of collegiate athletics. Swimming, perhaps more than any other college sport, has always operated on a dual track: athletes represent their school during the academic year and their country in the summers. In this sense, Janton and Reyes-Gentry are not anomalies but trailblazers—leading a movement that fuses school pride with national duty.
The support back home in South Bend has been nothing short of inspiring. Teammates, coaches, administrators, and alumni have rallied around their swimmers with pride and enthusiasm. Watch parties, social media buzz, and personal messages of encouragement all served to bridge the distance between Indiana and Singapore. In the words of Coach Lindauer, “They’re not just representing their countries—they’re representing Notre Dame’s values, its excellence, and its belief that anything is possible with hard work and purpose.”
As the World Aquatics Championships conclude, the legacies of Tommy Janton and Marcus Reyes-Gentry are still being written. But what is already clear is that they have raised the bar for what it means to swim for Notre Dame. Their presence on the international stage signals the arrival of the Irish on the world swimming map—not as spectators, but as contenders. And perhaps more importantly, they’ve proven that from South Bend to Singapore, greatness knows no borders.
The journey continues. The pools may change. The competition may intensify. But for Janton and Reyes-Gentry, and for Notre Dame swimming, the direction is unmistakable: forward, upward, and always global.
