Community Corner

Brookhaven Resident Helps Train Olympic Hopefuls

Skippy Mattson has a long and distinguished swimming career, and she gives back to the sport and the community in numerous ways.


At an hour when most people are just rising from bed and getting ready for the day, Brookhaven's Skippy Mattson has already put in 90 minutes in the pool.

And only then, she's just getting started.

Mattson is a fulltime physical therapist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. But even before she's seen her first patient, Mattson has already completed her daily training regimen and served as a volunteer trainer, coach and mentor for the dozens of high school kids who also train daily at the Dynamo Swim Club.

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With a long career both as a competitive swimmer and coach, Mattson is a certified athletic trainer who is headed to the U.S. Olympic Swim Team Trials in Omaha, NE from June 25-July 2. There, she will serve as the lead trainer for the metro Atlanta swimmers competing in the event.

Dynamo has 10 athletes competing at the trials.

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All of Mattson's work with USA Swimming and the U.S. Olympic Committee is volunteer.

"It's my way of giving back to the sport," Mattson said of her volunteer work. "And it's a way for me to stay close to today's athletes."

Mattson was a trainer for the U.S. Swim Team during the 1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympics, and she has worked extensively with Olympic and World Championship swimmers. The former Penn State collegiate swimmer today still competes in masters' events.

Dynamo Head Coach and CEO Jason Turcotte said Mattson is one of the nation's best trainers.

"She is here every day, dropping by our morning practices after she finished her workout," he said. "She knows swimming, and knows how to relate to the injuries our athletes encounter."

Skippy Mattson career highlights:

  • United States Swimming
  • Member, Sports Medicine Society
  • Assistant trainer for the World Championships, 2005
  • Assistant trainer the World Championships in Moscow, 2003
  • Athletic trainer for the U.S. National Teams
  • Assistant trainer for the World Championships, 1994
  • Head trainer for the Pan Pacific Championships, 1995
  • Head trainer for the 1996 Olympic Team
  • Head trainer for the World Championships, 1998
  • Gold Metal Award
  • High Performance Award
  • United States Olympic Sports Medicine Society
  • Volunteer athletic trainer for the U.S. Olympic Festival, 1994
  • Medical team at the World University Games, 1995
  • Medical team USOC Medical Staff at the 1996 Olympic Games
  • United States Swimming Masters All American, 1984-1991, 2004Β 
  • U.S. record holders, 1000M, 10,000M and One-hour swims
  • National Top Ten, 1984-present


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