Thursday, June 29, 2023
My PRIDE Month Moment: Tyler Long
Throughout PRIDE month, USA Swimming will celebrate members of our community who are making an impact. Tyler Long, current head coach at The Olympic Club, tells us their story as a gay man who uses they/them pronouns.
Long’s Background in Swimming
Tyler Long started swimming for their local Greater Susquehanna YMCA at age eight, where they eventually became a YMCA National qualifier, YMCA All-American and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) State qualifier. Upon high school graduation, Long was a student-athlete at Susquehanna University, leading the team to three conference runner-up finishes and serving as a captain as a senior.
After graduating, Long started coaching and eventually landed at The Olympic Club.
“In the fall of 2019, I took over as head coach and have been running the team since,” Long said. “I oversee about 150 kids from our lesson program, development camps and clinics in addition to primarily coaching our senior group.”
Swimming as a Safe Space
“Growing up in central Pennsylvania, there wasn’t really anyone like me around,” Long recalled. “I knew I was different from a young age. I was bullied quite a bit at school for being a little different.”
When Long joined Greater Susquehanna YMCA, they fell in love with swimming and the team.
“I began to find my identity through swimming as it became a huge outlet for me,” Long said. “Swim practice was my safe haven, my happy place, where I could be with friends and coaches who supported me and helped me forget about those negative experiences at school.”
Long continued to grow and understand his identity throughout the coming years.
“I knew I was still different,” Long said. “I kept telling myself it was a phase and it would pass. When I got to college, I started to realize maybe it wasn’t and this was something I needed to accept, so I started working on that. It took me all four years to begin to accept myself for who I truly was. After graduating college and moving to Denver, I felt confident enough to come out as gay.”
“Through this journey I realized I wanted to stay in swimming and start coaching,” Long said. “I wanted to commit myself to creating a positive and safe space for swimmers who may be going through similar experiences.”
Learning About They/Them Pronouns
“Growing up, I always felt like I was a boy but there was also another side to me,” Long said. “I liked make-up, long hair and acting a little feminine. As I started volunteering and doing more advocacy work within the LGBTQ+ community, I began to learn more about pronouns, which is when I learned about they/them. I finally found something that felt like it truly described me. It was all encompassing and made me feel seen more than I ever had before.”
Learning about their new pronouns was one step; the next steps for Long were accepting and disclosing them to others.
“I was having a hard time very early on in my coaching career because I felt like there was no one else like me out there coaching,” Long said. “Once I found my confidence to disclose my preferences, I made it my mission to advocate for other LGBTQ+ coaches and athletes. I’ve worked to create a safe, positive and nurturing environment in swimming, especially for our trans athletes and coaches. We are very much present in the swimming world and holding a space for these individuals to continue to grow, learn and improve is important.”
Being Understanding
“I like to think that I am pretty flexible when it comes to my pronouns,” Long said. “If I had to navigate my own journey in finding comfort and confidence in identifying myself as they/them, it’s only fair for me to have some empathy towards someone who accidentally uses the wrong pronoun with me. They are at a different place on their journey or they have little to no experience being around someone like me. What’s most important to me is that we can respect one another despite any differences we may have.”
Advice for Coaches and Athletes
“My advice for coaches is to hold space for your swimmers, create a safe space for your swimmers free from judgement and/or bullying,” Long advocated. “Create a caring environment where your swimmers know you are in their corner, supporting them no matter what. A space where your athletes can let their walls down, where they can build positive and healthy friendships. Let them know that they are celebrated.”
Long has additional advice for athletes.
“If you are an athlete who is struggling, know that you are not alone and never will be alone,” Long said. “Don’t let anyone dim your flame! You are a resilient and powerful individual that can persevere through what might feel like the Mt. Everest of challenges and hardships life throws your way. You have a powerful community behind you that is determined not to let fear win. We are committed to creating the space in sports and life that you deserve. You are loved no matter where you are in your journey.”
Long’s Background in Swimming
Tyler Long started swimming for their local Greater Susquehanna YMCA at age eight, where they eventually became a YMCA National qualifier, YMCA All-American and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) State qualifier. Upon high school graduation, Long was a student-athlete at Susquehanna University, leading the team to three conference runner-up finishes and serving as a captain as a senior.
After graduating, Long started coaching and eventually landed at The Olympic Club.
“In the fall of 2019, I took over as head coach and have been running the team since,” Long said. “I oversee about 150 kids from our lesson program, development camps and clinics in addition to primarily coaching our senior group.”
Swimming as a Safe Space
“Growing up in central Pennsylvania, there wasn’t really anyone like me around,” Long recalled. “I knew I was different from a young age. I was bullied quite a bit at school for being a little different.”
When Long joined Greater Susquehanna YMCA, they fell in love with swimming and the team.
“I began to find my identity through swimming as it became a huge outlet for me,” Long said. “Swim practice was my safe haven, my happy place, where I could be with friends and coaches who supported me and helped me forget about those negative experiences at school.”
Long continued to grow and understand his identity throughout the coming years.
“I knew I was still different,” Long said. “I kept telling myself it was a phase and it would pass. When I got to college, I started to realize maybe it wasn’t and this was something I needed to accept, so I started working on that. It took me all four years to begin to accept myself for who I truly was. After graduating college and moving to Denver, I felt confident enough to come out as gay.”
“Through this journey I realized I wanted to stay in swimming and start coaching,” Long said. “I wanted to commit myself to creating a positive and safe space for swimmers who may be going through similar experiences.”
Learning About They/Them Pronouns
“Growing up, I always felt like I was a boy but there was also another side to me,” Long said. “I liked make-up, long hair and acting a little feminine. As I started volunteering and doing more advocacy work within the LGBTQ+ community, I began to learn more about pronouns, which is when I learned about they/them. I finally found something that felt like it truly described me. It was all encompassing and made me feel seen more than I ever had before.”
Learning about their new pronouns was one step; the next steps for Long were accepting and disclosing them to others.
“I was having a hard time very early on in my coaching career because I felt like there was no one else like me out there coaching,” Long said. “Once I found my confidence to disclose my preferences, I made it my mission to advocate for other LGBTQ+ coaches and athletes. I’ve worked to create a safe, positive and nurturing environment in swimming, especially for our trans athletes and coaches. We are very much present in the swimming world and holding a space for these individuals to continue to grow, learn and improve is important.”
Being Understanding
“I like to think that I am pretty flexible when it comes to my pronouns,” Long said. “If I had to navigate my own journey in finding comfort and confidence in identifying myself as they/them, it’s only fair for me to have some empathy towards someone who accidentally uses the wrong pronoun with me. They are at a different place on their journey or they have little to no experience being around someone like me. What’s most important to me is that we can respect one another despite any differences we may have.”
Advice for Coaches and Athletes
“My advice for coaches is to hold space for your swimmers, create a safe space for your swimmers free from judgement and/or bullying,” Long advocated. “Create a caring environment where your swimmers know you are in their corner, supporting them no matter what. A space where your athletes can let their walls down, where they can build positive and healthy friendships. Let them know that they are celebrated.”
Long has additional advice for athletes.
“If you are an athlete who is struggling, know that you are not alone and never will be alone,” Long said. “Don’t let anyone dim your flame! You are a resilient and powerful individual that can persevere through what might feel like the Mt. Everest of challenges and hardships life throws your way. You have a powerful community behind you that is determined not to let fear win. We are committed to creating the space in sports and life that you deserve. You are loved no matter where you are in your journey.”