Olympian signs on to head Notre Dame swim team

New coach of the girls team competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Summer Games.

The Notre Dame athletic department announced today that Nimrod (Nim) Shapira Bar-Or, a two-time participant in the Summer Olympics, has been hired to coach girls swimming and diving at the school’s upper division.

A member of the 2008 and 2012 Israeli Olympic swim team, Shapira Bar-Or currently heads the AQUA Swim Club based in southeast Michigan, named one of the top 200 swim clubs in the U.S. He has been a member of the national team of Israel since the age of 15 and has competed at all international levels including the Maccabiah Games, European Championships, World Championships as well as the Olympics.

“We are excited to welcome Nim to our coaching staff,” said Betty Wroubel, Notre Dame’s athletic director. “Nim brings a variety of experiences with him that I believe will translate well to our program. He is the total package: He embraces the mission of the school, supports multi-sport athletes and has an overall astounding passion for swimming. I think Nim will quickly connect with our community and fit nicely into our girls swim program.” 

For Shapira Bar-Or, he said he’s honored to have the trust of the Notre Dame athletic department in leading the girls swim team.

“Swimming is my life passion,” he said. “And my philosophy is to build a supportive swim community for all swimmers at all levels. Very excited for fun and fast swimming at NDP!”

A native of Jerusalem, Israel, Shapira Bar-Or attended high school in Florida where he was named Times-Union Florida All-First Coast Swimmer of the Year. He graduated from the University of Arizona where he was a silver medalist at the NCAA Championships at College Station, Texas, as part of the Wildcats 800 free relay team (6:11.82). In 2010, he was a bronze medalist in the same event in Columbus, Ohio. He was named All American 12 times at Arizona.

He also was honored as a member of the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team in 2010 and 2011. His fastest times in college competitions were 19.92 in the 50 freestyle (2010), 42.37 in the 100 freestyle (2011), 46.44 in the 100 fly (2010), 1:33.50 in the 200 freestyle (2010), 1:43.71 in the 200 fly (2010), and 1:44.85 in the 200 IM (2011).

He also served the Israeli military, redshirting his senior year, then returning to the Wildcats after serving his country.

In Olympic competition, Shapira Bar-Or competed on behalf of Israel at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China, where he swam to a 100-meter freestyle Israeli national record. In the 200-meter freestyle, he swam a 1:47.78 (also a national record) in the first heat, and a 1:48.16 in the semifinals, becoming the first Israeli swimmer to compete in an Olympic semifinals. He also competed on behalf of Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics, which were held in London.

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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.