2018 National Champ Justin Wright Heading to UNC to Train Under Mark Gangloff

Former United States National Team member Justin Wright is leaving the University of Arizona and moving to the University of North Carolina to train under Mark Gangloff, he announced on Instagram Monday. Wright is the second swimmer this week to announce a move to UNC – two-time U.S. Worlds team member Michael Chadwick announced his move earlier this week.

“Hey everyone, I want to officially announce that at the end of the month I will be moving to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to continue my pro swimming career under @markgangloff at UNC. I’d like to thank the @arizonaswimdive team and coaches for getting me to this point in my career and always inspiring me to better myself. I’m excited to start on a new path, but it’s still the same journey to #Tokyo2021.”

 

Wright, who graduated from Arizona in 2018, placed ninth in the 200 fly at 2016 Olympic Trials. He went on to compete at the 2017 World University Games, placing sixth in the 200 fly, and then has his major breakout at 2018 Summer Nationals, when he won the event and qualified for the U.S. 2018 Pan Pacific Championships team.

Wright’s 1:54.63 from summer 2018 ranked him No. 7 in the world that season. He did not make the 2019-20 National Team, however, ranking 11th in the country last season.

It’s not yet clear, with the additions of Wright and Chadwick, if Gangloff has a larger plan in the works for a new pro base at UNC. Chadwick is a Missouri alum, but grew up in Charlotte, NC.

Update: In an email to SwimSwam, Gangloff said he has no further plans to expand the UNC pro group. His comments are below:

“My primary focus will always be the UNC collegiate athletes, that is what I am here to do. With that said, I do think we can provide Michael and Justin a great atmosphere to be a part of and help them prepare for their Olympic dreams. Being a 2 time Olympian, it is important to me that the UNC program has an Olympic focus. Whether it is our current Carolina athletes or a select few professionals, I want those that come to Carolina to feel like they can achieve their Olympic dreams.”

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Michael
4 years ago

Best wishes Justin!

Robby Moseley
4 years ago

Just-in time! Amiright?? 😝

Mark
4 years ago

Justin is an inspiration to all of us butterfliers of “average’ height. 🙂

Anonymous
4 years ago

Much more affordable to train and closer travel since the majority of the meets are on the East Coast?

Superfan
Reply to  Anonymous
4 years ago

I doubt that is a reason for National teamers since USA Swimming pays for travel to meets.

FLSwimmer
Reply to  Superfan
4 years ago

He isn’t a current national teamer

Justin Wright
Reply to  Superfan
4 years ago

One bad summer and a National teamer risks losing all of their funding for a year. Bummer, but it happened. It’s a little less affordable to train (I didn’t have to pay fees as an alum), but makes travel cheaper and chapel hill is a more marketable area for swimming skills.

NC Swim Fan
Reply to  Justin Wright
4 years ago

Welcome to the top area for competitive swimming in the US! NC State at the top, Carolina reemerging with Gangloff, Duke women rising, TAC, NCAC, MOR, YOTA, RSA, and many more putting out great age-groupers and national competitors. You’ll fit right in.

JCO
Reply to  NC Swim Fan
4 years ago

You missed the best club program In NC and a top 3 club in the nation (MAC)

Scoobysnak
Reply to  JCO
4 years ago

I think they’re referring to swimming in the triangle area. MAC is in Charlotte.

Ghost
4 years ago

Good for him trying to get to the next level! Chadwick has UNC connections but does anyone what Justin’s connection is? Friends of Chadwick or something else? The best to both guys…they are in good hands!

Justin Wright
Reply to  Ghost
4 years ago

Only connection is a lot of friends in the area!

Stan Crump
Reply to  Justin Wright
4 years ago

Good Luck! Event is wide open.

Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

One.Tough.Dude. Also please get a back-to-back photo of Justin and Chaddy. There’s gotta be a new T-shirt or potty angle they can go for.

About Torrey Hart

Torrey Hart

Torrey is from Oakland, CA, and majored in media studies and American studies at Claremont McKenna College, where she swam distance freestyle for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps team. Outside of SwimSwam, she has bylines at Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, SB Nation, and The Student Life newspaper.

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