In this GMM takeover the SwimSwam podcast we have Chris Plumb, Head Coach and CEO of Carmel Swim Club and Chris Webb, Director GAINswim.
Our podcast topics are dryland and the 2026 GAINswim Annual Clinic, but we start with the genesis of the Plumb-Webb relationship, diving into their deep history. It extends back to 2006 when Plumb took over as head coach of Carmel. Plumb and Webb were in their late 20s, trying to figure out how to build a top club in the country. That drive set them on an adventure around the United States and the world, seeking out the best practices, systems and dryland education.
Plumb and Webb also preview the 2026 GAINswim Annual Clinic, August 28–30 at Carmel High School’s Natatorium & Classroom Complex in Carmel, Indiana. This year’s clinic is all about speed. They’ve been hosting these clinics since 2011, and, at the clinic’s core, Plumb and Webb have recreated their early-career adventure, seeking out coaching knowledge.
The clinic is designed for swim coaches, athletic-development specialists, and sport leaders who want practical, high-performance coaching tools they can actually take home and use. Registration is available here:
GAINswim Annual Clinic – Aug 28-30 Registration
The 2026 presenter lineup includes:
Chris Plumb — Head Coach, Carmel Swim Club
David Marsh — ISHOF Inductee, a coach who has produced over 60 Olympians
Russell Mark — ASCA Performance & Education Advisor
Chris Webb — Director, GAINswim
Andy Stone — Athletic Development, Collegiate School, Virginia
Plumb brings the long-term club-builder’s perspective. Carmel is one of the model programs in the U.S., not only because it produces fast swimmers, but because it has built a durable system: staff alignment, athlete development, dryland integration, and a culture that travels from age group to senior swimming.
Webb brings the GAINswim lens: how to help coaches stop guessing with dryland and start building progressions for swimmers ages 8 to 18. His message is clear: dryland should not be a side project. It should be athlete-centered, coach-driven, and supported across the program.
I hope you like this conversation. If you have questions for Coach Plumb and Coach Webb, drop them in the comments.
Follow GAINswim on Instagram here.
Follow GAINswim Director Chris Webb on Linkedin here.
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Many thanks to Swimoutlet.com for their 15 year partnership and support of this swimming news and media.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.
