Olympics and Biography
Daniel C. O'Keeffe
Born on Guam in 1972, Dan had his first swimming lesson in the waters of Tumon Bay. Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Dan achieved over 15 local area records and was also a finalist at the United States Swimming National Championships in the 200 and 400 individual medley. After high school, Dan accepted a scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles in 1990.
Dan (far right), with fellow Oceania swimmers Ryan Pini (middle) and Carl Probert
He recorded 8 different events in the UCLA All-Time Top 25, including #3 all-time in the 400 individual medley. Dan was named co-captain in the 1993-94 season. After graduation in 1995 Dan returned to Guam where he concentrated on ocean swimming. At the 1999 South Pacific Games Dan won 7 swimming medals. Inspired by the performance O'Keeffe began training full-time for the 2000 Sydney Olympics where he capped off a stellar swimming career with a lifetime best in the 100-meter butterfly
Dan is now using his lengthy experience to focus on teaching and coaching adult and child swimmers. For the last 12 years he has taught, trained and coached swimmers from toddlers to seniors using a unique blend of experience and knowledge with fun and entertainment. Now the president of Greater Pacific Aquatics, Dan coaches the Guam Masters Aquatics, many triathletes and multi-sport athletes and is the head coach of Marlins age group swim team. Dan is very active the local aquatics and sports community and a sports development officer for the Guam National Olympic Committee. For more information about area and regional sports events and venues, please contact GPAQ.
Dan also conducts pool lessons and ocean clinics in both Guam and Japan. As a frequent visitor to Japan, coach O'Keeffe is actively pursuing a greaterrelationship between Guam and Japan swimming. Dan has an older sister Garland O'keeffe who holds a silver medal from the 1987 Pan Pacific Games in Perth Australia and is now the head women's swimming coach at the University of Iowa
