Name: Chantal Woodard
UNCW Swimming & Diving Class of 2010
Events: 400 IM, 100 BK, 200 BK
Degree: BA in Spanish
Profession: Graduate Student at UNC Greensboro, Class of 2026 – currently pursuing a Masters in Library Science
Current residence: Charlotte, NC
What is your favorite memory of being part of UNCW’s Swimming & Diving program?
I loved dancing with Coach my senior year at CAA’s. There were semi-consistent tech failures that were happening that year at Conference with the timing system, so we had music breaks while they got fixed. I think it was after my 200 BK that another one happened. I was so happy to be done and everyone was in a good mood because it was the end of the meet, that I danced with Coach and we were silly and spontaneous. I loved those moments of joy on the pool deck.
How has your experience as part of UNCW’s Swimming & Diving program impacted or influenced your life?
When I got into swim coaching, it was fun to meet so many UNCW alum who coach as a youth coach and college coach. In meeting other coaches, even in the West Coast the swim world felt big yet small and talking about my time with the team was a great connector with a lot of people. In a personal way, I have stayed connected with a lot of people from my graduating class and the classes above and below mine. I have been friends with my teammates for half my life at this point and that is wild.
What have you been up to since your days on the UNCW pool deck?
I’ve been an explorer these past 15 years! I volunteered for Peace Corps Jamaica from 2012 to early 2015, it was a life-impacting experience. I learned a lot about myself and about another culture and made friends along the way. 2015 was a particularly crazy travel year for me. I went to Trinidad and Tobago for Carnival (everyone has to experience it!), then stayed in the UAE for a month, worked in Thailand as an English Teacher for half the year, traveled to Myanmar, Singapore, Cambodia, then stayed in Mexico for the remainder of 2015 until returning home to Charlotte, NC. After that, I worked as swim coach at SwimMAC and in 2019 moved to LA to be a swim coach and then promoted to Head Coach at Swim Torrance. In 2024 decided to pursue my Masters in Library Science and moved back to Charlotte. I plan to graduate in 2026 and move back to LA. I still travel a good bit, it’s the best form of learning and adventure!
Favorite stomping grounds from your time at UNCW?
I loved getting bagels at Einstein’s Bagels in the Student Union after AM practice. I went so regularly I befriended one worker, an older lady. She was so sweet and conversational and genuinely cared about my swimming and the team. I’d often go with other teammates before we all had to depart for our classes each day.
Favorite UNCW Swimming & Diving slogan or cheer?
La-dee-da! Loved cheering at the top of my lungs with the whole team.
Parting advice for current UNCW Swimmers and Divers and/or recent alumni?
Swimming will always be a part of you and therefore is the most surprisingly wonderful common bond between not just your teammates, but any other collegiate swimmer you encounter post grad. I love and am grateful for the community built from and through swimming at UNCW. The soft skills swimming gives you make you capable of handling any challenge, even when it’s no longer in the pool.