A decade after competing at the 2015 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Singapore, Brooke Forde of the USA and Adam Halas of Slovakia have returned to the pool deck—not as athletes, but as mentors—sharing their experience and guidance with the next generation of swimmers.
World Aquatics caught up with Forde and Halas at the Otopeni Olympic Aquatics Complex during the ongoing World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships, taking place just outside the Romanian capital.
Brooke Forde - USA
Competitor at the 5th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships – Singapore 2015; Silver Medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games & Gold Medalist at the 2016 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
“I’m here as part of the U.S. team. USA Swimming usually brings national team alumni to junior meets. We’re extra hands, but also serve as mentors. I’m here with U.S. Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones. Together, we’re supporting the team in media communications and social media. It’s a little bit of everything, but mostly, it’s been a lot of fun spending time with the athletes.
“My first international meet was Junior Worlds in Singapore 2015, so coming back here feels very full circle. After competing at the World Championships and the Olympics, which are stressful meets, this feels fun. It feels big, competitive, and world-class, but it also has a youthful energy. Since I competed at Juniors, the meet has gotten faster, but honestly, it still feels familiar—even 10 years ago, when I was swimming here.
“Being part of Team USA for many years, I can tell you they have a lot of traditions. Many things stay the same at the international level, and it’s been great to be part of those traditions again. We have a lot of rookies at this meet, and we’re passing on some small traditions—team cheers, the white caps swimmers wear in the morning, and the honor of wearing black caps in semis or finals. Even the process for selecting team captains is a tradition. The athletes are loving it. For many, this is their first international experience, and it’s exciting to watch their reactions.
“This morning, a swimmer got out of the warmup pool and said, ‘This is the fastest pool I’ve ever been in.’ You can see the excitement and energy that comes from being in an atmosphere like this. It’s something they’ve likely watched on TV, and now they’re living it—it’s really cool.
“For me, Juniors was a stepping stone. Once you get a taste of international competition, there’s no going back. You want to make the team every year. That’s what you expect of yourself, and it’s fun. You don’t want to be left out next year.
“I went up the ladder from Junior Worlds to Junior Pan Pacs, the World Championships, and then the Olympics. Every year, I improved a little, and I can already see the same trajectory in a lot of these athletes. Some swimmers here could be competitive at Worlds and are vying for spots at the U.S. Olympic Trials. The entire USA Swimming organization is focused on the next Olympic Games, especially LA 28 on home soil. New leadership in the national team division is taking the Olympics very seriously, and that messaging has been clear since the end of Paris 2024. The athletes feel it too.
“I tell our swimmers to observe everything and take it all in. Keep a journal during the meet and write down every detail. When you move up to the next level—Worlds, the Olympics—you’ll be able to go back and reflect on where you’ve been, what you’ve accomplished, and what that meet felt like. That reflection will help a lot at the bigger meets ahead.”
Adam Halas - Head Coach, Slovakia
Competitor at the 5th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships – Singapore 2015; Multiple National Record Holder, Slovakia; Bronze Medalist, Swimming World Cup – Budapest 2021
“I was really happy to compete at the Junior Championships in Singapore back in 2015. That was my first big international competition, and from that point, my goal was always to advance to the next level. As a swimmer, I focused on studying other athletes—their techniques, their preparation—anything that could help me swim faster.
“It feels amazing to be coaching at Juniors just ten years after my own experience here. It’s only been a few months since my last competition, the World Swimming Championships 25m in Budapest, and I’ve always known I wanted to be a coach. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here with seven swimmers from Slovakia.
“I have swum in this pool before, at the European Short Course Championships in 2022. When our athletes saw the pool, their reactions were incredible: ‘This is amazing, wow, it’s big, it’s really good, it’s beautiful.’ I know this pool will elevate their performances because they see it as a fast, inspiring environment. Just this morning, one of my swimmers set a personal best in prelims, and I was so happy to see it happen here.
“As a coach, I try to share my perspective with the athletes and encourage them to enjoy every moment. When they are fully present, that’s when the best performances happen. I also give them practical tips about the pool and competition environment so they can reduce stress and focus on their races.
“Many of our athletes aspire to compete at the Olympics, whether in three years at Los Angeles or four more years in Brisbane. Success depends on preparation and consistent performance leading up to those events. With hard work, I believe it’s possible for many of them to achieve their Olympic dreams, whether in 2028 or 2032.
“I also encourage them to observe other swimmers, especially the best in the world. Study how they warm up and prepare, and try to learn from them. At the same time, I’m learning from the experienced coaches around me, which helps me grow and improve as a coach as well.”