Charlie Houchin Leaves FAST, Launches Own Pro Swim Team in Jacksonville

Charlie Houchin was 14th in the 400 free at the World Championships in Shanghai, coming off of training with the professional group at FAST in Fullerton, California.

Since returning from China, however, Houchin has left FAST and begun training solo in Jacksonville, Florida, alongside the Bolles School swim program. He has begun the organization of his own pro sports team called IX3, alongside former world-class triathlete/coach John Payne.

Thus far, Houchin is the only athlete in the group, though by looking at the website, the ambition seems to be setting up a multi-sport training group.

“Having streamlined his professional career to suit his approach to the sport, Houchin now trains solo with an eye towards World Championships and also the 2012 Olympic Games,” according to the official IX3 website.

What this basically alludes to is the Sean Hutchion, ultra-cerebral approach to training. It was under Hutchison that Houchin kicked off his professional career (following time spent working with Bob Bowman’s huge-yardage theories at Michigan). After only four months of training with Hutchison at FAST, Houchin had earned a spot on the American Pan Pac, and World Championship, squads.

Brazilians Fabiola Molina and Diago Yabe (who are married) are also competing under the IX3 banner at the Austin Grand Prix. The pair has been training at Bolles since last year with post-grad coach Gustavo Calado, a Brazilian native.