All About Us

Who We Are

Founded in 1987, NOVA of Virginia Aquatics Inc. (NOVA) strives to be an industry leader in promoting swimming by ensuring access to everyone in our community, regardless of socioeconomic, mental, or physical challenges. Safety, inclusion, and excellence are prioritized to ensure that all individuals can participate and benefit from NOVA’s programs. NOVA began as a year-round swim team serving the Greater Richmond region, and grew to meet the community’s need for an affordable and progressive learn-to-swim program with the goal to expand access to swim instruction. Today, NOVA owns three pools in two locations in Richmond, on Gayton Road and at Regency Square, and has grown into one of the largest aquatics programs in the country. We believe learning to swim is not just a skill; it can save lives, build confidence, and inspire dreams.

NOVA’s competitive swim program serves approximately 800 athletes ages 6 to 18 and consistently ranks among the top swim clubs in the United States. NOVA swimmers compete at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels, while our professional coaching staff is committed to providing athletes with the training, resources, and support they need to reach their individual potential. Whether a swimmer is pursuing a national-level goal or simply learning to enjoy the sport, NOVA strives to provide an environment where every athlete can grow.

Competitive swimming is only one part of NOVA’s story. We are equally committed to expanding access to swimming and water safety throughout our community. SwimNOVA and instructional programs serve children and adults throughout the year, including swimmers who are new to the water, those preparing for high school swimming, and individuals with adaptive needs. Our programs provide an opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to develop a skill that can save a life and remain a source of health, fitness, and enjoyment throughout their lives.

NOVA’s commitment to water safety extends well beyond our membership. Through our partnership with Henrico County Public Schools, NOVA provides water-safety and learn-to-swim instruction to approximately 1,800 second-grade students each year. What began with 450 students from Title I schools has grown into one of the region’s most significant youth water-safety initiatives.

We are also proud to work with community organizations including the Central Virginia Autism Society, Sportable Adaptive Sports, Henrico Police Athletic League, The Steward School’s LEAP Program, Reel ’Em In, Special Olympics, Swim Across America, and Henrico Fire and Rescue. These partnerships allow NOVA to reach children, young adults, and families who may face barriers to accessing aquatics programs and help us make swimming and water safety more accessible throughout our community.

The opening of NOVA’s Regency facility in 2021 marked a significant expansion of our ability to serve the region. Today, NOVA hosts local, state, regional, and national competitions, provides space for community programs and high school swimming, and welcomes thousands of athletes and spectators each year. Revenue generated through major events helps support NOVA’s broader mission and allows the organization to reinvest in youth programming, instruction, and community outreach.

The organization was aptly named for the astronomical event in which a star suddenly releases a tremendous burst of energy and becomes extraordinarily bright. NOVA has grown in much the same way, from a small community swim program into a bright and growing center for swimming, water safety, health, competition, and community connection.

Today, NOVA’s impact reaches far beyond the pool. We are developing athletes, teaching life-saving skills, creating opportunities for young people, supporting healthy lifestyles, and strengthening our community through the life-long sport of swimming.

Club History

NOVA was founded in 1987 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to provide high-quality aquatics programming to youth in the Richmond Metro area. Geoff Brown founded the club and served as Head Coach through 2020. In its first year of existence, a largely age-group team won the State Championship. NOVA was a composite team composed of three branches located at Woodlake, Burkwood, and the University of Richmond (U of R). The composite team remained united for several highly successful seasons, then broke apart as each wing decided to embark on a new direction.

While the old NOVA ceased to exist, the name endured and was inherited by the U of R branch of the program. The new NOVA program prospered and grew despite losing access to all evening time at the university. A three-year move across town to the North Richmond YMCA culminated in the 1996 construction of the NOVA Aquatics Center-Gayton Road, featuring a 10- lane, 25-yard swimming pool in Richmond’s Far West End. This project was spearheaded by Geoff Brown and a committed group of NOVA parents. The NOVA competitive team grew from 90 to 400 swimmers, and in 2005 a second 10-lane, 25-yard pool was constructed at the Gayton location.

In the 1990s, NOVA expanded its offerings to include a progressive learn-to-swim program for youth and launched the Virginia Swim Shop to supply swimsuits and equipment for its team. The competitive team continued to grow at every age level and became nationally recognized as a Top-10 club by USA Swimming, winning state and national titles. NOVA swimmers have competed at numerous Olympic Trials, and in 2016 Townley Haas won an Olympic Gold Medal in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay. NOVA swimmers have represented the United States in Junior National and world swimming events. In 2019 Charlie Swanson won the Gold Medal in the 400-meter individual medley for the U.S. at the Pan American Games.

In 2021 NOVA opened its second location – The Regency Aquatic Center. The new facility features an 8-lane, 50-meter pool and two 25-yard warm water pools. Located at the Regency Mall, this facility is an impactful community asset because of its program offerings to serve area youth and adult residents. The added NOVA pool capacity supports Henrico County varsity high school swimming and the second-grade Learn2Swim program. Adults enjoy NOVAFit fitness lap swimming seven days per week. Both facilities are available for swim meets and special events.