Upcoming Event: Swimming & Diving versus Intrasquad Meet on September 13, 2025 at 9 a.m.
9 a.m.
Swimming & Diving
vs. Intrasquad Meet
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Photo by: JC Ridley
Nick Shaffer - Looking Back On a Championship Career
3/17/2025 12:47:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Closing out your collegiate career with two gold medals and a new school record is hard to beat. Senior swimmer Nick Shaffer knows that very well. Shaffer wrapped up his career at Florida Atlantic in the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Championships, where he took home a gold medal in the 400 IM as well as the 800 free relay, where his relay team set a new school record by six seconds.
Shaffer began swimming before he can remember and began competing when he was four years old. His motivation to get into the sport came from his two older brothers, who both swam, and his dad who swam and coached him. He remembers feeling a switch around the time he was 14 where he started to realize swimming was something he could do in college one day.
As a freshman swimmer, Shaffer immediately set high standards for himself. He currently is the freshman record holder in the 100 IM, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, and 400 medley relay. He also left his first Conference USA Championships with silver in the 400 IM and bronze in the 200 IM.
"Obviously I wanted records, but I wasn't expecting it to that extent," Shaffer said.
Shaffer feels that his freshman records got him on the right track and put the idea in his mind that he could eventually set school records, as he did.
Reflecting on his career, Shaffer recalls his sophomore year as his favorite because he recorded his best times that year. However, regarding his team, his final year was his favorite. He is proud of how the team was able to push through struggles like a broken pool to do their best at the end of the season. Shaffer calls his team the most rewarding part of his college career.
"I know I am going to have these friendships for the rest of my life. Even if we don't talk as much after graduation, I know they will be there whenever I need them."
Now that Shaffer has completed his swimming career, he is looking ahead to the future. For the next year or two he plans to be a swim coach. He also plans on going to dental school, as he has family and friends who are dentists and is very intrigued by dentistry.
Gallery: (3-17-2025) Nick Shaffer
Shaffer began swimming before he can remember and began competing when he was four years old. His motivation to get into the sport came from his two older brothers, who both swam, and his dad who swam and coached him. He remembers feeling a switch around the time he was 14 where he started to realize swimming was something he could do in college one day.
As a freshman swimmer, Shaffer immediately set high standards for himself. He currently is the freshman record holder in the 100 IM, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, and 400 medley relay. He also left his first Conference USA Championships with silver in the 400 IM and bronze in the 200 IM.
"Obviously I wanted records, but I wasn't expecting it to that extent," Shaffer said.
Shaffer feels that his freshman records got him on the right track and put the idea in his mind that he could eventually set school records, as he did.
Reflecting on his career, Shaffer recalls his sophomore year as his favorite because he recorded his best times that year. However, regarding his team, his final year was his favorite. He is proud of how the team was able to push through struggles like a broken pool to do their best at the end of the season. Shaffer calls his team the most rewarding part of his college career.
"I know I am going to have these friendships for the rest of my life. Even if we don't talk as much after graduation, I know they will be there whenever I need them."
Now that Shaffer has completed his swimming career, he is looking ahead to the future. For the next year or two he plans to be a swim coach. He also plans on going to dental school, as he has family and friends who are dentists and is very intrigued by dentistry.
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