The purpose of the Tara Tarpons Swim Association is to encourage, promote, and develop physical fitness, self-reliance, and sportsmanship through competitive amateur swimming. Our club is a year-round age-grouped swim team offering instruction, training, and competition to young people of all ages.

The Tara Tarpons Swim Association was formed in Clayton County in 1958. At that time, it was charted as the Clayton County Swim Team and consisted of the coach’s son and daughter. However, the team quickly grew into a large group of boys and girls as word and accomplishments of the team spread to other cities in and around Clayton County. Later, the team acquired a home pool, which during 1958 was owned and operated by the Forest Park Jaycees and later donated to the city of Forest Park. The team became the Forest Park Swim Team in 1959 and was sponsored by the city. As members of the team advanced in skills and participated in local and national competition, it became evident that a year-round program was needed for both competitive and recreational swimming. Parents of the swimmers spear-headed a drive to incorporate a swimming pool into the Recreational center’s indoor building and this was voted on in a bond issue in 1960. In 1978, the team decided on a new name, choosing Tara to associate the team with its geographical location and to Gone With The Wind.

The team has become a tradition in the community. Several of the club’s swimmers have distinguished themselves in national and world competition (Steve Lundquist won Olympic gold in 1984). Many teams have been formed in Georgia since 1958, but the Tara Tarpons is one of the oldest continuously operating year-round swim teams in the state. John Bowles, the originator and retired head coach, coached for over 43 years. He was a charter member of the American Swimming Coaches Association, was Water Safety Chairman for Clayton County, and was an inspiration to several decades of Clayton County Swimmers. Coach Bowles recently passed away and the program will miss his presence.