Celebrating a Legend: Happy 84th Birthday, Captain Holme!

Today, September 8, 2025, we celebrate the 84th birthday of a true leader and pillar of the Citrus County swimming community and the Sun Coast Swim Team: Thomas T. Holme, more affectionately known as Captain. For decades, his dedication has shaped not only the Sun Coast Swim Team but also the lives of hundreds of young athletes.

Captain Holme, a decorated U.S. Naval officer, began his journey in Citrus County swimming in 1992. Just three years later, in 1995, he founded the Sun Coast Swim Team (SCST), which has since grown into the premier program in the county. With his unwavering leadership, support, and inspiration, SCST has served more than 900 swimmers over the past 30 years, with more than 28 continuing their careers at colleges across the country, including Florida State University, the U.S. Naval Academy, and many others.

His impact extended well beyond SCST. Captain Holme also founded the Crystal River High School Swim and Dive Team, guiding them to an impressive 26 FHSAA District Championship titles and more than 18 Conference titles. The achievements of countless swimmers stand as a testament to his vision and commitment.

In recognition of his lifelong service, the SCST Board of Directors honored him in December 2020 with special titles created exclusively for him. He was named Life Coach Emeritus and Life Board Member, and the title of Captain was formally reserved for him alone—a fitting tribute to a man truly one of a kind. The board expressed it best: “No single person has contributed more to the Sun Coast Swim Team and competitive swimming in Citrus County than Captain Holme.”

Though he has stepped back from day-to-day operations, his legacy and influence continue to inspire us all. Today, there may be some SCST swimmers and families who have not had the chance to personally know or meet Captain Holme, but his commitment and legacy can be found in every aspect of our team. If you would like to learn more about Captain Holme, we encourage you to read about his coaching and military background in the coach’s section of our webpage: https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/scst/page/system/coaches .

On this special day, we salute you, Captain. Happy 84th Birthday—and Bravo Zulu!