Maximus Gelinas '26 Recruiting Profile

At age 7, my passion for swimming was awakened by my sister’s success in the sport. My sister was a ferocious swimmer competing in almost every discipline. I had a point to reach at that age. At the time I was too young to compete or train with FINA level programs, however through the support from my sister, parents, and the support of the coaches and older swimmers I was able to participate. A little taste into the competitiveness and joy of the sport sparked a stronger and deeper desire to become the best swimmer. 

Coaches would describe me as an out of box swimmer. Upon returning to this camp I once trained at, one of the coaches relayed a story from that time – he put me in a race against a teenage swimmer and said, “Max, I want you to see if you can reach the end of the pool before him”.  He blew his whistle.  I immediately climbed the pool ladder and sprinted to the end of the pool, reaching it before the competition.  The coach was laughing too hard to be upset, admitting his instructions did not limit me to reaching the end of the pool by swimming even though that is what he intended.  He applauded me out of the box thinking…and then made me swim laps.

I am half American and half Vietnamese. A yin and yang of Western notions and ideals and Asian discipline and work ethic, and have lived my entire life in the Middle East, travelling frequently, which has afforded me the ability to indulge in many unique experiences and cultures, which have shaped me as a person, as an athlete. Since a young age, I’ve been in love with aquatic activities. Activities ranging from surfing in Portugal to obtaining a Scuba certification in Oman. 

I try to be a wildcard when it comes to the sport of swimming. By competing in a variety of events ranging from 10k open water races to sprint, middle, and sometimes long distance races. Specializing in freestyle, butterfly, and sometimes breast or backstroke. A diverse swimming resume has helped develop a deeper understanding of the sport. Swimming is not necessarily about being fast, it’s about balance. 

For interests outside of the pool, I usually partake in activities with my family or friends. I try to find a balance between swimming, academics, and free time. However, I sometimes can’t find that median. For peace of mind, I usually free dive, go to the gym, play golf, play the Spanish guitar, or spend time with friends and family, or play video games. Regarding academics, I focus and maintain a promising number of IB points. I take Higher level economics, business management, English language and literature. I also take Spanish ab initio, Computer Science, and AISL mathematics. After studying economics or business, I plan on going into law school. This interest came from my grandfather who is involved in criminal law, and from my father who is also a lawyer. My interest was also uplifted when I partook in an internship at a corporate law firm. The work environment as well as the work material was something I was fond of. As well as wearing a suit and briefcase to work.

I’d like to attend a college where I can be challenged in the classroom and in the pool. My scope is currently wide and I do not have a tight criteria for universities. I hope to integrate myself into a lively and of course positive college community as well as practice being an advocating member of the university I will be in. My daily goal is to spread positivity and joy.