Olympian Nick Albiero embraces purpose both in, out of pool

Nick Albiero's athletic career and life always have been about contributing to something larger than himself. 

When the former Louisville swimmer and 2024 Olympian for Brazil made the decision to publicly come out as gay to social media in 2022, it proved to be a transformational moment in his journey. However, Albiero hoped that his announcement would be about more than just him. He wanted to make a difference in the swimming community, especially among other athletes. 

"I think I really decided to come out two years ago to social media just for that. …  I felt like there was a huge lack of representation in the sport, especially on the men's side of it," he said. "I was like, if I can help one person, I'll do it for them because I know how hard it's been."

Albiero's personal journey, and journey with his sport, began long before that moment. In fact, swimming always has been a family affair for the Albieros, with parents Arthur Albiero and the former Amy Comerford both having standout collegiate careers at Oakland. As a 27-time All-American, 12-time national champion and NCAA Swimmer of the Year, Comerford helped lead the women's team to four consecutive Division II national titles, while Arthur was an 18-time All-American and three-time NCAA champion who helped lead the men's team to three consecutive Division II titles. 

Needless to say, swimming talent runs in the family. With both Arthur and Amy pursuing coaching careers while Albiero and his two siblings, Gabi and Estefan, were young, the kids spent a lot of time on pool decks and around swimmers. While they initially learned how to swim just as a safety precaution, it became clear early on that the family legacy of swimming excellence would continue. 

When it came time for college, Albiero kept his options open, but Louisville eventually stood out from the pack. Having grown up close by, Albiero had witnessed the program's rise to dominance. He also saw the opportunity to be led by a head coach he could trust: his father. 

"I had been able to watch him and watch what he did with the program," Albiero said. "My dad really took the program from nothing to like top in the country. So it was something I wanted to be a part of. There were a lot of things I needed to improve to get there. I think that just really pushed me in high school." 

While he initially struggled with navigating the father-son and coach-athlete relationship, his decision to attend Louisville proved to be a good one. Albiero put together one of the most decorated swimming careers in NCAA history, winning two Division I titles, five straight 200-yard butterfly Atlantic Coast Conference titles, 28 All-America honors and two ACC Swimmer of the Year awards. 

"After COVID, I think I managed our relationship so much better," he said of being coached by his father. "We were able to do some pretty crazy things in the NCAA as a father-son, coach-athlete duo." 

This involved winning the program's first national relay title, as well as its first ACC team title, during the 2021 season, two achievements that Albiero says mean more to him than any of his individual accolades. 

"Celebrating with those guys … it's just different," Albiero said of the national relay title. "Relays have always been my favorite thing about swimming, so that title meant so much more to me than the individual one that I got the next day. We also won our first conference title my senior year. … We got to celebrate after that and jump in the pool and push the coaches in. That was such a special moment that I'm honored to be a part of and that I will keep for the rest of my life."

These moments put a bow on a very successful college career for Albiero. With the demands of school and college competition in the rearview mirror, Albiero embraced a summer off from swimming in which he had the freedom to explore other aspects of his life and identity that he previously hadn't had adequate time for. It was at this time that he decided to publicly come out. 

"I think it took me awhile," he said of his journey leading to that moment. "Obviously I had known my whole life, but even in college I was so laser-focused on achieving certain things … I just didn't have a lot of free time.

"When I came out, I remember I had a new confidence about myself. I wasn't trying to hide anything," he added. "I was walking around deck with my head high. … I think it's just about normalizing it in a way that is freeing for athletes and swimmers to just be themselves." 

Despite taking the summer off, Albiero still had big goals for his athletic career that involved taking a huge leap of faith. Growing up in the Louisville area, he and his siblings had never been far from home and family as they all pursued college swimming careers at the school. 

With nothing but two suitcases and an Olympic dream, Albiero moved to Brazil, the country in which his father was born, to begin working toward earning a roster spot at the 2024 Olympic Games. 

The move, though very challenging at times, introduced Albiero to people that helped him navigate living in a new country, as well as a community in which he felt fully supported and accepted. 

"The representation here is so strong. The culture here is everybody is accepted," he said. "Here I've just learned so much, and I really have a strong appreciation for celebrating people's uniqueness. Pride is so much more than just the rainbows and the parades and the festivals. Yeah, that's fun, but everybody can celebrate pride and celebrate their differences." 

Albiero has leaned on the support of his coaches and teammates, which has made his experience that much more meaningful. Recently qualifying for the Olympics in the 200-meter butterfly, Albiero feels that all the sacrifices along the way have been worth it. He now looks forward to contributing to something larger than himself once again as he represents Brazil and all those who have supported him and helped him prepare for this moment. 

"To touch the wall and realize that I had achieved one of the biggest goals of my life, it was just a testament to all the people that helped me get here, all the hands that touched my career since I even started swimming," he said. "That's everyone's dream, to swim in the Olympics one day. … It's a thank you to everyone that helped me."