Nathan Stooke (born May 28, 1976, in Southern Illinois) is a male freestyle swimmer from the United States who was part of a World Aquatic team championship bronze medal for America in the 25 Km Open Water Swim in Perth, Australia in 1998. In August 1997, after winning an individual Bronze medal at the Pan Pacific Championships in Japan, he was rated third best in the world in the 25 Km (15.5 mile) Open Water event. In 2003, he founded Wisper Internet, an Illinois-based wireless high speed provider of internet service to rural areas, and has served as their CEO.
Early swim career
Born on May 28, 1976, Nathan was the son of Nick and Michaele Stooke.
Swim lessons for Nathan began as early as three and four years of age, but he did not begin competitive swimming until the summer of 1991, swimming for Montgomery, Alabama's local YMCA Barracuda's team. With the Barracudas, he was coached by Chris Snyder, though he swam well at a much earlier age. Showing early skills, he set his eye on the Atlantic Olympics, and confined his sports endeavors to competitive swimming. His father was in the Air Force, so the family moved frequently in Nathan's early years. Stooke began weight training early in his swim career, and attended daily practices, and monthly competitive meets. Stooke, showing considerable discipline, maintained an "A" average, despite having to study twice as long due to his dyslexia. He swam year-round, and advised beginning swimmers to avoid missing practice, and to be flexible when advised to adapt or change their stroke.
Coached by Chris Snyder, while Nathan was swimming with the Montgomery YMCA Barracuda Team in Prattville, Alabama, the team took a first place finish in the State Championship meet in July 1991, having placed first the year before. Nathan, though not yet breaking records, took a third place in the 100 meter butterfly for the 15-18 year old boys division, demonstrating the ability to perform a difficult stroke requiring practice, attention to technique, and strength.
On October 12, 1991, competing at age 15 for the Montgomery YMCA team, at the Great Pumpkin meet in Birmingham, Alabama, Nathan placed first in the 100 backstroke in the C-division, first in the 100 butterfly, and second in the 200 IM for the B-division. Nathan had a solid foundation in swimming fundamentals, and performed well in a number of diverse strokes in his youth, demonstrating attention to technique and consistent practice time.
Showing early swimming strengths, the following year he competed just before his sixteenth birthday, at the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club Long Course Invitational on May 24, 1992, where he placed third in the 50 free, third in the 200 free with a 2:15:21, and first in his strength, the 800 free with a 9:57:62. Nathan already had an interest in distance events. Showing versatility, he also placed in the 100 and 200 Back as well as the 200 IM. His times were not exceptional for an adult competitive swimmer, but for his age they showed considerable promise.
Seahawk Swim Team
By 1993 at 16, Nathan was competing for the Seahawk Swim Team of Belleville, Illinois, coached by Karen Kaiser. Coach Kaiser noted that the team's practices were often more challenging than those of a college swimmer. Stooke attended O'Fallon High School, graduating in 1994. He often woke up at 4:30 to begin swimming at 5:30, completing the program's demanding two hour practices and swimming as much as eleven months a year. Unlike most of the team, as one of the older and fastest swimmers, as a high school swimmer he would put in a practice both before and after school, completing as much as 8000 yards in a day, a challenging workout for a college-age competitor.
High School
He would attend and graduate O'Fallon High School in 1994, where he was a member of the band, National Honor Society, math team, a Junior Achievement Business teacher, a Student Council representative, and was a member of the Illinois High School All-State Swim Team. He was a recipient of the Belleville News-Democrat's Academic Excellence Awards for graduating Seniors.