Two Coaches ~ One Dream
Once upon a time,
there lived two aquatic beings who eagerly searched crystal blue waters hoping to discover treasures to nurture their life’s passion for swimming.
Each fueled by a shared desire to introduce others to the magic of the water, they not only found kindred spirits in one another, but the start of a beautifully authentic friendship.
United by their mission to empower adults to explore the joys, healing, and exhilaration of the underwater world, Coaches Karin and Michelle put their combined experiences and heads (or tails) together and joined forces, creating a singularly unique adult swim curriculum, and ultimately launching Two Tails Swim Coaching!
Driven by their strong belief that Two Tails truly are better than one, swimmers benefit from access to both coaches’ knowledge and perspectives.
It’s through this combined expertise, enthusiasm and compassion, Michelle and Karin have taught hundreds of adults to swim, coached countless others to impressive results, and nurtured a confidence in and a love of the water unique to their program.
Two Tails Swim Coaching Promises to Be an Experience Like No Other!
“Thank you for all you do for swimming! You make magic!”
Your Coaches
Michelle Hopewell
Karin Clemon
Michelle Hopewell is a seasoned certified competitive swim coach and swim instructor with 25+ years working with every level from adult learn-to-swim students to advanced level masters & triathletes, as well as youth club team kids and elite, college-bound competitive swimmers.
“I believe my role as a coach is to help guide each unique individual to live their best life–using swimming as a powerful vehicle for excellence, well-being, health, life lessons and healing, both in and out of the water.”
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As a “water baby” at the early age of nine-months, Michelle’s aquatic journey was born and grew into a lifelong passion. Introducing, supporting and mentoring people to excel as swimmers is a natural and fulfilling role for her.
An elite swimmer herself, Michelle was captain of the University of Minnesota Women's Swim Team where she received a B.S. degree in Scientific and Technical Communications fusing athletic excellence with the power of connecting people, one beautiful story at a time.
Michelle’s coaching legacy includes developing the Wave Swim Team at Wise Swim School, co-founding Riptide Swim Team and serving as age group and masters coach with Twin Cities Swim Team at the University of Minnesota.
Michelle is an ASCA Level 2 Certified Coach with demonstrated, proven results in USA Swimming coaching, training, and developing individuals to compete at the highest levels.
Today, Michelle continues to teach, inspire, and empower individuals to feel confident in the water. She and her husband are proud parents of three grown daughters—each an accomplished swimmer in her own right. The joy and satisfaction she shares with them in the water is something she extends to all of her swimmers!
Whether you're dipping your toes in for the first time or reaching for your next personal best, Michelle welcomes you to come swim with us and experience expert instruction, empathetic care, and joyful celebrations while reaching your swimming goals and letting the water hold you!
Karin Clemon is a certified USA Swimming coach and a U.S. Masters Adult-Learn-to-Swim (ALTS) instructor, who has built a successful coaching career working with everyone from beginner adults, competitive youth, masters swimmers, and Ironman triathletes.
“I am a creative and resourceful problem solver ~ skills that have proven invaluable as a coach. I love helping swimmers reach their highest potential by finding the keys to unlock breakthroughs they never thought possible.”
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Karin’s relationship with swimming began when she was five years old, after a near-drowning incident. Her parents promptly enrolled her in swim lessons, and by age seven, her love of competition was insatiable.
As a multi-sport athlete, she swam competitively and also made a name for herself in other sports including completing an Olympic-distance triathlon at age 11.
Professionally, she went on to earn a B.S in Psychology and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, and spent many years working for a fast-growing engineering company until 2014 when adventure called and Karin’s family moved to the beaches of Costa Rica.
Upon returning to the States, a corporate career no longer fit Karin’s goals. Instead, she felt called to share her love of the water by teaching adults to swim and coaching swimmers of all levels. Additionally, Karin volunteers as a triathlon swim angel and has co-led and taught free ALTS clinics.
In addition to coaching, Karin continues to be an avid athlete, preferring sprint distances, but testing her endurance with long-distance bike events and, in 2024, finishing her first 70.3 triathlon.
Karin’s athletic, professional and life experiences make her an ideal and versatile coach. She has a keen grasp of swim technique, and she personally understands the physical and mental demands of being an athlete.
However, Karin also vividly remembers the fear of looking up from under the water at age five, unable to save herself.
Those experiences spanning both ends of the swimming spectrum allow her to understand and connect with each swimmer to successfully coach them to their best.
