Record breaking swimmer Brody Tindoll headed to Nationals

MADISON – Brody Tindoll has always enjoyed being immersed in water and has used that aqua fondness to excel as a swimmer earning a No. 1 overall ranking among the Southeast in the 13-14 year old age division. As a freshman at James Clemens High and now 15, Tindoll recently set school records and won four gold medals at the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Swim & Dive Meet.

“With a strong technique, disciplined training habits and a determined mindset, Brody consistently posts times that stand out not only at meets but also within the school’s athletic history,” said Kelly Davis head coach of the James Clemens swim program. “Brody is well on track to become a top contender at the high school level and a strong candidate for a future collegiate swimming scholarship.”

Now in the 15 age division, he’s ranked No. 5 in Alabama and 52nd in the Southeast, but has momentum which will cause a big wave into the Southeastern Swim Championships set this weekend at the Huntsville Aquatics Center and soon at the U.S.A. Swim Association Short Course Nationals March 4-7 in Orlando, Fla. Tindoll’s dive into the pool for swim competition first occurred when he was four years ago. Then, after attempting to play numerous sports including his favorite football as a quarterback, he made his way to the awaiting site of sparkling water during the COVID year of 2020 with his older sister, Emery, who encouraged him to try and get back into swimming competition.

The advice to continue his swimming talents is one he’ll never forget.

“I was never injured playing those others ports and I soon noticed I became pretty good at swimming,” said Tindoll. “While living in Tampa, Fla. and swimming for a Club Team for the GTSA, which was a large team of 100-plus members, and competing in an age group championship after two years of trying, I finally won an event. It was the 100-yard backstroke and at that moment I knew I was good at this.”

The son of Trey and Jennifer Tindoll has taken the local swim scene by storm as he finished among the top eight at the AHSAA 2024 State Meet in two each of individual and relay events as an eighth grader. In the recent 2025 season-ending State Meet, the 6-foot-2, 156-pound Tindoll won both the 200 and 500 freestyle and was among the 200 freestyle and medley relays, all of which were new school records.

“As a ninth grade swimmer, Brody has already made a powerful impression in the pool by breaking those multiple school records and competing with confidence beyond their years,” added Davis, of their star swimmer who made his move to Madison from Florida just prior to his eighth grade of school.

“I pushed myself in practice, and my team friends at both James Clemens and my team as part of the Huntsville Swim Association who challenged me to be better,” said Tindoll, who excels with his studies in the classroom as he has a 4.2 grade point average. “I feel I’m very competitive. I love to race against my friends in practice. In my races, I have good starts, but need to work on my turns. I’m better at long course races as I can swim more with less turns.”

With a measured wing span of 6-foot-4, which is longer than his height, and having a shoe size of 12, giving him natural “flippers,” Tindoll has used those natural attributes to perfection in his efforts at the forward crawl (freestyle) stroke and the backstroke, both of which he will utilize in the upcoming events having qualified for six events in the Southeasterns and five events in the nationals. Those national events and his best times in each include 200-freestyle (1:41.11), 200-backstroke (1:52.26), 100-backstroke (51.90), 50-backstroke (25.23) and 500-freestyle (4:40.06) Tindoll added, “My best event is the 200-free, but my best overall stroke is the backstroke. I truly believe that came to me naturally as several years ago I got on my back while in the water and I exceled at that.”

Even as a freshman, Tindoll has thoughts of possible college upon graduating high school and with his dubious talents in both the classroom and pool, he can easily slash his way to a scholarship at a school of his choice. “Yes, my eyes are not set on a certain college right now, but I do plan on swimming on a topnotch college program. I’d like to take swimming as far as I can in my life such as college or even the Olympics,” added Tindoll, who attributes much of his success in his freshman year to his extensive weight training program at D-1 Training in Huntsville. He said he also includes cardio workouts.

“I’m proud of what I have done so far. I enjoy winning. It’s a nice feeling. I enjoy the rush with swimming against good competitors. I’m not afraid of the water,” said Tindoll.