Giordan Kariara Harris (born April 19, 1993) is a former competitive swimmer, and current swim coach, from Ebeye Island, Kwajalein Atoll, of the Marshall Islands. Harris is a two-time Olympic swimmer, multiple national record holder, NJCAA All American, and NJCAA & NCAA school record holder. Harris participated in numerous international competitions representing his home country, including the inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore, FINA World Long Course Championships, FINA World Short Course Championships, and most notably the 2012 Summer Olympics in London,[2] and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
Giordan was raised on Ebeye Island, the most populous island of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, where his mother, Mary Harris, was born. His mom regularly took him to the lagoon as a baby, where he spent countless hours swimming. He started swim team at the age of six and was the first swimmer from Ebeye to be a part of Kwajalein Swim Team on the neighboring US military base which houses the only pool in the Marshall Islands. He traveled to and from practice from Ebeye to Kwajalein, by ferry that took a half hour each way. During training for competitions he would travel back and forth for morning practice and again for evening practice, being on the ferry 4 times in a day.
Giordan is the oldest of three, and has two sisters, Jayana and Jolina. His sister Jolina, is an elite swimmer with Special Olympics with dreams of swimming at the Olympics like her brother.[7] He continues to coach her on his visits home.
External links
Harris Bio on the official website of the Olympics Page
2012 Olympics, Training Camp Interview - The Marshall Islands - Olympic Swimmers Making a Splash[8]
2012 Olympics, Reporters Academy Interview - Giordan recovers to take Personal Best for the Marshall Islands[9]
2012 Olympics, Reporters Academy Interview - Team Marshall Islands Reflect on the 30th Olympic Opening Ceremony[10]
2012 Olympics, Reporters Academy Interview - An update on Team RMI[11]