2000 Stories from the Dolphin Club

Many people come to the Dolphin Club to swim and end up staying for the people. Emily Nogue did the opposite. She joined the club following the death of her husband John Nogue to feel his presence where he felt most at home. Now, Emily has made this place her own. Emily shares stories about John, their relationship, the incredible support they received from fellow Dolphins, the Swim for Science...

Keith Howell has traveled the world, starting in Manchester, England and eventually finding his way to San Francisco. He edited publications all along the way until he retired and took up the mantle of editing the Dolphin Log. Still in print after all these years, it's a piece of our history and a way for our entire community to stay connected. Although he's passed the torch, he's still telling...

Not many Afghan refugees from their landlocked country grow up to be passionate cold water swimmers. But Humaira Ghilzai breaks all the rules. Her passions include helping to educate young girls (and boys) from her native country, writing plays, going on pilgrimages, and making body butters to keep Dolphin women well moisturized. She's lived and lives an extraordinary life and — no surprise to...

Some people set goals. Far fewer actually get them. Lauren Au Brinkmeyer does both. With speed, humility, a huge smile, and a hearty laugh. She credits the Dolphin Club community, and her extraordinary organizational skills, for helping her achieve those goals. She juggles a demanding career, two young kids, a husband who also loves to swim, and an ongoing quest to complete marathon swims, like...

Nathaniel Berger feels most at home when he's either in or on the water. Whether swimming or leading others to safety, he's a natural born pilot and coach — both on land and water. Learn about how Dolphin Club swims are organized to keep us all safe, what he loves about wine, how he uses conflict resolution skills on the daily, and why we should be thanking his grandfather, a professional water...

Members of the Dolphin Club always have a lot to teach us...and swimming and boating are usually the least of it. Theresa Kolish, who has been living with ALS for three years, teaches us all with humor, honesty, and grace. Using a text to speech app since she can no longer use her voice, she talks about the disease, why she still feels lucky , what she's learned about herself and others, and how...

Amanda Ernzer is certainly not the only Dolphin to have swum the English Channel...but in 2025 she was the fastest American to complete the feat. Amanda tells us how and why and what it took — physically, emotionally, and mentally — to succeed. No surprise, she does it with great humility and a few tears. Amanda credits her friends, family, and most of all fellow Dolphins for helping her train to...

It took Thad Carhart a long time to believe he could be a writer. He worked a whole slew of jobs from State Department interpreter to Apple marketer before he found his true love. During a self-imposed sabbatical in Paris, he wrote his first memoir, The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, and much to his surprise, it became a New York Times bestseller. Thad tells us stories of life as a military brat,...

Maggie Lonergan got her start swimming at night and she still prefers nocturnal swims in the bay. Only problem: the sauna isn't open late enough...and she might just love the sauna more. Hear about winning the official Sauna Squares contest, her quest for a co-ed sauna, how and why she loves piloting swimmers, what intrigues her about fires, and how she found her spirit animal.

In just a few days, on October 25th 2025, Phil Gaal will swim across the Golden Gate for the 16th time. That's a feat for anyone, of any age, but at 90, it's truly golden. Phil exudes a joy for life and endless curiosity about everything from telomeres to technology. His mental attitude and physical fitness are inspiring beyond measure.