This morning, Delbarton welcomed back one of its most distinguished alumni, Jack Alexy '21, who addressed the student body at the morning meeting. Jack, Pilletteclass swimmer and Olympic medalist, shared his journey, reflecting on the lessons he learned during his time at Delbarton and beyond.

Jack was introduced by Coach Pat Savidge, who spoke glowingly of Alexy's character and accomplishments. "But looking just at Jack's accomplishments in the pool would be a discredit to who he is and what makes him an incredible role model for many of you," Coach Savidge said. "Jack is the hardest worker that I have ever met, a humble competitor, and simply put, a great human being."

Coach Savidge detailed Jack's impressive career, from his success as a Delbarton swimmer to his dominance in collegiate swimming at Cal Berkeley and on the global stage for Team USA. However, what stood out most was the praise for Jack's leadership, humility, and care for his teammates.

When Jack took the stage, he shared memories of his Delbarton days.  "I graduated Delbarton in 2021, and since then my life has completely changed. I often look back at my time here and it seems like yesterday I was just this young, shy, introverted boy who was trying to figure out his purpose in life. I am so lucky to have been given a chance to be a part of this special culture. Delbarton is so much more than a high school. This community challenges and inspires students everyday to become the best versions of themselves in and out of the classroom. It has laid the foundation for me and so many other young men to pursue and achieve their goals and find a sense of purpose in their lives."
 

He highlighted the valuable lessons he learned from Mr. Chris Pillette, specifically: 1) Leave your ego at the door, and 2) Your freshman dorm room is one of the loneliest places on . He candidly recounted the challenges of his freshman year at Cal, where the pressures of balancing NCAA training, racing schedules, schoolwork, and social life led to struggles in the pool and slower times.

Determined to bounce back, Jack set very ambitious goals for his sophomore year: #1 to qualify and score as many points as possible at the NCAA championship meet, and #2 to qualify for the 2023 World Championships and earn his first world Championship medal for Team USA. He not only achieved these goals but exceeded them, winning an NCAA Championship and became the national champion in the 100 freestyle and the runner up in the 50 Freestyle. He went on to earn silver medals in both the 50 and the 100 freestyle, along with a gold medal, a silver medal, and a bronze medal in relay events for Team USA.

Since then, Jack has reached extraordinary heights, winning two Olympic medals—gold and silver—and most recently setting a world record as part of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay team at the Short Course World Championships, where he also claimed gold in the 100m freestyle.  "This journey is filled with countless ups and downs, and I firmly believe that an outcome is only deemed a failure when you don't learn anything from your results," said Alexy.  "You fail a test or do poorly on a paper? Good. What did you learn and takeaway to prepare better for the next one. You had a bad practice, you lost a big championship game, or lost a big race? Good. What can you takeaway, internalize, and fuel you to ensure a better outcome in the next opportunity. You experienced a bad relationship? Good. What did you learn about yourself and how can you do better to ensure a healthier relationship in the future. You got cut down? Great. Grow back stronger. In all of these scenarios, each outcome and lesson is different. The important thing is to recognize the change you need to make and put it upon yourself to take action and use it fuel for a more successful future, while consistently holding yourself to this new standard."

Before concluding, Jack left the Delbarton students with powerful words of wisdom: "Embody spirit, don't let the ghosts of your potential haunt you. Take risks, learn from your mistakes, surpass your limits. Become the best version of yourself every school day. Thank you."

Jack Alexy's return to Delbarton was a poignant reminder of the school's enduring legacy of excellence and character, leaving an indelible impact on all who heard his inspiring message.