The pandemic could have halted his momentum, but instead, Charlie found unconventional ways to train. From swimming laps in a friend’s 20-yard indoor pool to braving the frigid waters of Sandusky Bay—where he once got bitten by a snake—his determination never wavered. He kept running, swimming, and pushing forward while the pools remained closed. That same year, as a freshman at Ohio State, he broke his first collegiate record, setting the tone for a remarkable college career. Over five years—made possible by COVID-related eligibility extensions—Charlie competed at the NCAA Championships each season and broke multiple program records.

Charlie’s persistence eventually paid off earning him a spot on the international stage. In 2022, he qualified for his first senior World Championships team, an especially significant milestone considering he had never made a Junior National team before college. In 2025, Charlie participated in a new swimming event swimming at Open Water Nationals. There, swimming in the 10K and 5K races, he qualified for the U.S. Open Water National Team. In addition, he earned a spot at the Worlds Championship in Open Water with the pool swimmers still to be determined. Now representing the United States in both the pool and open water, Charlie Clark stands as a testament to grit, adaptability, and the power of never giving up, no matter how unconventional the path.