Magic Man, Chuck Katis

The Harvard sophomore caught a rough break, getting sick before what should have a been a big time break out meet at NCAAs, but that hasn’t dampened his spirits. His passion outside of the pool is magic, and he put that on display for SwimSwam with a very impressive card trick.

Chuck’s bio from gocrimson.com:

Harvard Men’s Swimming and Diving

Harvard record holder in 100 breast (53.17)
Harvard record holder in 200 breast (1:56.49)  

Personal Records
100 Free: 47.18 (Texas A&M, 11/11/11)
100 Breast: 53.17 (Ivy League Championships, 3/1/12)
200 Breast: 1:56.49 (Ivy League Championships, 3/1/12)
200 IM: 1:56.49 (Ivy League Championships, 3/1/12)
400 IM: 3:58.77 (Brown, 1/19/12) 

Freshman 2011-12
Finished first in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:31.67 against Cornell and Dartmouth Nov. 12 … Placed sixth in the in the 200 IM with a time of 1:51.30 and seventh in the 200 medley relay in 1:32.37 at the UNC Invitational Nov. 19 … Competed in the 200 IM and 200 breast at the U.S. Swimming Winter National Championships … Set pool records in the 100 breast (55.18), 200 breast (2:00.76) and 200 IM (1:48.56) at Columbia Dec. 10 … Won the 100 breast, 400 IM and 200 medley relay against Brown Jan. 19 … Took first in the 100 breast (55.29), 200 breast (2:03.43) and 200 IM (1:50.35) at No. 8 Ohio State Jan. 21 … Finished first in the 200 IM with a PR of 1:47.06 at the HYP meet Feb. 4 … Took first in the 100 back (50.89) at Penn Feb. 11 … Set new school records in the 100 breast (53.17) and 200 breast (1:56.49) at the Ivy League Championships … Recieved second team All-Ivy honors in the 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay and the 800 free relay … Earned a pair of All-America honorable mention accolades at the NCAA Championships as a member of Harvard’s 400 free relay (16th place) and 800 free relay (13th place) teams … Also placed 20th in the 100 breast (53.62) and 25th in the 200 breast (1:58.05) at the NCAA Championships … Turned in three top-50 performances at the 2012 Olympic Team Trials including the 100 breast (37th), 200 breast (45th) and 200 IM (41st).

Before Harvard
Lettered in all three years at Langley after swimming his freshman season at Kennebunk High School … Served as team captain as a senior … Three-time All-American and recipient of the Bunkey Lewis Memorial Award in 2011 … Named to All-Metro first team by the Washington Post as a junior and senior … National record holder in the 100-meter breaststroke and 2011 state champion in the 200-meter IM with state record time … Helped team to NCSA junior national championship in 2011 … Earned a gold medal in the 100 breaststroke at 2010 junior nationals and silver and bronze medals in the breaststroke in 2011 … Winner of All-Metro Giant Athletic and Academic Achievement Award in 2011 … Started and runs non-profit “The Magic of Miracles” … Hobbies include card magic and investing.