Mandi Bell - Swim Beyond Owner, Collegiate Coach, Red Cross Instructor, & Swim Instructor of 35 years
Coach Mandi has been developing her swim lesson program and teaching philosophy for 35 years. She has coached Senior National Qualifiers and triathletes as well as collegiate, high school, summer league, masters, and club swimming. Coach Mandi grew up in Nashville, TN and swam competitively as a "Top-16 Swimmer" and Senior National Qualifier for Nashville Aquatic Club. As a mother of four, she now limits her own swimming to open-water competitions in the Bahamas and the more opaque, lake waters of Altoona, Acworth, Winder, and Peachtree City. Coach Mandi is the current head coach of Brenau University in Gainesville and offers Lifeguarding, Basic Life Support, and CPR/First Aid Certification Courses through the Red Cross. Swim lessons taken through her swim school, Swim Beyond LLC, provide financial support for low-income, foster, and refugee students through Swim Beyond Inc, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. |
Lainie Bell - Program Director & Scholarship Coordinator
Originally from Atlanta, Lainie joined her first swim team at the age of 4 under a pseudonym and a falsified birthdate since only 5 year olds were allowed to compete. After swimming age-group for DAQ, Dynamo, Swim Atlanta, and MAAC, she went on to win the WAC conference in the 100 and 200 yard backstroke as a freshman at Northern Arizona University. Lainie recently graduated from Eastern Michigan University, ending her swimming career. She is continuing her education in the fall with a master's in Anthropology at Wayne State University in Detroit while working part time as an EMT and full time as the Program Director for Swim Beyond. |
Maddy Murphy - Swim Beyond Instructor of 5 years Maddy is a graduate of Chamblee High School. She is lifeguard certified and was the varsity swim team captain at Chamblee for two years, a state team member all four years, and was year-round swimmer for U.S Aquatics Club. She has taught lessons with Swim Beyond for the past five years and has loved every minute! In 2022, Maddy completed her Girl Scout Gold Award by hosting a water safety fair for over 50 local refugees in Tucker, GA in combination with Swim Beyond the Boundaries. In the fall, Maddy will be attending the University of Georgia and will be studying Civil Engineering. |
Ella Chandler - Swim Beyond Instructor of 6 years Hi! My name is Ella Chandler. I am a swim instructor for Swim Beyond. I will be a senior at St. Pius. I have been with Mandi Bell since I was 5 years old- she taught me to swim!! Swimming and teaching swim lessons have been an essential part of my life and being able to teach others how to swim is something that I love to do! |
Hi! My name is Blake Brown, and I am a junior at St Pius X High School. I began swimming at 3 years old, and I fell in love with the water. When I was 4 years old, I met coach Mandi who helped me master all of the strokes. I enjoy teaching others how to swim so that they can become as comfortable in the water as me. |
Malia Wright is a junior this year at Druid Hills High School. She started swim lessons with Swim Beyond when she was 9 years old, and has been held hostage ever since. Malia was recently upgraded to an assistant instructor position through which she has discovered a passion for teaching others to swim. |