Tonya Finley’s lifelong journey in swimming began early, inspired by a near-drowning experience involving her sister. She competed from ages 5 to 17, earning a top-10 U.S. ranking by age 10. Trained by renowned instructor Honey Lanning, Tonya became a lifeguard, instructor, and coach in her teens, later earning her WSI certification and a BA in Physical Education.
With over 40 years of experience,Tonyahas taught swimmers of all ages and levels—from infants to Ironman athletes to active seniors. She served as a Level 2 USA Swimming head coach from 2008–2016, growing a local program from 40 to over 100 athletes and mentoring a strong coaching team. As an assistant high school coach, she contributed to three state championship titles.
In 2018, she founded Swim 4 Life, which now serves over 100 students weekly in a community of 20,000. Tonya runs her own custom-built swim facility with a 20,000-gallon pool and swim spa, leading a team of six instructors and two support staff. Her mission remains simple: make swimming accessible, safe, and joyful for every family