Upcoming Event: Swimming & Diving versus Boston College on September 26, 2025 at 4 p.m. Diving / 5 p.m. Swimming
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4 p.m. Diving / 5 p.m. Swimming
Swimming & Diving
vs Boston College
Swimming & Diving
Fantakis, Niko
Niko Fantakis
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- niko.fantakis@duke.edu
Niko Fantakis joined the Blue Devil swimming and diving program in August, 2016 as an assistant coach.
A program record 12 women's swimmers and divers represented Duke at the 2018 NCAA Championships, with seniors Leah Goldman (100-yard butterfly) and MaryEllen Targonski (platform diving) capturing honorable mention All-America honors. An outstanding senior campaign also saw Goldman claim the first individual ACC title for the women's program since 2012, as she brought home the hardware in the 200 individual medley. The Blue Devil women rounded out the season ranked among the top 25 in the final TYR/CSCAA Division I poll of the season, while on the men's side, divers Nathaniel Hernandez (platform) and Evan Moretti (one-meter springboard) added two more honorable mention All-America accolades at the NCAA Championship meet.
During the 2016-17 campaign, both the Duke men's and women's programs scored at the NCAA Championships, with senior Peter Kropp claiming first team All-America honors in the 100-yard breaststroke. Eight Blue Devils represented the women's team in Indianapolis, headlined by diver Targonski's honorable mention All-America performance on the platform. Goldman earned a top-20 finish in the 100 butterfly after she and Kropp both collected podium finishes at the conference championship. The regular season saw the Duke program made history as both squads defeated North Carolina in dual meet action. The men topped the Tar Heels for the first time since 1939 and the women for the first time in program history.
Fantakis came to Durham after completing his collegiate career in the pool at Connecticut College in New London, Conn. He swam for the Camels for three seasons before taking on the role of a student assistant coach this past year. Under his guidance, the Connecticut College men's and women's teams both earned top 20 finishes at the 2016 NCAA Div. III Championships.
While in New London, Fantakis received The Andrew Chait '82 Service Award in recognition of his service and commitment to the Connecticut College Department of Athletics. He graduated from Connecticut College in 2016 with degrees in economics and sociology.
In addition to his time spent as a student assistant coach at Connecticut College, Fantakis also boasts extensive coaching experience at numerous camps. He previously served as a coach and head counselor at the Duke Swim Camp in 2015 and helped to oversee the Blue Devils' club program that same summer. This summer, Fantakis has served as a coach at the Longhorn Swim Camp and the Peak Performance Swim Camp.
A native of Westfield, Mass., Fantakis attended Westfield High School, where he served as a New England Swimming athlete representative and a YMCA Swimming National Committee athlete representative.
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