With years of competitive swimming and coaching under his belt, Coach Ivan – as he is affectionately called – brings his expertise, passion and a brand new strategy for GESS’ swim team, as our new Head of Swimming.
We know you have had a long and solid history in sport and coaching. Would you like to share more about your background with us?
My international journey began in 2009, after receiving a Master’s Degree with Honours from a pedagogical university in Siberia, Russia, where I come from. My academic qualification in Physical Education and Sport, specialising in Swimming, was my stepping stone to an extensive coaching career internationally. I have worked in several countries, such as Qatar, Bahrain and now Singapore, where my family resides.
Working with very fine athletes who scored amazing achievements in their own sporting careers, I was able to receive the highest coaching certification of Level 5 from the American Swimming Coach Association (ASCA).
While coaching in Qatar, I was an assistant coach for Kimiko Raheem who represented Sri Lanka in the Olympics in Rio 2016, and Sam Dailey who broke over 10 national age-group records and represented Great Britain in many international events.
What would you consider your biggest achievement(s) in your career so far?
Through these years, I have coached a number of swimmers who won gold medals at the European Junior Championships, achieved ‘B’ qualifying times at 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and qualified for 2021’s World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi, just to name a few.
Before coming onboard the GESS family, I spent many years at Nexus formulating their successful and vibrant swimming curriculum that covers all year groups. That was also where I built the strongest competitive swimming community in Singapore, enabling this school to make its mark as a school reputed for swimming.
The accolades aside, what I consider as my biggest achievement is really how my students still remember and keep in touch with me. After all that we have gone through together, the feeling of camaraderie is not something you forget easily. I am proud of each and every child and individual I worked with.
What is the next challenge you have set for yourself, in your new chapter at GESS? Maybe a sneak peak of your plans for the swimming team in GESS?
Certainly, I am excited to join GESS and I see lots of potential in the school and our students. I have already met several students whom I know are able to take their swimming to the next level – and I am here to help them achieve that!
Having said that, I will take one step at time, by building a strong community here at GESS. I have a master plan to build a programme to maximise swimmer potential of those who are willing to succeed, and support those who just wish to enjoy the sport. What doesn’t change, most importantly, is for me to make a positive change in minds and build a strong team here at GESS.
As a father of two boys aged 8 and 11, and now our Head of Swimming, how do you feel sport/swimming can benefit children in their personal development?
My two boys are involved in this sport since a very young age. I often receive positive feedback from their teachers saying that they are well organised and much more focused during lessons than their peers.
Over my coaching career, I witnessed interesting outcomes from student–athletes. The sport of swimming develops outstanding young people with great self-confidence, values and passion. I have been coaching many swimmers who put in relentless hours of training on land and in the waters, covering more than 50, 60km per week, and still tackled their academics finely. I know swimmers who have been consistent in training over years and scoring 39 – 43 points in their IB diploma. I believe through swimming, a young athlete becomes more disciplined, resilient, self-managed and goal-driven – these are good traits to have no matter what they do in life.
To any young person who is thinking of pursuing their sport/passion, what is your word of encouragement and wisdom?
I believe that anything you want to do, and set your mind to do, regardless of swimming or even gardening, you need to enjoy, understand and believe in the process.
Another philosophy I have, as a coach: swimming is another tool which helps me cultivate outstanding young people with great self-confidence, values and passion.
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Follow Coach Ivan on LinkedIn and Instagram.
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