As you’d expect, our coaches have exceptional technical knowledge, but just as importantly, they have warmth, personality and empathy in abundance – that’s what makes them great teachers. And we understand the importance of continuity when you’re learning – you’ll consistently have the same instructor, which helps build trust and great rapport.

Bila Rodrigues

 
Bila is a former professional swimmer who represented Brazil in international competition. Since 2008, Bila has been teaching children and adults of all ages and abilities to swim and enjoys helping her students make the most of their potential.

Setting up Love Swimming with Rui allowed her to combine her love of the sport with coaching the highest quality technique.

Bila’s children’s lessons are always full of fun and laughter, which acts as the best type of motivation, while her background means that it is equally important for her students to work hard and show determination to succeed.

Bila also coaches adults, athletes and triathletes with Love Swimming at the Serpentine, and her own boundless energy will guarantee that you will leave a training session feeling motivated, determined and pushed to your limits!

Everyone should have the chance to love swimming as much as I do – it’s something I hope my students enjoy for their rest of their lives!

 

Rui Duarte

 
Rui has swum since the age of 3 and competed professionally as both a swimmer and water polo player for Portugal. As a qualified Shaw Method teacher, Rui is able to draw on both his competitive experience and the therapeutic qualities of Shaw Method swimming, adapting to the specific needs of each client.

Rui brings his passion for swimming to every lesson – whether it be a lesson with a parent and their 6 month old baby, a 3 or 30 year old beginner, or a seasoned tri-athlete training to compete.

Founding Love Swimming together with Bila has given rise to a model of swimming teaching which focuses on fun as the motivation for swimming, while helping students develop a great work ethic and the determination to succeed.

In addition to teaching swimming, Rui is also involved in training new Shaw Method teachers alongside Steven Shaw.

Watching the joy as a student achieves a personal goal is the most rewarding and satisfying experience – and just one of the reasons I love to teach.

 
 

Musa Swadiq

 
Musa grew up on the island of Lamu, off the coast of Kenya, where learning how to swim was as natural a process as learning to walk. Growing up on an idyllic island with the freedom to learn through exploring and play instilled a love of water from a very young age.

Musa has a passion for teaching , and a wealth of experience in teaching a variety of “movement skills” such as yoga and dance. He loves music and languages. This equips him with numerous techniques and methods to use during his lessons, complemented with over 15 years of swimming teaching experience.

Everyone is an individual – I believe in adapting to each student and using techniques, instruction and goals which they identify with the most.

 
Musa is known at Love Swimming as a “Baby Whisperer”, and it is easy to see why his “Parent & Baby” swimming classes are so popular.

Equally experienced in teaching beginner and advanced students, Musa is able to share a natural and instinctive sense of “good use” during his lesson – the success of which can be seen in his students unmistakable and enthusiastic love of swimming.
 
 

Alma Bano

 
Alma competed as a professional breaststroke swimmer in Italy and her love for the water is a never ending story. Her love affair with swimming and sports has led to her co-ordinating summer holiday camps, coaching volleyball, teaching PE, earning a degree in Sports Science, as well as teaching swimming since 2004.

I love my job! Swimming is my biggest passion and it makes me so happy to see my students enjoying being in the water and improving their confidence and skills.

 
Alma combines her professional know-how with empathy and giggles, taking children, babies and adults from their most nervous and novice stage to pure confidence and precision.

Her clients, young and old, benefit from her enthusiastic approach and grow to learn to love swimming just as much as she does.
 
 

Ana Filipa Costa

 
Ana grew up in Portugal and always wanted to be a swimming teacher from the age of 5. Following her passion, she completed her studies at the University of Ismai and pursued her career working for Clube Fluvial Portuense in Portugal as a swimming teacher from 2013.

It’s always been a dream to be a swimming teacher so I could transmit to my students how to be safe in the water.

 
She really enjoys training – her active and competitive personality shines through in the performance of her clients/children as they develop. She also finds it enjoyable to share sporting experiences with her colleagues and friends, such as fun runs and sponsored swims.
 
 

Luke Robinson

 
Luke grew up in central London, minutes away from Dolphin Square. He swam at the Otter’s Swimming Club at Queen Mother’s as a child, played a lot of football and competed at a national level in athletics. His competitive nature and playfulness are evident whenever he is teaching and he always has a smile on his face.

Always smile! Positivity creates productivity! When was the last time you did something compelling without a smile on your face?

 
Luke began teaching swimming at 19, having previously been a lifeguard. He has taught in various locations around London, teaching children aged 2 and up, and working closely with schools and special needs organisations. He developed an intricate knowledge of the swimming lessons process when he co-ordinated swimming lessons at a south London pool with over 1000 clients per week.

Luke has built a reputation as an entertaining swimming teacher who engages closely with each child. His fun lessons and playful approach make it impossible for children not to enjoy lessons with him and before they know it, they’re confidently swimming lengths of each stroke!