With all of us practicing social distancing, we thought it would be a great time to get to know your coaches a little better. We asked our coaches 10 questions about themselves that their swimmers might not know. Here are their responses:
Head Coach Nikolay Shevchenko
Who is your hero?
My parents
What was your favorite subject in school?
Literature and Geometry
What is your best swim memory?
Travel Swim Camps
What is your favorite movie?
Back to the Future
What is your favorite song?
Duduk
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Berries and Nuts
Other than swimming, do you have other hobbies?
Traveling and singing
In the evening, would you rather play a game, visit a friend/relative, watch a movie, or read?
Read
If you weren’t a Swim Coach, what would you be?
Entrepreneur
What is something that people would be surprised to find out about you?
I learned how to swim before I learned how to walk
Coach Sue Lecarreaux
Who is your hero?
The Lord Jesus Christ
What was your favorite subject in school?
Math
What is your best swim memory?
I had the good fortune of swimming in a clinic with Dara Torres and Rowdy Gaines
What is your favorite movie?
Princess Bride
What is your favorite song?
Amazing Grace
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A fresh salad with grilled chicken
Other than swimming, do you have other hobbies?
In the past I always enjoyed boating, water skiing and snow skiing.
In the evening, would you rather play a game, visit a friend/relative, watch a movie, or read?
I would rather visit a relative.
If you weren’t a Swim Coach, what would you be?
A private swim instructor.
What is something that people would be surprised to find out about you?
People would be surprised to know that I used to race offshore power boats and fly in my own helicopter.
Coach Merouane Ould Abbou
Who is your hero?
Nelson Mandela
What was your favorite subject in school?
Science
What is your best swim memory?
When Rayane got the first place on his first international meet in Dubai
What is your favorite movie?
The Ides of March
What is your favorite song?
Hotel California
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Traditional Moroccan called Couscous
Other than swimming, do you have other hobbies?
Judo and Soccer
In the evening, would you rather play a game, visit a friend/relative, watch a movie, or read?
Read
If you weren’t a Swim Coach, what would you be?
Marketing Manager
What is something that people would be surprised to find out about you?
A father of 3 Kids and speaking 3 Languages as well
Coach Alex Protsenko
Who is your hero?
Michael Shumacher
What was your favorite subject in school?
Geography
What is your best swim memory?
Winning my 1 NCAA title at college in 2008.
What is your favorite movie?
Meet Joe Black
What is your favorite song?
Shattered Glass by Amatory
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Rib eye steak with rice and broccoli
Other than swimming, do you have other hobbies?
Computers, tuning cars, travelling, spending time with my family.
In the evening, would you rather play a game, visit a friend/relative, watch a movie, or read?
Watch a movie
If you weren’t a Swim Coach, what would you be?
Probably, I would be a car mechanic and would have my own garage. It’s my second passion after being a swimming coach, so it could’ve been possible.
What is something that people would be surprised to find out about you?
It’s hard to say. Kids knowing me as an angry, “mean” person. but in real life, once I step out of the pool deck, I’m a very nice and friendly person who smiles a lot and jokes around. To make people feel surprised about me, they need to get to know me better.
Coach Pasha Buyanov
Who is your hero?
I do not have one
What was your favorite subject in school?
Physics
What is your best swim memory?
Swimming in an outdoor pool
What is your favorite movie?
Matrix
What is your favorite song?
I do not have one
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Fruits
Other than swimming, do you have other hobbies?
Reading, sports
In the evening, would you rather play a game, visit a friend/relative, watch a movie, or read?
Read
If you weren’t a Swim Coach, what would you be?
Marketing specialist
What is something that people would be surprised to find out about you?
I am not the kind of person they think I am. Regardless of what they think
Coach Brian Jensen
Who is your hero?
My father
What was your favorite subject in school?
Phys ed
What is your best swim memory?
Helping break Brooklyn colleges 200 and 400 free relay records
What is your favorite movie?
School of rock
What is your favorite song?
All along the watch tower – Jimmy Hendrix
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Buffalo chicken pizza
Other than swimming, do you have other hobbies?
All sports
In the evening, would you rather play a game, visit a friend/relative, watch a movie, or read?
Visit a friend
If you weren’t a Swim Coach, what would you be?
Track coach
What is something that people would be surprised to find out about you?
I have a twin brother
Coach Antonio Gaspar
Who is your hero?
My old high school P.E. Teacher
What was your favorite subject in school?
Gym class
What is your best swim memory?
Being part of an undefeated swim team in high school and making long lasting friendships
What is your favorite movie?
Deadpool
What is your favorite song?
Basshunter – All I ever wanted
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Medium rare steaks
Other than swimming, do you have other hobbies?
Playing soccer and going for runs
In the evening, would you rather play a game, visit a friend/relative, watch a movie, or read?
Play games with friends and family.
If you weren’t a Swim Coach, what would you be?
To be honest I don’t know. Coaching gives me so much joy. I can’t see myself without coaching.
What is something that people would be surprised to find out about you?
I was a diver in college and swam only if I needed to for points during the meets.
While we are apart, we hope you enjoyed this opportunity get to know the people behind the whistle’s and stopwatches. If it brought a smile to your face, that’s even better.
Please continue to stay safe and follow all guidelines in place and we hope to see everyone back at practice soon!
To learn all the coaches official bios, please click here: Freedom Aquatics Coaches
