About Svetlana
formerly Svetlana Pozdeyeva (Светлана Поздеева)
From the Russian National Team and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics as a swimmer to private lessons and small-group training as a certified USA Swimming coach — a lifetime dedicated to swimming excellence.
Career Highlights
- Business entrepreneur
- Private swimming instructor for 30 years
- Coach of various swimming teams/clubs for more than 25 years
- Manager of pools and athletic facilities for 30 years
- Competitive swimming at the international level for 9 years
Education & Training
- Bachelors of Arts, Physical Education, Samara Pedagogical University
- Masters of Arts, Physical Education, Samara Pedagogical University
- USA Swimming Coach certification
- Water Safety Instructor certification
- CPR and AED certifications
Swimming Accomplishments
- 1996 Olympic Finalist
- Russian National Record Holder (multiple events)
- World Championship: Bronze Medal
- Goodwill Games: 2 Silver Medals
- First World Military Games: 2 Gold, 2 Silver Medals
- Open Championship of Brazil: 4 Gold Medals
- European Championship, Sevilla: Silver Medal, IM Medley
- Presidential award from President Boris Yeltsin
- 15 gold medals and 5 silver medals at international competitions
My Story
I was born in Samara, Russia in 1977. I started swimming when I was 7 years old, and I absolutely loved it. I started dreaming of swimming in the Olympics for my country when I was 8.
At the age of 11, I was fortunate enough to be selected to join the Russian Junior National Swimming Team. Being selected on the team was an immense privilege, and it was also a lot of work. We had swimming practice twice, and sometimes three times, each day — in addition to weight training and other instruction by some of the best coaches in the former USSR.
Our team traveled all over the world for international competitions, including places like Bulgaria, England, and Germany. For my team, I swam the 100- and 200-meter butterfly, and also the medley relay, which was my favorite event of all. At the most competitive junior event in Leeds, England in 1992, I won 2 silver medals in my butterfly events and won a gold medal in the medley relay.
At the age of 15, I was selected to join the Russian National Swimming Team. During this time, I trained with the National Team and competed with the top swimmers in the world. At the 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, I won 2 silver medals. At the 1994 World Championships in Rome, our medley relay team won a silver medal. One of my proudest moments came in 1995, when I received a presidential award personally from President Boris Yeltsin for my swimming accomplishments.
When I was 19, I qualified for the Russian Olympic Swimming Team. I swam in the 100- and 200-meter butterfly and the medley relay at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. It was an absolute thrill to participate in the Olympics and compete against the top swimmers in the world.
I retired from competitive swimming in 1997 to focus on my education. I graduated from the Pedagogical University of Samara in 2000 with a Bachelors and Masters of Arts in Physical Education.
I came to the United States in 2004 and began teaching group and private lessons in Las Vegas, NV for three years. I then moved to Charlottesville, Virginia in 2007, where I now live with my husband Brian and our 3 daughters: Athena, Sofie, and Vivian. I teach private swimming lessons independently and at ACAC.
I'm excited about the chance to work with many more swimmers of all ages and experience levels. Please don't hesitate to contact me to learn more!