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About Me
Welcome To My Adventure
My name is Gaga, and I am an aquatics professional based in New York City, with over 25 years of extensive experience in the water. Swimming isn’t just a sport for me; it’s a vital part of who I am, a source of immense joy and fulfillment. In the past, my dedication to swimming led to being part of the National Swim Team of Yugoslavia.
My passion for aquatic activities is boundless and has been a driving force throughout my career. After retiring from competitive swimming, I pursued a diverse range of water sports, including water polo, underwater hockey, scuba diving, sport lifeguarding, and triathlon. Today, I bring a wealth of knowledge as a professional swim coach, backed by an Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree in sports science. With over 25 years of coaching experience, including nine years in major U.S. cities like Los Angeles and New York City, I have honed my skills in both teaching and mentorship.
Before my tenure in the United States, I contributed significantly to aquatic sports in Serbia, Kuwait, and Turkey. My goal has always been to promote water safety, foster a deep love for swimming among all age groups, and develop champions in the sport. I am committed to making swimming an accessible, enjoyable, and rewarding experience for everyone under my guidance.
As a coach and instructor, I pride myself on being empathetic, disciplined, and adaptable. My teaching approach is tailored to meet the unique needs of each student, with a keen focus on their confidence level, interest in the sport, existing knowledge, and skill set. This personalized strategy ensures that every student receives an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and develop a passion for swimming.
For my beginner students, my objective is to alleviate any apprehensions and foster a welcoming environment that nurtures a love for the water, even before they take their first dip in the pool.
I endeavor to transform their perception of swimming, guiding them to appreciate it not only as a sport or recreational activity but also as a critical, life-saving skill with far-reaching implications for the future.
The most gratifying aspect of my teaching is witnessing students confidently submerge underwater for the first time, as they embark on an exploratory journey into the aquatic realm. This moment signifies the beginning of a lifelong adventure with water, a milestone that always brings me immense joy. 
For my more advanced students with existing swimming experience, I actively encourage them to explore new challenges and master advanced techniques, further enhancing their swimming capabilities.
The swimming pool is more than just a training space; it’s a community hub where friendships are formed, beginning with the most fundamental connection of all – a bond with the water.
If you’re seeking a swimming instructor or coach who brings passion, enthusiasm, and expertise to each session, please feel free to reach out to me. I would be delighted to arrange a class at your pool location.
I’ll end with a few of my favorite quotes…
- “The water is your friend. You don’t have to fight with water, just share the same spirit as the water, and it will help you move.” – Alexander Popov
- “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill
- “There is no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas Edison
- “Procrastination makes easy things hard, and hard things harder.”
- “If it’s important to you, you will find a way. If not, you will find an excuse.”
Love,
Gaga
13
- Years swim career
7
- Years as professional swimmer
25
- Years of teaching and coaching experience
Our Classes
The first and the most important drowning prevention is LEARNING TO SWIM. My mission is to teach students to love swimming, and to become safe, more comfortable, and more responsible in and around the water, while still having FUN.
What Parents Say
We are very pleased to have Gago as a private swimming coach for both of our kids. She is professional, passionate, and experienced. My kids are of different swimming levels. She gives my little one lessons that are full of fun and excitement, as well as with a focus on building solid foundations. For the older kid, Gaga sets up a customized plan to correct her kicking, reinforce a better breaching pattern, and improve her stroke techniques. She sets up clear goals for each kid and we have seen our kids' making steady progress every week. My kids look forward to their dasses with Goga. She not only help improve my kids' swimming skills but also inspired my kids to be more confident and passionate about water sports. We would love to recommend Gaga to anyone who is looking for a professional swimming coach.
Crystal W
Just after taking a few lessons with Goga, my kids learned to swim. I wasted months with other instructors and my kids never learned much. Gaga is just beyond amazing. She is fabulous with the children, absolutely incredible, and wildly talented. Both of my kids adore her. I really cannot say enough good things and Gogo is the best you will get.
Aila A
Mom of a Boy and G Goga is absolutely fantastic. She is extremely warm, generous with her time, knowledgeable, and super responsive. Our son is obsessed with her and loves his swim lessons. Gogo is incredible with our three. Year- old boy and he has become so much more comfortable in the water in just a few classes. She makes the lessons so much fun, yet she is always teaching him how to be safe and how to swim proficiently. I've also brought our one-and-a-half- year-old girl in for a couple of lessons and Gaga has been wonderful with her too. If you want someone to teach your kids how to swim well and to love the water, there is no one better than Goga.
Josh and Pam
Both my children have been taking swimming classes with Gaga. My daughter was very anxious by nature. She was at another swim school for about 6 months and couldn't leam anything. After she started lessons with Gogo, she made amazing progress and started to swim after just a few lessons. It's the same thing with my son. Big progress in a short period. Gaga is always very patient, encouraging. professional, and energetic with amazing motivation skills. I am so glad that I have found, Goga!
Helon C
Working with Gogo was such a pleasure. My daughter was immediately drawn to her, something that doesn't normally happen. My daughter is now two but worked with Gogo when she was still an infant. She learned so much from her. It was so rewarding to see how quickly she picked up things. This is due to being so comfortable with her teacher. With little kids, this really, really matters. With her, she was very at ease in the water, holding her breath and blowing bubbles. She loved to do airplanes with Goga and we could always expect the best exploding high fives with her. Goga is so great with kids and you would expect them to learn a lot when they're comfortable. Now my daughter has put together her arms and legs, the very beginning signs of being able to swim on her own. This was all thanks to Goga!
Dia
Gaga is an incredible teacher! She is very intuitive and instills trust in the children easily. She helps children build up their strength and breathing no matter what level swimmer they are. She has been especially incredible with my daughter who has trouble hearing. Gaga has been incredibly patient and has found ways to communicate with her in the water. Our daughter has improved significantly and is now swimming unassisted!
Jess M.
