World renowned swimming coach holds seminar in Cebu

“Possenti has 20 years of coaching high-level athletes, including Olympic team members. He has been coaching the Brazilian national team since 2011,” said Velasco. (PNA photo)

MANILA — World renowned coach Fernando Alves Possenti is in the country for a five-day seminar, the Philippine Swimming Inc. has announced on Monday.

PSI president Ma. Lailani Velasco said the open water swimming seminar slated April 29 to May 3 is being held at the Pacific Cebu Resort Hotel.

“Possenti has 20 years of coaching high-level athletes, including Olympic team members. He has been coaching the Brazilian national team since 2011,” said Velasco.

Possenti coaches Ana Marcela Cunha, who was named FINA open water swimming best female athlete in 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2017.

As head coach of Sesi SB Esporte, a state government-sponsored team, Possenti handles all group and age-group swimming and open swimming programs, winning two golds, two silvers and four bronzes in the FINA World Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2017.

Possenti’s seminar will end two days before the staging of the 11th Olango Open Water Challenge in the same venue. The Olango Open Water Challenge is organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) headed by Jose Antonio Aboitiz (Visayas Executive Committee chairman) in partnership with the PSI.

Meanwhile, Velasco said the PSI National Age-Group Championships Mindanao leg will be held on May 5-6 in Davao City.

Velasco also bared the country’s hosting of the 42nd South East Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in July.

Eleven countries namely Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Timor, Thailand and host Philippines are joining the tournament from July 6 to 8 at the Trace College Swimming Complex in Los Banos, Laguna.