Thanyapura Phuket Appoints New Aquatics Head Coach

Thanyapura Phuket has appointed Miguel Lopez Alvarado from Spain as the new Thanyapura Aquatic Academy Head Coach. 

Miguel, who has more than 20 years experience as a swimming coach, has trained at the elite level, steering able-bodied and disabled swimmers to great heights.

Miguel's dossier of former charges includes three-time triathlon world champion and Olympic silver medalist Javier Gomez, one of the best swimmers in triathlon history.

He also coached three swimmers to Paralympic success. Pablo Cimadevila Alvarez, Sebastian Rodriguez and Pablo Saavedra Reinaldo all broke world records while training under him.

More recently, he coached London Olympics semi-finalist Beatriz Gomez Cortez.

Miguel studied at the University of Cambridge, where he obtained a Master's degree as a secondary school physical education teacher. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in applied physiology and kinesiology from the University of Florida.

"We're very excited to welcome Miguel to the Thanyapura family," said Thanyapura's President and CEO, Philipp Graf von Hardenberg. "Having Miguel at the helm will take our Silverfinz Programme to the next level. His expertise and coaching background make him one of the best swimming coaches in Asia. He is a huge addition to the world-class coaching staff that now call Thanyapura home."

For 2014 - 2015 Thanyapura has revitalized its Silverfinz Swim School program to provide a more clear development pathway for children who want to take up swimming as a sport. The program is a fun and exciting way to learn a necessary life skill in a safe and encouraging environment with an expert team of coaches led by Miguel. The program consists of seven levels for children to aspire towards and is open to everyone on the island.

Upon the completion of the Silverfinz Swim School, children may move into Thanyapura's squads program (silver or gold), to further their swimming experience and begin competing at higher level competitions.