Gabrio - Head Coach
Gabrio is the Program Manager & Head Coach at PNSC, with over ten years of coaching experience in Italy, Australia, and Canada. Since joining PNSC in 2017, he has grown the club from 150 to over 250 swimmers, significantly expanding its reach and impact within the community.
A former age-group swimmer with Nuotatori Milanesi, Gabrio was a nationally ranked senior, swam at the varsity level, and competed at the Italian Nationals and Youth European Championships. He has worked with athletes of all levels and abilities, helping each swimmer achieve their goals and produce outstanding results.
In his coaching journey, Gabrio has been mentored by Olympic coaches Tamas Gyertyanffy and Paul Bruce, gaining valuable insights and expertise. Prior to his move to Vancouver, he coached the City of Sydney Swimming Club for three years, where several of his swimmers reached the State Age and National Age levels.
Outside of swimming, Gabrio is passionate about promoting Italian language and culture. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Milan, with academic experience at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Edinburgh.
Email: head_coach@pnsc.ca
Daina - Junior Leader Coordinator
Daina has been with the club for more than ten years now and started coaching in mid-2014. He coaches most of the groups but spends most of his coaching time with the younger swimmers. In addition to coaching for the club, he also coordinates the club’s Junior Leader program and works for the City of Vancouver as a lifeguard, swim instructor and aqua fit instructor. Daina hopes to see another year of improvement for his and everyone else’s swimmers.
Email: pnscjl@gmail.com
Isaac - Assistant Coach Coordinator
Isaac has been coaching at PNSC since 2018. He was first a swimmer and gradually became more involved with the club by Junior Leading and Assistant Coaching. He now coordinates the Assistant Coaching program and Coaches all the groups. Isaac enjoys helping swimmers grow and also enjoys mentoring the community leaders at the club! He is looking forward to seeing how much the swimmers improve!
Email: pnscac@gmail.com
Kevin
Kevin has been swimming with Percy Norman Swim Club since elementary school. Kevin has been a Junior Leader and Assistant Coach in the club before becoming a Coach. He is interested in helping swimmers improve their technique, speed, endurance, and confidence in the water. He is a certified Water Safety Instructor and has Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross/CPR-C, and National Lifeguard-Pool certifications. He is eagerly anticipating a productive and entertaining season.
Sarah
Sarah has been with Percy Norman Swim Club since 2018, and previously swam competitively with Gators Swim Club for 1 year. Through Junior Leading and Assistant Coaching, Sarah has been able to find her affinity for coaching and is delighted to help guide swimmers in this wonderful sport. With a reverence for the water, she has always loved aquatic activities and sports and hopes to share those fulfilling experiences with others. She aims to create a safe and encouraging environment for swimmers to strengthen their minds and bodies, and to develop an appreciation for swimming and the experiences that come with learning. Alongside coaching, she is certified as a Water Safety Instructor and National Lifeguard. Sarah is grateful to be a part of PNSC and looks forward to helping her swimmers’ growth.
Akash
Akash has been part of Percy Norman Swim Club since 2019, when he first joined as a swimmer. In 2022, he began volunteering and coaching with the club, and has since become an integral part of the coaching team. Before coaching, Akash swam competitively with the Canadian Dolphins Swim Club for four years, where he developed his technique and learned what it takes to train at a high level. He brings that same focus and energy into every practice he leads. Akash also holds certifications as a National Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor, which further support his knowledge of aquatic safety and instruction. Akash is passionate about creating a positive, supportive environment where swimmers can improve, stay active, and have fun. He’s excited for more great seasons of progress and personal bests!
Rachel
Rachel has been with Percy Norman Swim Club for several years of coaching. Rachel began swimming with PNSC at 11 years old and competitively swimming when she was 14 years old with Canadian Dolphins. Rachel’s coaching career began during her time at Gators Swim Club when she volunteered for her coach assisting with the younger swimmers. Rachel found that she has much passion for coaching then swimming. She will focus more on coaching Yellow and Grey.
Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn has been with Percy Norman Swim Club since 2018 and prior to that, swam competitively with Gators Swim Club for three years. As an instructor at Pedalheads swim and a Coach at PNSC, Kaitlyn has found fulfillment in teaching. They strongly believe in the importance of compassion and respect when working with kids. Kaitlyn loves the community at PNSC and looks forward to helping swimmers improve!
Andrew
Andrew has been with Percy Norman Swim Club since he was 6 years old and also swam competitively for over 10 years. He took a break from PNSC for a few years to focus on his competitive swimming career and recently rejoined PNSC in 2022 as a junior leader, gradually making his way up to coach. Andrew is also a coach for the Super Sharks Swim Club and he has been using his coaching experience in both clubs to develop his coaching style and swimming techniques. Andrew aspires to pass down his extensive swimming knowledge to the next generation of athletes, as well as maintaining a healthy and safe learning environment. Andrew hopes to spread his passion for swimming to the wonderful PNSC community and is thrilled to accompany the swimmers on their paths.
Juliet
Juliet has been with Percy Norman Swim Club since she was 6 years old and considers the club like a second family. Over the past few years, she has had the opportunity to give back to the PNSC community as a Junior Leader and Assistant Coach prior to becoming a Coach. Through this experience, she has developed a genuine passion for working with kids and teaching. She has certifications in Standard First Aid with CPR-C AED and Water Safety Instructor which contribute to making her practices not only fun, but also safe. As a Coach, Juliet is committed to giving all swimmers the same guidance, care and support that her coaches once gave her, and hopes to share her love for swimming with the PNSC community, one swimmer at a time!
Tiana
Tiana has been with Percy Norman Swim Club since 2017. Throughout the years, she has gradually become more involved in the swim club as a Junior Leader and an Assistant Coach prior to becoming a Coach. During her involvement, she developed a growing passion for teaching and working closely with the swimmers, while developing critical leadership skills. Apart from PNSC, Tiana is a certified Water Safety Instructor and holds additional certifications in Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid with CPR C-AED. As a coach, she is committed to providing invaluable guidance to swimmers and fostering a welcoming environment. Tiana takes pride in sharing her passion for aquatic activities with the swimmers and witnessing their growth. She is extremely grateful to be a part of the PNSC community and looks forward to working with all swimmers!
Aniyit
Aniyit has been an active member of the Percy Norman Swim Club since 2017. He started as a swimmer and progressed through the club levels before becoming a Junior Leader, then an Assistant Coach, and now a Coach. Having grown up with the club, he is excited to support and mentor the next generation of swimmers, just as his coaches supported him. Aniyit believes that improvement comes from a combination of hard work, dedication, and having fun along the way. He enjoys helping swimmers build confidence, challenge themselves, and look forward to coming to practice. Aniyit is excited for another fun and productive swim season.
Emma
Emma has been swimming with Percy Norman Swim Club since the summer of 2016. From a young age she always looked up to her coaches and wanted to help swimmers develop the way that her coaches helped her. In addition to swimming with PNSC, Emma has also swam with the competitive swim club Vikings for two years, before focusing more on coaching. Through years of working with kid’s swimming as a Junior Leader and Assistant Coach, she also has experience working externally with Pedalheads and through Lifeguarding. Emma is looking forward to joining the PNSC Coaching Team to help both new and returning swimmers improve their skills and have an awesome time!
Brayden
Brayden first joined the club at the age of 10 back in the year 2015. Brayden’s first experiences as a swimmer were rough being someone who both lacked the physical aptitude and the enthusiasm for swimming.
Countless hours of tears were a normality for the young Brayden. With his entry into the Percy Norman Swim Club his mentality on the sport swimming changed. He grew fonder of the sport finding the joys of connection within the fellow swimmers and the coaches in the club along with all that the sport itself offered. Now Brayden has become vastly more involved in the aquatic world, having completed all required aquatic courses to become a lifeguard in a pool setting and even a waterpark setting. Brayden’s new goal within the club is to inspire the same joy he felt when he first joined PNSC and help newer swimmers discover their own passion for swimming. He hopes to work with both new and old swimmers to make swimming more fun and enjoyable for all along with improving their overall skill and fitness.