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Swimming Australia has announced the head coaching appointment of Fernando Possenti to spearhead the next four-year cycle of its open water team towards the 2028 LA Olympic Games.

A world-wide recruitment search has secured the services of Brazilian Olympic coach Possenti, whose most notable work has been with Ana Marcela Cunha, a seven-time World Champion and Olympic gold medallist in the 10k marathon swim at the Tokyo Olympics.

Possenti, whose athletes have won 14 medals at various World Championships, will step into the vacant High Performance Open Water Role in 2025 - a role which has been vacant since Greg Shaw was elevated to Executive General Manager of High Performance just prior to Paris Olympics.

Possenti, who has more than 20 years of coaching experience, is currently serving as a pool and open water coach for the Brazilian Olympic Committee and will start in the new role in 2025 in time for the Open Water Nationals in Busselton late January.

Commenting on his appointment, Possenti advised “I am excited to help with the strategies and insights in converting the enormous potential that Australia has for open water and to collaborate with a united and lively group. Of course, I am very grateful for the support I have always received in Brazil.

“But at this moment in life it is time to test new waters and this challenge gives me the opportunity of being able to channel all my energy and work focus with an incredible and highly qualified team. Swimming Australia has a clear strategy to evolve the open water program with its focus on excellence.”

Executive General Manager of High Performance Shaw, added “the open water program is extremely excited to welcome Fernando into the role.

“His coaching experience speaks for itself and his dynamic and innovative ideas on how to design durable swimmers with broad skills to win when it matters will bring new ideas into Australian open water swimming and drive us to success in LA and beyond to Brisbane.”

Possenti has been on pool deck at the World Short Course Championships in Budapest, which concluded Sunday.

Image: Fernando Possenti. Credit Delly Carr/Swimming Australia.

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