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Name: Igor Zagoruiko
Job Title: Aquatic Site Manager at P.S. 125
Asphalt Green Department: Aquatics
Asphalt Green Campus: Upper East Side
Q: How long have you been working at Asphalt Green?
A: I’ve been at Asphalt Green since June 2008.
Q: What do you do at Asphalt Green? What are some of your responsibilities?
A: I provide Waterproofing (Asphalt Green’s free learn-to-swim program) for public school students and coordinate safety during the program. I track students’ progress and supervise, schedule, and evaluate the aquatics staff. I also teach group and private lessons for students of various age groups and levels.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of working at Asphalt Green?
A: I love to watch the process when kids learn how to swim, master new skills, and gain confidence in deep water. It’s great seeing how happy my students are when they participate in The Big Swim and get medals from Olympians. I’m also happy for the AGUA swimmers when they improve their time and qualify for big meets like the Junior Olympics. And of course, I love the people I work with, who do their best to keep Asphalt Green standards at the top level.
Q: What is one of your fondest memories of working at Asphalt Green so far?
A: Every year there are a lot of moments, but the fondest memories are definitely The Big Swim meets. This is the final swim meet for our Waterproofing kids, where everyone can see the results of our work and understand the importance of the program. Another great memory was when Lia Neal, a former Asphalt Green swimmer, became an Olympic bronze medalist in London. I think everyone at Asphalt Green was proud and happy for her. She started in our swim school and became a top-level athlete - a great example for other kids.
Q: How did you get into the aquatics industry? Tell us about your professional background.
A: I started playing water polo when I was 12 years old. I played water polo for the Soviet Union Youth National Team, Kazakhstan National Water Polo Team, and international professional water polo clubs. During my career, I participated in many international competitions including Euro FINA and LEN Cups, world championships in 1994, 1998, and 2001, and the Olympic games in 2000 and 2004. I also worked as a water polo coach.
Q: When did you learn to swim?
A: I learned to swim when I was 12 years old.
Q: What is your favorite or best swim tip for others?
A: The main tip is to set a goal and keep moving toward it.