Ariana Kukors was absent from the December Championship meets, and some wondered why. It appears as though it has to do with a recent move to begin training with the Bolles Sharks in Jacksonville, Florida and their coach Sergio Lopez.
According to Bolles’ latest newsletter, she will be in the sunshine state training at least through the London Olympics. Kukors has done her training almost exclusively on the West Coast throughout her life: she was born in Suburban Seattle, grew up training at the King Aquatic Club, had a one-year stint at the University of Washington, and most recently relocated to train with FAST in Fullterton.
So how did she end up across the country in Jacksonville? Let’s connect some dots. Kukors has had huge success while training under Sean Hutchison, who has been her coach for most of her life. In fact, his appointment as the head of the former Center of Excellence for postgrads at FAST was what drew her out of Washington. Among other followers of Hutchison’s training methods that focus on absolutely meticulous technique development was Charlie Houchin.
Houchin recently moved east to train at Bolles (though his primary affiliation is with his new program is IX3, and the official site says he’s training alone, he lists Bolles as a secondary affiliation in recent psych sheets). Though the newsletter says she’ll be training with Lopez, one would imagine that her and Houchin’s mutual allegiance to Hutchison is related.
Kukors is the World Record holder in the 200 IM en route to winning the 2o09 World Championship. She is looking to step up and win her first ever Olympic medal in 2012, and as the bronze medalist in the event at this year’s Worlds in Shanghai is certainly in the hunt. Bolles is a program that is centered around training those swimmers who attend the Bolles School for high school students, they are incredibly good at coaching these young swimmers, and the transition to coaching a post-grad shouldn’t be tough.
The most recent Bolles alum to win an Olympic medal was George Bovell – appropriately enough in the 200 IM at the 2004 games in Athens. Among current Bolles swimmers is Ryan Murphy, a National Age Group record-breaking backstroker, He is expected to be an Olympic finalist in the 200 back at this summer’s Olympic Trials.
Bobo gigi, I haven’t heard anyone saying Kukors is a suit only swimmer.
But I have heard many times, and I agree with them, that no chance in hell her 200 IM WR will be broken in the next 20 years unless FINA will re-allow rubber body suit.
Ariana Kukors has been in the water here for the past week and the Bolles family is really excited to have her here. There is so much excitement and energy on the pool deck at Bolles right now it is palpable. Charlie Houchin has been here for a few months and has been training in the Post Graduate group coached by Gustavo Calado. Fabiola Molina and her husband also train here. It is not unusual to have such top notch talent visiting here. We are host to multiple National teams and it really produces an environment where all the swimmers benefit.
As far as Hutchinson goes, it is rumored that he will also be in the area. Have not… Read more »
Hutchison was at Bolles this past year with a group of Brazilian swimmers….Would not be surprised to hear of some type of collaboration between Hutchison and Lopez….
Could be, especially after Houchin tweeted the Ikkos training promo which is Hutcheson’s patented baby.. With proponents like Marsh and Hawke maybe Lopez jumped on the bandwagon too.
Although Lopez is coaching prep swimmers now, I would not by an stretch diminish his ability or his draw. If you have ever talked to him he is a charismatic, knowledgeable and very savvy coach.
Sergio has had some success with HS level swimmers, but Kukors? There has to be more to this story.
I think you’re right Bulletproof – no inside info, but I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if we saw Mr. Hutchison in Jacksonville in the near future.
Ok, first it’s Ariana Kukors. I like this girl and she will prove this summer she isn’t only a suit swimmer like some people try to describe her. For me she’s clearly in the two front-runners of the 200 IM at the next trials with Caitlin Leverenz. I like listening to her, she’s smart and very interesting on interviews, it’s not boring when she speaks.
she was unatt at minn grand prix.
I’m not so surprised she moved, but this is a huge change! I’m shocked she didn’t switch to Trojan, given all their success with IMers and pros. Itd be a match made in heaven.
Do we know how long she’s been at bolles?