Artistic swimming: Andrea Fuentes departs Team USA and returns to Spain as new head coach
The four-time Olympic medallist with Spain has returned in a coaching role after eight years and a historic Olympic silver with Team USA at Paris 2024.
Artistic Swimming
Andrea Fuentes has returned to the Spanish artistic swimming team, taking over as head coach, 11 years after retiring from competition as her nation's joint most decorated Olympic female athlete.
Fuentes arrives off the back of guiding the USA to team silver at Paris 2024, the nation’s first Olympic artistic swimming medal in 20 years. The Spaniard will be joined by her husband, Victor Cano, as the acrobatics coach of the team, after Mayu Fujiki stepped down from leading the European country's national squad after seven years.
As per the Spanish Swimming Federation (RFEN), Fuentes said, “It is an honour for me to become the new leader of the Spanish national team. I will do so with the same passion and dedication that has always guided me, looking to reach the top in an innovative and attractive way.
“Together with Víctor, we will create unforgettable moments, with the intention of bringing something new to the sport and helping its development. We are ready to give our best and discover this team’s unique personality, which will undoubtedly fill our hearts every day.”
Spain won team bronze in artistic swimming at Paris 2024, the final achievement in Fujiki’s illustrious tenure in charge of the national team.
Fuentes won three silvers and a bronze during her athletic career in the pool, one of just three Spanish women alongside tennis player Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and swimmer Mireia Belmonte to win four Olympic medals.
She spent six years in charge of Team USA, helping them achieve their best team result at an Olympic Games since their home Games at Atlanta 1996.