SWIM COACH DIVES INTO AREA LESSONS.

Byline: Sonia Giordani Daily News Staff Writer

Catching a breath after warm-up exercises Tuesday, more than 30 finned and goggled swimmers from the Dolphin Swim School directed their attention to coach Valery Simonov.

Perched on the edge of the pool, the former Russian Olympic swim coach called out the next set of drills. Watching over his students, Simonov would occasionally stop a swimmer midway up the lane and review proper strokes and techniques.

``I think a good swimmer gets about 30 percent from God,'' said Simonov, speaking in his accented but fluent English. ``But the rest is hard work.''

The 39-year-old former head of the Olympic Swimming Center in Kiev is bringing his coaching experience to area youth with a new year-round swim team based at Sunset Hills Country Club in Thousand Oaks.

The program will introduce the fun and the sport of swimming to younger students while also recruiting and preparing older swimmers for competition.

``We are trying to create a really special program,'' said Simonov, who students more commonly call ``Larry.''

``First of all, you swim for health. And if somebody can be a champion, then let's go to the Olympics! No problem.''

Simonov said he ultimately hopes to develop a year-round swim academy through the school, which in addition to teaching the techniques of swimming would also introduce swimmers to other aspects of training, from nutrition to good ethics.

``The idea would be to develop a curriculum to build agility and flexibility and mental preparation and all of the aspects of the sport needed in competition,'' said Greg Friedman, founder and owner of the Dolphin Swim School.

Friedman said his programs try to cater to the different levels of swimmers at his school. With Simonov on the staff, however, Friedman said the school will be able to offer more opportunities to swimmers who want higher levels of competition.

At the Sunset Hills Country Club pool, the 35 students enrolled in the school's summer session this year range in age from 5 to 16. The swimmers practice for more than an hour each morning in groups according to ability level. They have competed against other local swim teams, including the Triunfo YMCA and the Conejo Swimmers Association.

``Our kids are already swimming more than 2,600 yards each day,'' said coach Marnie Mercado, who works with the older swimmers. ``A lot of our students have real potential of being successful swimmers.''

For Julie Bell, this summer is only her second season swimming. But the 8-year-old Thousand Oaks girl already shows great promise and is practicing with older students, Mercado and Simonov said.

``I thinks it's fun,'' said Julie, adding that she likes her new coaches this year.

Sitting in a poolside lounge chair, her father, Mike Bell, added that it was fun to see his daughter excel in the sport this summer, capturing 10 first-place medals in just the last two competitive meets.

``There is a whole new staff this year that has raised the whole level of swimming for the kids up a few notches,'' said Bell, adding that he will continue to support Julie's swimming as long as she enjoys it.

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3 Photos

PHOTO (1--ran in SAC and SIMI editions only) Swim team members line up before breast-stroke practice Tuesday morning at the Sunset Hills Country Club pool in Thousand Oaks.

(2--color in Conejo edition only) Swim coach Valery Simonov finds a sore muscle for swimmer Whitney Fair, 13.

(3--ran in SAC and CONEJO editions only) From left, Amy Cook, 14, and Whitney Fair, 13, do their kickboard exercise.

Tina Gerson/Daily News