At the age of 18 Gus moved to Roanoke, VA, and while representing the VA Gators he won a few National Titles and broke a few state and YMCA National records. In 2003 he enrolled at Virginia Tech and began his collegiate swimming career. While at VT, he became the first All-American swimmer in the school history and earned four individual conference titles in the butterfly and distance freestyle events. In 2004 he represented his home country at the FINA World Championships and finished 9th in the 200m Butterfly.
Coaching Staff
Gus Calado, CEO & Head Coach
Gus is an entrepreneur and a swimming enthusiast. He began his swimming journey soon after turning 8 years old and by the age of 14 he qualified for his first international swim meet representing the Brazilian Junior National Team. It did not take long for Gus to understand his passion for the sport and decide he wanted to swim in college in the U.S.
After graduating in 2007, Gus continued his swimming career at a professional level and retired in 2010 after representing his home country at the Nation’s Cup in Canada. During his final years as a competitive swimmer Gus founded Planet Swim and began his coaching career at the Bolles School under the guidance of former Olympic Medalist and Swim Coach, Sergio Lopez. Since then, Gus has focused on developing young swimmers and has had the opportunity to work with several world class athletes including World Championship/Olympic qualifiers and medalists.
Coach Gus has helped many swimmers achieve personal best times, win state championships and reach the National Level. His passion for coaching is second to none and through coaching he hopes to empower individuals to reach their full potential both in and out of the water...building long-lasting confidence to be carried out through life.
Raphael Lima, General Manager & Associate Head Coach
Coach Rapha is an esteemed former world-class swimmer and a distinguished member of the World Swimming Coaches Association (WSCA), bringing over two decades of experience in elite coaching and athletic program development. He holds an American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Level 5 certification, the highest available, underscoring his exceptional expertise in the sport. Coach Rapha graduated with honors in Physical Education and went on to earn an MBA in Sports Science, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of both the athletic and business aspects of coaching.
Throughout his career, Coach Rapha has demonstrated remarkable leadership and a proven track record of success as Director and Head Coach. He has led several multimillion-dollar athletic clubs, health clubs, resort clubs, private schools, and swim teams, including renowned organizations such as Reebok Sports Club and Midtown Athletic Clubs. His strategic vision and leadership skills have been crucial in building and managing diverse programs across multiple locations in both North and South America. Under his guidance, these programs have consistently produced outstanding results, reflecting his commitment to excellence.
Coach Rapha’s career is marked by his ability to develop swimmers and athletes of all levels, from state and national champions to a select group of world-class triathletes. His innovative training methods and personalized coaching style have helped countless athletes achieve their highest potential, both in the pool and beyond. With a deep passion for the sport and a commitment to the holistic development of each individual, Coach Rapha continues to be a driving force in the world of competitive swimming and athletic performance.
Kyle Berry, Head Site Coach (Orange Park Location)
Coach Kyle joined the Planet Swim coaching staff in May 2021. Kyle started swimming at the age 8 and swam competitively for 14 years. Swam in High School at Astronaut High School in Brevard County. Kyle also swam for Daytona Beach Speed.
As much as Kyle enjoyed competing, he found that his real passion was coaching. He has been a Head High School Coach and Age Group/Senior Coach since 2012 until he moved to Jacksonville to join Planet Swim. Kyle’s coaching experience ranged from developmental swimmers through college swimmers during his time as Associate Head Coach with Rockets Swimming.
During his time as the Head Coach for Astronaut High School and West Shore Jr/Sr High School he coached several state qualifiers. During his two years at West Shore Jr/Sr High School Swim & Dive Team were District Champions. Also placed 2nd at Regions 2 years in a row for the first time in School History. Kyle was awarded the Brevard County High School Girls Coach of the Year for 2020.
Kyle was a part of the 2018 Florida Swimming Zones Team Coaching staff. He has also been on multiple Florida Swimming All-Star Team Coaching staffs. In 2021/2022/2023 Kyle was the Head Coach for the Florida Swimming All-Star Team.
Laura Azevedo, Head Age Group Coach
(Nocatee Location)
Coach Laura is a highly accomplished former world-class swimmer with extensive experience in coaching both age group and senior elite swimmers. She is a FINA World Championships silver medalist, demonstrating her exceptional skill and dedication to the sport. With a strong background in both athletic performance and coaching, Coach Laura has successfully developed numerous swimmers who have competed at State and National levels.
She earned her degree in Nutrition, along with a minor in Psychology, from Florida International University, providing her with a well-rounded understanding of the physical and mental aspects of performance. Prior to joining Planet Swim, Coach Laura served as the Head Age Group Coach and SwimAmerica Manager at the renowned Coral Springs Aquatic Complex. There, she played a pivotal role in fostering the growth of swimmers, creating a pathway for their success at both the state and national levels.
With a deep passion for the sport and a commitment to nurturing the next generation of athletes, Coach Laura brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her coaching, helping swimmers achieve their full potential both in and out of the water.
April Barrientos, Age Group Coach
(Nocatee Location)
Coach April is originally from Virginia Beach, VA. She joined the coaching staff at Planet Swim in January of 2022. She has over a decade of coaching experience, mainly focused on working with younger athletes or those who are new to competitive swimming. She started her coaching career with her childhood swim team, Tide Swimming in Fall of 2011 and continued coaching with them until her move in 2021.
Coach April began swimming competitively at the age of 5. In addition to swimming for Tide, she competed for Ocean Lakes High School all four years. Her Freshman year she was named all-American and her Senior year she was named Women’s team co-captain. She was a District and Regional Champion in various events throughout her high school career, and a 4-time State Qualifier and finalist.
After high school, she continued her swimming career at Old Dominion University where she was awarded a swimming scholarship. While at ODU, she was a 4-time CAA record holder and a 3-time event winner in the 100-yard Backstroke. She was named CAA Swimmer of the Week several times, awarded Female MVP her Freshman year, and nominated Women’s team co-captain her Junior and Senior years.
Coach April graduated from ODU in December of 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Secondary Education.
Coach April is excited to continue her coaching career working with the swimmers and coaches at Planet Swim!
Ashley Reutter, Age Group Coach (Nocatee Location)
Coach Ashley brings a dynamic blend of experience, enthusiasm, and expertise to her role as an Age Group Coach. Ashley has a deep understanding of the sport and a passion for helping athletes reach their full potential. Ashley grew up swimming competitively in Northern California for the Terrpain National Team, a USA Swimming Gold Medal Team. Ashley went on to earn a scholarship and swim competitively at the Division I collegiate level at Ohio University. Ashley’s main events were 100, 200 breastroke and 200 IM. At the conclusion of her collegiate career Ashley continued on with coaching in the sport at various levels.
Ashley is an Assistant High School Coach for Ponte Vedra High School. In addition to coaching, Ashley holds a Masters Degree in Teaching and is Nationally Board certified in Literacy. Ashley has taught Elementary School in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and St. Johns County Schools.
As an Age Group Swim Coach, Ashley focuses on developing each athlete's technique, endurance, and mental strategy. Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for helping others succeed. Inspired by her journey training with top athletes and coaches, Ashley is thrilled to pay it forward and coach with Planet Swim!
Susan Johnson, Age Group Coach
(Jacksonville/Orange Park Location)
Coach Susan has been coaching at the Argyle location since 2020. Her athletic career spans 16 years as a competitive swimmer, with two National Age Group records, multiple trips to Senior Nationals and NCAA ‘s with the University of Georgia, and several international trips including the World University Games. She has been coaching for 25 years as a developmental, age group, and high school coach in Atlanta, Georgia and in Clay County. Her main focus is on stroke development and building a love of swimming for all ages.
