About Calypso Artistic Swimming Academy
Calypso Artistic Swimming Academy is a modern online and in-person artistic swimming academy created to provide athletes with the complete system needed to reach their highest potential in the sport and in life.
Founded by international coach and former elite athlete Inga Gillyer, Calypso was built with the vision of combining world-class technical training with science-based education, athlete wellness, artistry, strength development, flexibility, mental preparation, and long-term athlete development.
Calypso is one of the first academies of its kind to offer athletes and coaches access to a comprehensive artistic swimming education both in and out of the water — creating an environment where athletes can grow not only into stronger performers, but into confident, intelligent, disciplined, and resilient human beings.
At Calypso, success is not defined only by medals, rankings, or titles. While the academy is deeply committed to helping athletes pursue excellence at the highest levels of the sport, its greater mission is to help every athlete feel seen, valued, and empowered through the lessons artistic swimming has to offer.
The academy believes that the discipline, resilience, work ethic, teamwork, emotional strength, and leadership developed through sport should extend far beyond the pool and positively impact athletes throughout their lives and future generations.
Calypso was also founded with a strong desire to help elevate the level of artistic swimming in the United States by providing athletes access to modern, international-level education and development systems. While the academy works with athletes and coaches globally, its mission is deeply connected to helping create stronger, healthier, smarter, and more confident athletes within the USA artistic swimming community.
Through international-level coaching, mentorship, and innovative training methods, Calypso aims to inspire athletes not only to achieve more — but to become the best version of themselves both in and out of the water.
Founder & Head Coach
Meet Inga Gillyer
European Champion • NCAA Champion • International Coach & Educator
Early Beginnings
Born in Donetsk, Ukraine in 1991, Inga Gillyer discovered artistic swimming at the age of five through what she still calls a complete accident. Originally wanting to become a dancer, Inga followed her cousin into a sports complex where her father noticed a group of girls stretching in splits and assumed it was rhythmic gymnastics. Instead, it was synchronized swimming — and that unexpected moment would shape the course of her entire life.
What began as a childhood dream of becoming “a beautiful mermaid with a crown” quickly transformed into something much deeper. Growing up as a shy and quiet child, Inga found through artistic swimming a level of confidence, competitiveness, leadership, creativity, and inner strength she never knew she possessed. The sport became not only her profession, but her identity, purpose, and lifelong passion.
A Lifetime in Artistic Swimming
With nearly 30 years dedicated to artistic swimming at the highest levels — first as an elite athlete and now as an internationally recognized coach and educator — Inga has experienced the sport from every perspective.
Elite Athletic Career
At just 14 years old, she became the youngest athlete selected to the Ukrainian Senior National Team. Throughout her athletic career, she became a European Champion, multiple-time Ukrainian National Champion, NCAA Division I Champion, American National Champion.
Her final competition representing the Ukrainian National Team took place at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, China.
NCAA Journey
Following her international career, Inga received an athletic scholarship to the University of the Incarnate Word, where she helped make program history as a member of the first artistic swimming team in the university’s history to win NCAA titles.
During her NCAA career, she became NCAA Champion in Team and Duet events, as well as an NCAA bronze medalist in Solo.
Her coaching career began in Canada, where she rapidly transformed one of the country’s lower-ranked clubs into a top-four national program within a single season. Since then, she has coached numerous national champions and helped athletes consistently secure spots on national teams around the world. Today, Inga is internationally recognized for her technical precision, biomechanics-based coaching philosophy, and innovative flexibility methodology developed specifically for artistic swimmers.
Her flexibility system combines principles from elite sport, anatomy, biomechanics, yoga, and long-term athlete development with a strong emphasis on injury prevention and eliminating both physical and mental fear associated with flexibility training.
Her expertise has led to collaboration with World Aquatics as a flexibility expert for coaches’ education programs, and she continues to educate athletes and coaches internationally through clinics, mentorship, camps, choreography, and online education.
Coach & Methodology Developer
Beyond the competitive side of the sport, Inga is also deeply connected to the entertainment and creative world of artistic swimming.
She became the first choreographer for artistic swimming productions on Princess Cruise Lines and has worked on professional aquatic entertainment projects, performances, and creative productions internationally.
Educator & Creative Leader
For Inga, coaching has never been simply a career — it is her life’s purpose.
Her mission extends far beyond medals and rankings.
She believes artistic swimming has the power to shape stronger athletes, stronger leaders, and stronger human beings, and she remains deeply committed to helping the next generation discover confidence, resilience, discipline, creativity, and love for the sport through the same journey that transformed her own life.
Mission & Philosophy
European Athlete Support & Flexible Scheduling (Barcelona, Spain)
Coaches/ Choreographers
Ekaterina Averka
Internationally recognized artistic swimming coach and choreographer with experience developing World, European, and National Champions.
From 2015–2021, coached at the Olympic Synchronized Swimming Center of Anastasia Davydova in Moscow, Russia, where athletes under her guidance became multiple-time Russian National Champions. She also served for four years as a coach of the Russian Youth National Team, leading athletes to World Championship, European Championship, and COMEN Cup titles. Many of the athletes she developed in Russia now represent the Russian National Team across multiple age categories.
Since 2021, she has been based in Spain, working internationally as a private coach, choreographer, educator, and mentor. She delivers masterclasses, coach education programs, athlete development services, and choreography projects for clubs and national-level athletes worldwide. She has worked with athletes from over 15 countries, including the United States, Australia, the Netherlands, Israel, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and more.
Services Available Through Calypso Academy
Choreography (Solo, Duet, Mix Duet)
Online 1-on-1 Technical Coaching
European Athlete Support & Flexible
Scheduling (Barcelona, Spain)
Figure Analysis
Languages: Russian, English, Spanish
Alina Mantulennko
Former elite artistic swimmer and one of the world’s leading mixed duet athletes, with two World Championship titles and two European Championship titles, as well as three World Cup silver medals. Trained under legendary coaches Elena Polyanskaya, Olga Brusnikina, and Tatiana Pokrovskaya.
Coaching since 2018 and serving as Head Coach of the Sevastopol Regional Team since 2022. Specializes in creating routines that combine technical excellence, strategic difficulty, and powerful artistic expression, helping athletes maximize both performance and scoring potential.
Services Available Through Calypso Academy
Choreography (Solo, Duet, Mix Duet)
Languages: Russian, English
Bianca Hofstatter
Bianca brings international experience as both an athlete and coach, having trained and competed in the United States, Austria, Russia, Greece, and across Europe. A former member of both the USA and Austrian National Teams, she has coached and choreographed athletes at every level throughout the United States and Europe.
Known for her creative vision and storytelling, Bianca specializes in designing routines that combine technical excellence with powerful artistic expression.
Highlights
Former USA & Austrian National Team Member
Austrian Junior National Champion (Gold Medalist)
USA Junior National Championship Silver Medalist
French Open Silver & Bronze Medalist
Multiple International Medalist
Fluent in English, German, and French
This version is shorter, more professional, and immediately leads with her highest-level credentials.
Services Available Through Calypso Academy
Choreography Development (Solo)
Languages: English German, French
Virtual Group Classes
Group class coaches and 1-1 coaches
Keana Hunter
Keana is an Olympic silver medalist and accomplished artistic swimmer who represented Team USA at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. A multiple-time international medalist, she has earned success at the highest levels of the sport, including World Cup gold medals and a World Championship silver medal.
Currently competing for Ohio State University, Keana captured the 2026 National Championship title in the duet event. Alongside her athletic career, she is pursuing a degree in Psychology on the Pre-Med track and works as a Mental Health Specialist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. As a coach and mentor, she is passionate about helping athletes develop confidence, resilience, and excellence both in and out of the pool.
Services Available Through Calypso Academy
Virtual Group Training Classes
Private Online 1-on-1 Coaching
Nikki Dzurko
Nikki Dzurko is a member of the U.S. Senior National Team and is currently training for the 2028 Olympic Games. An accomplished international athlete, she has earned two World Aquatics Championships medals (silver in 2023, bronze in 2024), multiple World Cup medals, and represented Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Nikki is also an experienced coach, having worked with Santa Clara Aquamaids, The Lakes Mermaids, and Westside Aquatics. A graduate of The Ohio State University, she was a member of three National Championship-winning teams during her collegiate career.
Passionate about athlete development, Nikki specializes in technique, choreography, acrobatics, and confidence building, helping athletes reach their full potential both in and out of the pool.
Services Available Through Calypso Academy
Virtual Group Classes
1-1 coaching
Ruby Remate
Ruby Remati is a multiple-year member of the U.S. Senior National Team, an Olympic silver medalist from the Paris 2024 Games, and an accomplished athlete at Ohio State University. With extensive experience competing at the highest international level, Ruby brings a deep understanding of technical excellence, artistry, and performance under pressure. As both an elite athlete and coach, she has spent the past three years helping artistic swimmers develop strong fundamentals, refine technique, and build confidence in and out of the water.
Services Available Through Calypso Academy
Virtual Group Classes
1-1 coaching
Choreography
Tessa Popelier
Originally from the Netherlands, Tessa Popelier brings over 20 years of coaching experience in artistic swimming. Throughout her career, she has successfully developed numerous national team athletes and guided soloists, duets, and teams to medal-winning performances at national championships.
Now based in the United States, Tessa works with athletes of all ages and competitive levels, offering both in-person and online coaching. Her coaching philosophy centers on building strong technical foundations, fostering athlete confidence, and creating a positive environment where athletes can thrive and develop a lifelong passion for the sport.
Tessa is dedicated to helping each athlete reach their full potential through individualized instruction, technical excellence, and a commitment to long-term athletic development.
Services Available Through Calypso Academy
One-on-one online coaching and
online group classes
One-on-one online coaching and online group classes