Bruin Swim Club Coaches

Julia Voitovitsch - Head Coach

Coach Julia was born in Kiev, Ukraine, and raised in Frankfurt, Germany.

From 1993 to 2000, she represented Germany as a competitive swimmer, participating in various national and international events, including the 1996 Atlanta Olympics where she competed in the 100-meter butterfly event and finished 12th.

Julia also played a significant role in setting a world record in the butterfly leg of the German 200-meter medley relay during the first European short course swimming championship in 1996 in Rostock, Germany.

In 2000, she set a new German national record for the 100-meter butterfly in short course meters, surpassing the previous record held by Christin Otto from East Germany since 1988.

From 1998 to 2001, Julia was a member of the UCLA Women’s Swim Team on a full athletic scholarship. During this time, she achieved numerous victories and established several team records.

After graduating from UCLA in 2004, Julia worked as an assistant coach for the UCLA Bruin Masters Swim Club.

In 2005, she became the head coach and started the Bruin Swim Club and elite coaching program under the Aquatic management company.

In 2007, UCLA assumed ownership of Bruin Swim Club and elite coaching, and Julia continued to serve as the head coach.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Bruin Swim Club was temporarily closed from March 2020 to 2023 but has recently reopened under Julia's leadership.

Julia has extensive experience as a swimming coach, working with individuals of all ages and skill levels. Many of her students have not only participated but also achieved victory in the Junior Olympic championships.

In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, playing pickle ball, and spending time with her family and friends.

Ivan Podvalov - Assistant Head Coach

Ivan Podvalov holds a B.S. (Hon) from the Olympic Academy of Kazakhstan as well as of the Kazakh Institute of Physical Education. He continued his education at the International Olympic Academy in Athens, Greece in 1994-1995, culminating in his participation in the Kazakh Olympic delegation.

Ivan began his swimming career in junior and national team of Kazakhstan (former U.S.S.R.), culminating in his participation in both national and international competitions, including the Central Asian Games, the Asian Games and the Olympics.

After immigrating to the United States in 2001, Ivan worked as a swim coach at various clubs before becoming a coach at a public school in North Torrance, California. He later became swim coach at private Milken Community High School in Los Angeles where he coached for six years before accepting an assistant coaching position for Masters and Bruin Swim Club.

In his free time, Ivan is an avid historian, published author and enjoys spending time with his family