Sports
Okimoto & Cintra: Training Hubs and Amateur Progression
Based at Sírio and Esperia, the team led by Ricardo Cintra trains swimmers from scratch all the way to ultramarathons.
The Okimoto & Cintra sports coaching team trains amateur swimmers at two traditional São Paulo hubs, Clube Sírio and Clube Esperia. Head coach Ricardo Cintra shared insights into their training routines, pool facilities, and inspiring stories of athletes progressing toward long-distance events.
Celebrating a decade of history, Okimoto & Cintra has established itself as a benchmark in developing amateur swimmers in São Paulo. During an appearance on the Natação Stemma podcast, head coach Ricardo Cintra shared details about how the sports consultancy operates, splitting its pool sessions between the South and North zones of the city.
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Training hubs and facilities at Sírio and Esperia
The team operates out of two training centers with distinct access policies. In the South Zone, daily sessions take place at Clube Sírio, accessible exclusively to club members. In the North Zone, along Marginal Tietê, training is hosted at Clube Esperia, where non-members can also enroll directly to train with the squad.
Esperia holds special significance for the team: it was in the club's 25-meter semi-Olympic pool—an indoor, heated, and glass-enclosed facility—that Poliana Okimoto completed much of the preparation leading to her world championship title and her bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Training sessions at Esperia run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays across two morning slots (6:00 a.m. to 7:20 a.m. and 7:20 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.) and an evening group (7:20 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.).
From initial adaptation to ultra-distance events
In addition to coaching open water marathon competitors, the team's methodology welcomes swimmers who arrive unable to sustain basic distances. Cintra highlighted inspiring personal breakthroughs, such as Bárbara, who joined the group unable to swim 1,000 continuous meters and is now training for ultra-distance challenges, including the iconic Travessia 14 Bis.
Another example shared by the coach was João, a police officer who began training without being able to complete 50 meters without stopping at the wall. Through consistent dedication and pacing, he progressed to podium finishes in his age category at major events like the Ultra and Mega races, and is now targeting the 24 km 14 Bis crossing. For Ricardo Cintra, guiding these transformations in the daily lives of amateur athletes is a source of continuous fulfillment.
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