Olympic Silver Medalist joins Spring Branch ISD as diving coach

Anastasia Pozdniakova, an Olympic silver medalist in diving, joins Spring Branch ISD this school year as a district diving coach and facilitator at the W.W. Emmons Natatorium.

A 2009 University of Houston graduate, Anastasia concluded her diving career in 2012 and began coaching at the Cougar Diving Club as a Junior Olympic coach. High school coaching is what she has always wanted to be involved in, however.

 “When the opportunity opened with SBISD, I took it. I am really honored to have this opportunity and hope to get to know the athletes — their goals and dreams. We will work hard in the pool to be the best this year,” she said. Born in Elektrostal, Russia, Anastasia came to Houston in 2004 to pursue a degree in art history at the University of Houston with a full diving scholarship.

Recruited by UH Diving Coach Jane Figueiredo, Anastasia was the NCAA champion for two years in 1 meter diving. In 2008, she qualified for the Russian Olympic team.

During the Beijing Olympics, Anastasia competed in the 3 meter Synchronized Springboard diving competition with her diving partner, Yuliya Pakhalina. The diving pair finished the summer Olympics with a Silver Medal. “Coming into the Olympics, anyone has a great shot at medaling.

During our competition, I made a slight mistake in one of my dives but stayed focused and told myself that it wasn’t over until the last one,” Anastasia commented. Anastasia went on to compete at the 2012 London Summer Olympics where she competed in the 3 meter Springboard Individual event.

  Anastasia plans to utilize her 20 years of diving experience with Spring Branch athletes of all abilities. “I've always had the best role model – my coach Jane – next to me, helping me to always excel in what I do.

Having 20 years of diving experience under my belt and watching Jane coach has and will continue to help me to guide athletes to be the next champions in diving and in life,” she said. Anastasia begins coaching SBISD athletes this fall at the Natatorium.