Discreet, private coaching trusted by professionals, athletes and high profile clients.

NAGER London was founded by Sanela Nikolic, an international swimming coach and former competitive athlete whose work is grounded in technical precision, body awareness and highly personalised instruction.

Her coaching is built around The Flow Form, a swimming method she developed that focuses on alignment, breathing and refined movement in the water. By understanding how the body moves through water, swimmers learn to develop efficiency, control and confidence while minimising unnecessary tension.

Sanela is known for her attentive and highly focused coaching, combining technical precision with a strong commitment to helping swimmers reach their full potential. Her instruction is carefully adapted to each swimmer whether guiding beginners developing foundational skills, supporting individuals overcoming a fear of water or working with swimmers seeking to refine their technique through focused private sessions.

Today, through NAGER London, Sanela provides private swimming coaching across Central and West London, working with adults learning to swim for the first time, individuals overcoming a fear of water and swimmers seeking to refine their technique through focused private sessions.

Background

Sanela Nikolic is a former competitive swimmer, record breaker and gold medallist in the 100m and 200m backstroke (1986–1991), representing Former Yugoslavia in the 13–19 age groups.

After moving to the United Kingdom in 1991, she continued her work in swimming as a coach and instructor. Over the years, she has taught a wide range of swimmers including professional athletes, adults, children, babies and individuals with special needs.

Her wider experience also includes working with the late David Wilkie MBE during the 1990s. She was also involved in advocacy work ahead of the London 2012 Olympics to help narrow the gender gap in synchronised swimming, now known as artistic swimming. This formed part of a wider movement that contributed to Great Britain’s first mixed duet gold at the FINA World Masters Championships in South Korea in 2019, and to mixed team events debuting at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Today, her work continues to draw on this breadth of experience across different ages, abilities and stages of swimming development.

Qualifications

Sanela holds professional coaching and teaching qualifications in both swimming and artistic swimming, including:

• ASA (QCF) Level 1 Coaching Swimming
• ASA Level 1 & Level 2 Certificates in Teaching Swimming
• ASA Level 1 & Level 2 Certificates in Artistic Swimming
• FINA Artistic Swimming Judge
• RLSS National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches

She is a member of the Institute of Swimming (IOS) and holds full public liability and professional indemnity insurance.

Recognition & Awards

Sanela’s work has been recognised within the swimming community for her dedication to high-quality coaching and athlete development.

• London Swimming Award – Coach of the Year Nominee (2013)
• Ambassador for Quality Teaching (2020)
• Certificate of Excellence (2021)

Media Coverage

Sanela’s coaching work and her swimmers have received notable media attention, including features on:

• The Andrew Marr Show (BBC)
• The Independent on Sunday
• The Guardian
• ABC News
• Jo Brand’s Big Splash (Dave)
• BBC Radio 4
• Reuters
• Eurosport

Her work has also been featured in Health & Fitness, ID and Vogue magazines.