Three-time Olympian, Olympic Silver medal winning coach and current high-performance director, Lara Teixeira, will expand her role to Chief of Sport at USA Artistic Swimming as we head into the next Olympic cycle. Teixeira has played a critical role in the achievements of the national team program at all levels and with the recent retirement announcement of Shari Darst as Education Director, the opportunity to expand her impact couldn’t be better.
Since starting with the organization on November 26, 2019, Teixeira has been a critical part of the national team program's foundation. Her willingness to do anything at any time is what separates her from many and was a key factor in our Olympic Silver Medal achievement and a contributing factor to the success of our Junior and Youth National Teams as well. In her previous role, she served as the high-performance director, full-time assistant coach, national team manager and fulfilled many other smaller roles that improved USA Artistic Swimming as a whole.
In her new role as Chief of Sport she will retain her responsibilities as high-performance director and national team manager and contribute to the vital roles of coach, athlete, and officials’ development. Teixeira will take what she has learned as an athlete, coach, technical controller and team manager and develop educational programs designed to impact every level of the organization for the short and long benefit. CEO of USA Artistic Swimming, Adam Andrasko, shares, “Lara is incredibly talented and unique in so many ways. Her understanding of every aspect of our organization and the sport is unparalleled. I am honored to work with her every day and am very proud to see her elevated into this role.”
Andrea Fuentes, USAAS Senior National Team head coach who has worked closely with Lara, couldn’t be more excited and supportive of Teixeira’s new role. Reflecting on their time together, Andrea expressed her admiration for her exceptional professionalism and leadership. "Lara is the highest professional I have ever seen in this sport. Her optimism, radiant energy, and relentless work ethic are matched only by her ability to set firm but caring boundaries—something essential in this demanding role. Without a doubt, Lara is the ideal person to take on the role of Chief of Sport. I’m not only thrilled for her, but also for the entire organization!"
Teixeira will be supported in this transition by Shari Darst until the end of 2024. Her role will also be supported by the national team coaching staff as they will aid in the evolution and delivery of visual skill development materials for all members of USAAS. “I am thrilled with the announcement of Lara becoming the USAAS Chief of Sport, there is no one more qualified for this position. Her dedication to our sport and organization will shine through by continuing the growth of education and developing even better programs. I am very excited for Lara & the organization; great things lie ahead.” shares Education Director, Shari Darst.
I am thrilled to embark on this new chapter in my career at USAAS. Throughout my journey within the organization, I have gained valuable insights into our strengths and opportunities for improvement. I embrace this role as an exciting challenge that will drive our progress forward. My focus will be on fostering growth not only at the highest competitive levels but also among our coaches, athletes, and officials within the membership. Together, we will learn, evolve, and achieve great things. I look forward to what the future holds for our organization.
