Luka Gabrilo will leave his role as head coach of Israel following the Tokyo Olympics to lead Team Iron for Season 3 of the International Swimming League.
The 39-year-old has guided the Israeli national team since September 2017 which followed a coaching stint at the helm with Switzerland as well as Team Elite under David Marsh.
Most recently, he oversaw Israel at the European Championships in Budapest where Anastasia Gorbenko made history by becoming the first Israeli woman to win a continental title with gold in the 200IM.
Gabrilo comes from an aquatic family. His mother Durdica Bjedov was the only Yugoslav swimmer to win Olympic gold with victory in the 100 breaststroke at the 1968 Games in Mexico, where she also took silver over 200m.
His father was also a water polo Olympian.
In a release from the ISL, Gabrilo said:
“I’m very excited to be joining Team Iron and look forward to applying my skills to help the team improve on last year’s performance.
“I have been fortunate to have had multiple chances to learn from some of the most appreciated coaches in the world, including my mother, Gennadi Touretski, and David Marsh, and this stands me in good stead for my work in the International Swimming League.
“Ahead of the ISL Draft, our club has some great swimmers potentially already in place, and I look forward to working with the whole team and to be part of such an exciting league.”
Iron General Manager Dorina Szekeres added:
“We are thrilled to welcome Luka to Team Iron. His character and work ethic make him a great fit for us, and we believe he is an excellent leader and strategist – exactly what a head coaching position in the ISL requires.
“I’m looking forward to working with him in preparation for the first-ever professional swimming draft and the season opener in Naples later in the summer.”
During the upcoming ISL Draft process, each of the clubs will have the opportunity to retain up to 15 athletes – plus one extra from an online fan vote – from their roster for Season 3, before filling out their line-ups through later draft rounds.
Among the 31 ‘protected’ swimmers who have accepted to remain with Iron if chosen are Katinka Hosszu, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Kristóf Milák and Emre Sakci.
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