Growing up in Santiago, Dominican Republic, Vanessa’s life always revolved around the water. She began swimming at age six, encouraged by her mother, who instilled a deep love for sport in all four of her children. Vanessa swam competitively for Los Tiburones de Baracoa, Las Pirañas de Amaprosan, and later, Santiago Máster. She also competed in water polo and open-water swimming -- going on to represent her country on the national team. Teaching has been a passion of hers since she was 18, and it became even more special when her son, Elian, followed in her footsteps—first as a swimmer, then as a coach alongside her. Vanessa is certified in Hydrotherapy, Adaptive Aquatics, and World Aquatics coaching. She finds pure joy in watching children discover the fun and freedom of swimming. When she's not in the pool, she loves watching movies and spending time with Elian.