I began swimming at age 4 and by age 6 I was competing in my first international tournament. By the time I finished my swimming career I had taken part in several world class tournaments and earned a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois-Chicago via a full athletic scholarship.
I currently work as a personal trainer, group instructor, fitness consultant, seminar speaker, swim coach and swim clinic developer. I have had the opportunity to work with exceptional coaches and trainers and learn from great professors and other professionals as well. I have been featured in both Fox Chicago and Foxhilites.com. Training others and seen them achieve results is the most rewarding of feelings, my drive for personal athletic excellence has now transformed into a passion to coach. Personal training to me is more than a career,is a purpose in life.
Education and Certifications:
- Crunch Fitness
- Phenomenal Fitness
- Lifestart Corporate Fitness
- Cityfront Healthclub
- Gorilla Sports
- Chicago Training Club
- Union League Club of Chicago
- Chicago Masters Swim Team
- St. Ignatius Swim Club
- Evergreen Park Stingrays Swim Team
- Grad. Assistant for the UIC Div. I Swim Team
- Chicago Tri
- As an independent trainer Luis has professional relationships with some of the top fitness companies in Chicago. He currently works with Wellfit Triathlon, Unicus Fitness, The Spa at Trump, Millennium Park Plaza Residencies and is a Fitness Ambassador for Lululemon Athletica. Luis is also part of the Sport Medicine Network of USA Swimming as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
- Member of the Peruvian National Swim Team from 1991 to 2001
- Swim captain and 4 times former record holder of the University
of Illinois-Chicago - Multiple Peruvian national champion and record holder
from 1987 to 2001 - Illinois State Champion in the 200 butterfly in 1998
- Multiple finalist including two 2nd place finishes at 3 South American Championships (Brazil 1993, Venezuela 1998 and Argentina
2000) - Finalist at the Pan American Games of Winnipeg in 1999
- Finalist at the Bolivian Games in 1998
- World Cup of College Station in 1998
- World Cup of Maryland in 1999
- US Open of College Station in 1998
- US Open of Austin in 1999
- Regional Midwest Championships in 1999
- Illinois State Championships in 1997 and 1999
- National Junior Championships in 1998
- Speedo Midwest Regional in 2002
- Salaverry, Peru in 1994.
- Fort Lauderdale Mile in 1994.
- Big Shoulders 5k (Chicago) 1998 to 2001.
-BS in Kinesiology (University of Illinois-Chicago)
-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (National Strength and Conditioning Association)
-Corrective Exercise Specialist (National Academy of Sports Science)
-Certified Sports Nutritionist (International Society of Sports Nutrition)
-Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist (American Council on Exercise)
-Certified Personal Trainer (American Council on Exercise)
-Certified Swim Coach (American Swim Coaches Association)
-Certified CPR, First Aid and AED (American Heart Association)
-Certified Youth Fitness Specialist (International Youth Conditioning Association)-certification pending-
Previous Work Experience:
Currently:
Athletic Background:
Other competitions:
Open Water:
Quick Facts About Luis:
-I was born in Trujillo, Peru a coastal city with year round spring like weather and an avid beach and surfing community.
-I went to college with the intention of becoming a Marketing major, but after coaching Age Group swimming during my Freshman year I realized that my true passion was teaching and coaching. I then switched to the Kinesiology program.
-My dad was the President of a professional soccer team for a couple years, he also acted as a secretary for the Peruvian World Cup Commission in 1993. I also other family members that have been involved with pro-soccer.
-My wife Kelleen and I perform in professional fire shows.
-I studied Philosophy for a semester at UIC after graduation.
-I believe in spirituality and the search for enlightenment. I don’t believe in dogma and like to keep my mind open so I can keep learning and growing as a human being.
-I started lifting weights for swimming at age 14 but trained with stretch cordz, plyometrics and body weight exercises since age 7.
-By age 8 I was swimming an average of 4000 meters a day.
-Without a heated pool in my city my teammates and I trained in water as cold as 55 degrees during the winter months (there are many heated pools now).
-I came to Evergreen Park,IL to attend a High School as an exchange student with the American Field Service and had one of the best years of my life. After that I received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Illinois-Chicago.
-I was given the Sportsman of the Year in Trujillo, Peru in 1993, that same night I came back to my to find my dog Princess in the middle of giving birth to 5 puppies (talk about a special night).
-I have several role models but none higher than my mother Elena who has always made me feel that I could accomplish anything and has thought me that no accomplishment matters if I am not a good human being first.
-I am currently married to my wife Kelleen who is the biggest music lover and best dancer I know.