Staff

 Meet Coach Regine “Gigi” Fanous

Gigi has been making waves since she was just seven years old. Growing up in the heart of New Jersey swimming, she quickly discovered that the pool was her happy place. She swam for the Montclair YMCA, the Ridgewood YMCA, and NJ Wave, plus her high school and summer league teams. Gigi wasn’t just any swimmer , she was the kind who loved a challenge! While some swimmers might avoid the toughest races, Gigi said “Bring it on!”  Her favorite events were the super-challenging 200 Fly, 200 IM, and 400 IM ; races that test strength, speed, and serious determination.

Gigi qualified for big competitions like YMCA Nationals, Eastern Zones, and NJ Junior Olympics. Competing at that level taught her powerful lessons about discipline, grit, and never givin

g up ; lessons she now shares with every swimmer she coaches.

 From Swimmer to Coach

Gigi started teaching swim lessons at the Montclair YMCA from 2006–2012, helping young swimmers learn to love the water. She also coached 11–12 year olds at the Ridgewood YMCA from 2008-2012, guiding them as they grew stronger and more confident. 

After that, Gigi took a little break from the pool deck to dive into a different kind of creativity; becoming a Packaging Design Director in the apparel industry. She built an exciting career leading teams and creating amazing designs.

But the water always called her back…

Now Gigi is back on the pool deck, she joined CAT in 2025 , combining her experience as a top athlete and creative leader to help her swimmers chase big dreams and crush their goals.

 Fun Facts About Gigi

When she’s not at the pool, you might find Gigi:

 Traveling the world

 Searching for the perfect croissant

 Binging episodes of The Sopranos (typical Jersey girl!)

 Spending time with her dogs and family

For over 25 years, Gigi’s life has revolved around the water and now she’s helping the next generation of swimmers make waves of their own.