“I’m proud to be a player in a cause that is close to my heart.”
Passionate about sports and a young entrepreneur of 22 years old, Hugo Maraio opened the doors of his swimming school Swim Stars on September 1st, 2021 in Enghien-les-Bains (95). Between studies and entrepreneurship, our franchisee’s passion for sports, and particularly for swimming, sets the pace for his life.
Love of sport and willingness to support a cause
Swim Stars : Hello Hugo and thank you for your time. Can you tell us who you are, where you come from? What is your background?
My name is Hugo Maraio, I am 22 years old, I am a native of Val d’Oise and more precisely of Sannois.
After obtaining my BAC, I joined the AMOS Sport Business School; it is the first business school specialized in the sports business. In AMOS, I saw the opportunity to turn my passion into a profession.
With a professional project to work in the world of sports events, I chose my different professional experiences in order to acquire expertise in this field.
As we speak, I am in Master 1 Management of Sports Organizations with an entrepreneurial option. It had been over a year since I felt ready to start my own business. I was able to realize this project thanks to the franchise model proposed by Swim Stars.
Having been aware of water and its dangers for years, the Swim Stars project won me over right away.
What made you want to join the Swim Stars adventure?
Holder of the BNSSA (Brevet National de Sécurité et de Sauvetage Aquatique), I was able to work in swimming pools, rivers and seas for 5 years in parallel with my studies. I immediately saw in the Swim Stars franchise that the business had a huge social impact as well as a strong economic development potential.
I also saw it as a second opportunity to work in the sports world that I like so much.
Franchising: a model that meets your expectations
What did you like or find interesting about the Swim Stars franchise model?
I was interested in the franchise model because the support and follow-up provided by Swim Stars guarantees success from the first month of opening. I could benefit from a turnkey training to open a business that makes sense; it didn’t take me long to decide!
Is it incompatible to undertake and keep time for your passions, your family, your loved ones?
I am a student in a work-study program and I find that this model is perfectly compatible with the desire to undertake and to keep time for personal activities.
I also cycle, run and swim. I love sports, I need to practice them regularly and I still find the time!
Even with my new position as Director of Swim Stars Enghien-les-Bains, I have time to juggle my personal hobbies, my studies, my internship and my franchise without overworking myself .
After all, we are in a swimming school! What aquatic species would you be?
I would be a sea turtle!
It is an animal that is majestic, endowed with a rather crazy freedom in the oceans. It remains vulnerable because of our current environment and it is an animal that I wish I could save. I find that the turtle represents me well by its ease in the water and its freedom.
A final word?
The AUTO-RESCUE© program developed by Swim Stars is for me THE solution to fight against drowning and I am proud to be one of the actors of this cause which is close to my heart. I am also very grateful to Swim Stars for this first entrepreneurial opportunity, so thank you to the whole team!
Hugo answers more questions in his video portrait :
For all the information about Swim Stars swimming lessons in Enghien-les-Bains, go to the page Swim Stars Enghien-les-Bains. And to discover the other portraits of franchisees, go to the Swim Stars Blog.
