With the dawn of the new Olympic quad, Swimming Australia has revealed the coaches and program partners now in place at its eight performance centers.
The organization says its performance hubs ‘play a critical role in the delivery of the high-performance strategy, bringing facilities, technology and experts together to design and develop world-class performance.’
Concentrating these programs enables Australia to remain competitive against heavily populated countries such as China and the United States, says Swimming Australia.
Executive General Manager of High Performance for Swimming Australia Greg Shaw says, “Our performance centres are where our swimmers come to make each other better. They have been integral in driving our Dolphins to podium and record-breaking swims at Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship level.”
“The performance programs that train in our hubs are where the magic happens and the coaches, swimmers and support staff that work in these programs are the engine room that drive our national success.
“The head coaches in charge of our performance programs are vital to this contribution. We have some of the world’s best coaches leading our performance centres, and they are working with the right performance support to enable the best chance of success in the leadup to LA Olympic and Paralympics Games, and Brisbane 2032.
“Strategically, all performance programs have five priority areas; coaching and technical leadership, world class swimmers, daily performance and competition environments, world leading performance support, and access to key facilities and technologies – and I am confident our performance program head coaches are capable of putting us in a strong position in the next Olympic and Paralympic quad.”
Of note, University Sunshine Coast has Michael Sage designated with a 12-month marker. Sage took over last month after Swimming Australia dismissed Michael Palfrey due to anti-Australian comments made at the 2024 Olympic Games.
St. Peters’ Dean Boxall earned our 2024 Swammy Award for Oceanian Coach of the Year after he qualified 10 swimmers for the Australian Olympic team and those swimmers combined to win 18 medals in Paris.
Storied British coach Mel Marshall revealed last summer that she would be moving to Australia and heading up Griffith University after longtime leader Michael Bohl explores retirement.
Damien Jones at Rackley boasts Olympic medalist Meg Harris among his Olympic athletes.
Olympic Performance Programs
Performance partner – Rackley Swimming Performance Program –
- Head Coach – Damien Jones
- Hub and performance environment – Sleeman Sport Complex
Performance Partner – St Peters Lutheran College
- Head Coach – Dean Boxall
- Hub and performance environment – QSAC and St Peters Pool
Performance Partner – Griffith University
- Head Coach – Mel Marshall
- Hub – Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
Performance Partner – University Sunshine Coast
- Head Coach – Michael Sage – 12 months
- Hub – Uni SC
Performance Partner – NSWIS
- Head Coach – Adam Kable
- Hub – SOPAC/NSWIS
Performance Partner – MSAC/VIS
- Head Coach – Craig Jackson
- Hub – MSAC/VIS
Performance Partner – SASI
- Head Coach – Craig Stewart
- Hub – SALC/SASI
Performance Partner – WAIS
- Head Coach – Will Scott
- Hub – HBF Stadium/WAIS
Para Performance Programs
Performance Partner – University Sunshine Coast
- Head Coach – Harley Connolly
- Hub – Uni SC
**NOTE: New Para performance programs to be announced in New Year.
I wonder if Boxall and Spicoli may have been separated at birth.
“after longtime leader Michael Bohl explores retirement” quite a funny way to put it ! Maybe I should also explore retirement
I am exploring retirement…..The ‘not going to work part’ is excellent. The ‘not getting paid’ part is bad. 🙂
Let’s hope Mel Marshall lives up to the hype. Can anyone name an international level swimmer she has coached that isn’t Peaty? This could be Swimming Australians biggest flop since London 2012
Luke Greenbank to World and Olympic bronze and Anna Hopkin to relay Olympic gold with a 52.00 split
Anyone know why Kyle hasn’t gone back to SASI?
He has.
No he’s gone back to Marion but not SASI
So who’s his coach if not Craig Stewart?
Shaun Curtis is Marion head coach
funny how after all these years one of the biggest factors,the athletes wellbeing and what they will do post swimming career still not addressed,the one thing that’s paramount to a swimmer even staying in the sport.
For those in the know also what about all the swimmers who arent peforming in these hubs and there are plenty,wheres the support for them???? its not just about medals is it really?these swimmers are people,so what if you don’t live up to expectation,should you just be shown the backdoor with not so much as handshake.
Australian swimming isnt quite what you have portrayed here believe me,as an ex swimmer its pretty obvious that real change never happened,and all the $ lining… Read more »
Certainly I think other sports are doing a better job of assisting in the planning of an athlete’s post-retirement phase and this is something that should be addressed better by the hierarchy. If parents of young athletes can see a quality post-retirement alternative for their kids they may be more inclined to support the notion of their child continuing toward being a professional swimmer into their adult life.
A “superannuation style package” where a certain amount of funding is put away for the athlete to receive at “say 35” (well and truely retirement age for swimmers) in a lump sum golden handshake for their services, would be a good start. The amount put away for the athlete could be… Read more »
Michael Sage has been leading the program at USC since post Olympics (Sept)… Is his 12 months from Sept? Plenty of rumours as to who will be taking over. Can’t wait to see a great coaching program with a strong senior squad on the Sunshine Coast. Be good to be less Brisbane/ Gold Coast focused.
You’re supposed to share the rumours. Don’t leave us hanging.
#1 Sage is covering until the end of Michael Bohl’s 12 month break.
#2 Dean is moving his squad to the SC, as more pool access time than at a school (with all amenities on site)
#3 No one really knows 😬😀
So just #3.
Last time I heard rumours of Boxall moving it was to replace Bohly at Griffith Uni which obviously didn’t happen.
Gotta think tho if he did moved to the Sunny Coast Kaylee would move back up there.
“Can’t wait to see a great coaching program with a strong senior squad on the Sunshine Coast”
Noosa swim club on the Sunshine Coast is current Australian Openwater Club champions, full of great senior swimmers with a coach that has quietly been applying his trade and producing champions since the 60’s. Very inspiring coach the more you talk to him, he was swimming competitively when a young kid by the name of John Konrads was starting to make a name for himself. Not much that coach hasn’t seen or experienced personally.
St Andrew’s swim club also making waves with a quality senior squad. Coached by an ex Australian swimmer that knows what it takes to get to the top.… Read more »
Wow, 40 minutes of travel time! You can barely get from the South Side of Chicago to the North Side in that time on a good day!
Yeah, used to take me longer to drive 15km to work in Sydney as well. Traffic very light up Sunshine Coast early morning, afternoons may take a bit longer to and from the pool, but when training like they do, a 40 minute drive afterwards with light traffic seems like an eternity and is asking for trouble in my experience.
Australian swimming has lost far too many of its top coaches to political correctness. There needs to be support for coaches from the top.
Can we have an example of that bizarre claim?
Pity Swimming Australia doesn’t seem to supply any support to swimmers who don’t swim at these hubs. There could be many reasons that swimmers would prefer to stay at their home programme. There are some great coaches out there producing amazing swimmers ……. And they are getting very little support. Meanwhile the big clubs get everything.