Less than a month after announcing his departure from Britain’s National Training Center, James Gibson moves into his role of Head Coach at Energy Standard, the international swimming club based in Belek, Turkey.
Training at Gloria Sports Arena, considered to be one of the best training centers in Europe, Energy Standard represents a unique collaboration of athletes and coaches from Russia and Ukraine. Conceived in 2012, the club is financed by well-known Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist Konstantin Grigorishin, with Andrea Di Nino serving as Chief Consultant. According to its website, the main objective of Energy Standards is to ‘support and develop talented, young swimmers who dream of Olympic gold.’
Two of the club’s most notable athletes are Evgeny Rylov and Mykhailo Romanchuk of Russia and Ukraine, respectively. Rylov scored a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games, earning a new European Record in the process. Romanchuk earned two bronze medals at the 2016 European Championships in London this past Summer, touching in 3rd in both the 800m and 1500m freestyle events.
Gibson’s move to Energy Standard is just one of several key British coaching moves over the past several weeks. Mel Marshall, coach of world record holder Adam Peaty, was announced as National Lead Centre Coach at Loughborough, while Plymouth Leander’s head coach, Jon Rudd, has moved to head up Swimming Ireland.
Additionally, David McNulty was appointed National Lead Coach in Bath, while former Millfield Head Coach Jol Finck also moved to Bath. Dave Hemmings was named National Coach in Loughborough.
