ONE OF SWIMMING’S top coaches has been appointed as Swim Ireland’s new National Performance Director for the 2020 Olympic cycle.
Jon Rudd, a two-time British coach of the year, succeeds Peter Banks and will be tasked with preparing Ireland’s leading swimmers for the Tokyo Games.
His appointment is a significant statement of intent from Swim Ireland with Rudd arriving at the organisation with an impressive CV having coached 2012 Olympic champion and world record holder Ruta Meilutyte and Rio 2016 finalist Ben Proud.
Rudd, who has worked as head coach of both the Great Britain and England swimming teams in recent years, said:
“I am honoured to take on this role for Swim Ireland as it is an exciting opportunity for both them and I.
“I am obviously sad to be leaving something that I have created and built over what is almost three decades and it also hurts to be leaving behind such great athletes and a wonderful workforce.
“But Plymouth Leander is way bigger than any one man and my thoughts will soon be with my colleagues and athletes in Ireland, where I will now build a world class team around me that can help Ireland find that elusive podium finish at World and Olympic level.”
Rudd’s appointment is part of Swim Ireland’s review of the performance structures following the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Nicholas Quinn, Fiona Doyle, Shane Ryan and diver Oliver Dingley all competed in Rio and enjoyed varying levels of success with Ryan making the 100m backstroke final and Dingley the 3m springboard final.
Rudd will now spearhead the high performance squad with the focus already switching to Tokyo in a bid to earn that elusive podium finish.
“I am really excited by the appointment of Jon,” Swim Ireland CEO, Sarah Keane, said.
“He is very driven and determined and I think that he will be a strong leader. Jon has the relevant skills and experience to be our National Performance Director and has the ambition to help us attain our vision.”
Swim Ireland have already begun the process to appoint a Head Coach and it will be the first time the organisation has both a Performance Director and Head Coach working together.
Rudd is due to start his role in February 2017.
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