National coach to guide swimmers through to Rio Olympics

Swimming New Zealand has confirmed that highly experienced coach Clive Power will continue in the role of national head coach until next year’s Rio Olympics.

Power is highly respected in the sport, having guided a number of swimmers to Olympics and World Championships, as well as previously leading the New Zealand Para-Swimming programme.

He has been in the role for six months and has now committed to continue until the new coaching team is in place post Rio.

“He has been very well received by the swimmers at the High Performance Centre and in the main, they have performed up to and exceeded goals in the relatively short time that Clive has been in the role” said Swimming New Zealand CEO Christian Renford.

Renford said the organisation had successfully negotiated with a highly qualified international candidate for the new fulltime role as national head coach. Unfortunately the successful candidate is unable to take up the role because of personal circumstances.

“We are pleased with the work Clive has done and he is prepared to commit through to Rio. Therefore it makes sense to continue with a stable coaching environment through to Rio and at the same time we will continue the recruitment process with the aim to have a suitable head national coach in place to lead the high performance programme beyond Rio.”

Former Olympian Katie Sadleir will continue in her contract role as High Performance Director. Swimming New Zealand will re-evaluate the specific needs for the long-term leadership of the high performance programme to come into place after Rio.

The Swimming New Zealand high performance programme has moved to the new Sir Owen G Glenn Aquatic Centre at AUT Millennium, which will be the core-training venue for swimmers based in New Zealand. Those New Zealand-based swimmers not training at the centre fulltime will utilise the facilities and sports science resources for preparation and testing camps with their personal coaches on a regular basis.

Rio Olympic