Swimming HP Director moves on after orchestrating change

Swimming New Zealand has regretfully accepted the resignation of High Performance Director, Luis Villanueva, who after two and a half years leading change at the elite level of the sport is stepping aside.

The former Spanish Swimming Technical Director has led a clear direction and plans for Swimming New Zealand, including increased support for development of the pathways for younger swimmers to the elite level, beefing up the High Performance Programme with a National Head Coach to take responsibility for the AquaBlacks and all carded swimmers, and consolidating the number of swimming high performance centres.

Villanueva now believes it is time to step aside to allow new fresh blood to drive that change.

“It has been an enormous honour to work at Swimming New Zealand and an incredible journey for my wife and me,” Villanueva said. “We will be sad to leave but the time is right to step aside.”

Swimming New Zealand said they are disappointed to lose Villanueva, who will remain for up to a further three months to help with a smooth transition, and the organisation is determined to press on with his plans which aim to move New Zealand swimming forward.

“Luis is uncompromising in his desire to elevate the swimming performance,” said Swimming New Zealand CEO Christian Renford. “We naturally want more top quality results from more of our swimmers; that is the nature of high performance sport. We are very encouraged by the development and potential of several younger swimmers.”

“In his time at Swimming New Zealand, Luis has led significant change across our sport at the elite level and we are committed to continuing his work. He has set a clear direction and well developed plans targeted at attaining success in Rio in 2016 and beyond and feels it is time for someone else to now drive this with fresh enthusiasm.”

“We have already commenced the process of finding a replacement and we are developing a target list of potential candidates. I am confident that with our team progressing well, the High Performance Director role for Swimming New Zealand will attract a highly competitive field” Renford said.

Swimming New Zealand is also in the process of appointing a National Head Coach which is a new role within the organisation.