The stars
Alexei Evangulov
May 2012
British Diving’s national performance director reveals that he began his training on a home-made trampoline – and how he likes to relax with a rod and spinner.
Roger Penfold
April 2012 – The Reading SC president and recently-appointed MBE reveals that he would struggle to swim a width right now – and that he wishes he had studied harder at school.
Sir Peter Heatly
March 2012 – The three-times Commonwealth Games diving champion reveals that he has been to every Games since 1950 – and is now hoping to see his grandson follow in his footsteps
Liz Sykes
February 2012 – The West Midland regional ASA president reveals why she couldn’t speak English until she went to school – and that she’d like to change the ‘them and us’ culture in swimming.
Sean Kelly
January 2012 – Sean Kelly, the Stockport ITC head coach, reveals that he was once hospitalised after being gassed by chlorine in a pool and why he’s the Imelda Marcos of swimming.
Ian Oliver
October 2011 – The City of Newcastle head coach, Ian Oliver, faced an agonising choice between attending his first Commonwealth Games or going to his mother’s funeral
Andy Banks
December 2011 – Andy Banks, the founder and head coach of Plymouth Diving reveals that he ran away from home to escape his A levels – and why he should have been an investment banker.
Dennis Pursley
September 2011
Great Britain’s head swimming coach Dennis Pursley reveals the tragedy that befell his own age group coach and why he would like to change the sport’s culture of ‘instant gratification’.
Gaynor Willis
August 2011 – Gaynor Willis, Swimshop managing director and 1984 Olympic swimmer, says the hardest thing she’s had to do was speak at – and hear her sons speak at – the funeral following her husband Simon’s untimely death.
Philip Gordon
Philip Gordon, the swimming referee, former chairman of Carn Brea SC, member of Cornwall and South West regional boards and 2010 ASA Council representative reveals that he’s survived a string of tropical diseases and used to swim in the Nile.
