Swimming support staff announced for 2018 Commonwealth Games

Swim England has announced the first selections for the support staff who will head out to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in April.

Jane Carre, Dan Nicholls, Abi Clarkson, Dan Waddingham and Clare Lobb will all take on athlete support roles for Team England.

This comes following the announcement of the first 15 athletes to make the swimming team earlier this month.

Carre heads up physiotherapy team

Carre’s role on the Gold Coast will be Lead Physiotherapist. She currently works as an EIS (English Institute of Sport) Senior Physiotherapist, and also works at the National Centre with the GB team.

She has good experience of supporting athletes at this level. Carre worked on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as a physiotherapist.

Nicholls will be taking on the role of Physiotherapist for the Team England swimming athletes. He currently works as an extended scope physiotherapist within his own private practice.

He has also worked with the Swim England Talent team for six years, delivering lectures and talks at conferences and phase camps.

Nicholls has worked at a number of international events with GBR Basketball and England Athletics. He also worked as a LOCOG physiotherapist at the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Nicholls said: “I am extremely honoured and proud to be selected to be part of such an amazing event. I am looking forward to meeting the athletes and the rest of the support staff over the coming months.”

Lobb takes on sports science lead role

Lobb will act as Lead Sports Scientist for the Team England swimming team. She is an integral part of the British Swimming staff.

She performed the role of Sports Scientist at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as well as numerous World and European Championships. Although she has plenty of experience of supporting GB internationally, this will be her first Commonwealth Games.

Clarkson is a well-established performance scientist who has a wealth of experience delivering sports science support within swimming. She currently works for the City of Manchester Aquatics team and is a valued member of the Swim England Talent sports science team.

Clarkson said: “I am excited to take on the challenge that this post offers. I am sure that I can meet that challenge and add value to the overall aim of the Swim England team.”

Waddingham to coach strength and conditioning

Waddinghamwill be taking on the role of Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Team England swimming athletes.

Waddingham currently works at Millfield where he is the Athletic Development Lead for Millfield Swimming. He has both practical experience and academic knowledge of how to effectively prepare athletes for major international competitions.

Waddingham said: “I am very proud to be selected to represent Swim England at the Commonwealth Games as Strength and Conditioning Coach. I am very excited about taking on the challenge.

Sports Science and Medicine Lead Diane Elliot is confident in the selections so far. She said: “The team we have appointed brings together a wealth of experience in swimming, and also from other sports.

“The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will provide a great opportunity for staff currently working within the Swim England Talent pathway to develop themselves. They will have a chance to learn about the team behaviours that are required at a major multi-sport event.”

Clarkson, Waddingham, Lobb, Nicholls and Carre are five of nine members of the support team announced today. Another four coaches have also been announced as members of the support staff for Gold Coast.