Swimming backroom team for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is confirmed

The full team which will aim to steer Team England’s swimmers and para-swimmers to have the ‘best Commonwealth Games ever’ has been finalised. 

Following the appointments of head coach Mel Marshall, sports science lead Diane Elliott and team manager Rod Wardle in January, swimming team leader Grant Robins has confirmed the entire backroom staff for Birmingham 2022.

It includes Sarah Kennedy, who will be assistant team manager and para-swimming lead, Angela George as lead physiotherapist plus eight coaches – David McNulty, Dave Hemmings, Lisa Bates, Jacquie Marshall, Jamie Main, Ian Hulme, Euan Dale and Lauren Jocelyn.

In total, there are 26 members of the backroom team covering all aspects from coaching, nutrition, strength and conditioning through to analysis and media.

Grant said: “Our target is to have the best Games ever in the pool and the coaching and support staff we have appointed will help us to achieve that.

“They will give all our athletes the best possible chance to compete well in Birmingham and hopefully deliver the results we’re all striving towards.

Packed with experience

“It’s a team packed with experience and expertise and we can’t wait to get started.”

The countdown to the Games begins in earnest now with the trials being held at the British Swimming Championships from 5-10 April.

Following that, the International Paralympic Committee will publish the athlete allotted list on 18 April and the final selected team will be confirmed at the beginning of May.

The team will then attend two Mare Nostrum events in May before a preparation camp on June.

Just over a week before the Games are due to open on Thursday 28 July, the team will move to a holding camp in Loughborough.

The six-day swimming competition takes place from Friday 29 July to Wednesday 3 August at the newly-constructed Sandwell Aquatics Centre.

Picture: FINA