Mel Marshall is named a finalist in UK Coaching Awards

Mel Marshall has been shortlisted for a national coaching award.

Marshall, who is part of the Team GB coaching staff for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games next summer and also Adam Peaty’s coach, is a finalist in the UK Coaching High Performance Coach of the Year award.

She is up against Nelson Lindsay, who coaches British Paralympic swimmer Bethany Firth, wheelchair curling’s Sheila Swan and hockey’s Zak Jones for the title.

The winner will be announced during the awards ceremony at the The Tower Hotel London on Thursday 5 December.

Marshall said: “It’s a real honour to be nominated for the UK Coaching Awards, but it is recognition of all the hard work which goes behind the scenes from the entire staff team at British Swimming.

“I’ve had the pleasure to work with some of the most talented swimmers of our generation, and it is their commitment to achieving their best which inspires me to coach.

“I see how our athletes are inspiring young people to take up swimming and being involved in the England Talent Coaching programmes gives me an opportunity to see that first hand.

Celebrate work of our coaches

“It’s great seeing children get so excited about the sport, have fun and aim high.”

Mark Gannon, CEO of UK Coaching, said: “The standard of nominations we received this year has been phenomenal and truly demonstrates the diverse coaching talent we have in the UK.

“These awards are a chance for us to celebrate the work our coaches do every day of the week, and the role they play in making people around them healthier and happier.

“Congratulations to all those who were nominated, and of course our finalists. The UK Coaching Awards is always a special occasion and we cannot wait to shine a light on the exceptional work of our coaches.”

For this year’s Awards, UK Coaching reviewed and redesigned its nominations process to ensure all coaches, from grassroots to the global stage, had the greatest chance of being recognised.

This led to a record number of nominations being submitted, which then went through a rigorous, independent and impartial judging process.

Danielle Brayson, who coaches teenagers at the City of Glasgow Swim Team, has also been shortlisted in the Talent Development Coach of the Year category.