Sean Kelly Named New British Swimming Head of Stockport Intensive Training Center

STOCKPORT, England, September 26. MULTIPLE Olympic medal-winning coach Sean Kelly has been selected to head up the British Swimming Intensive Training Center (ITC) in Stockport when it becomes operational in October.

Kelly coached marathon swimmers Keri-Anne Payne and Cassie Patten to medals at the Beijing Olympic Games and four years earlier took Steve Parry to a medal in Athens.

The appointment will see Kelly, former head coach at Stockport Metro, run one of five ITCs currently being implemented at 50m facilities around Britain.

The centers will offer a one stop shop service point for swimmers and coaches with the aim of providing everything they need in their development from the right amount of 50m pool time to sports science support.

"I am very proud to be the head coach of the new ITC in Stockport," said Kelly. "With the new staff, support and facilities, we can make the existing World Class program, supported by Stockport Sports Trust, even better. "I am very excited at the prospect of new swimmers being attracted to the ITC which will be at the cutting edge of the sport. We will continue to produce young talent in our successful middle distance and distance programs and with the soon to be appointed sprint coach we will aim to be one of the best swim teams in the world."

Kelly believes the network of support available at the Stockport ITC will provide unsurpassed service to the athletes and the coaches.

"The addition of a full time sports scientist, physiotherapist, and strength and conditioning coach means we have the tools do deliver results at all levels," explained Kelly. "For the new ITC Stockport, Stockport Metro and swimming in Great Britain there has never been a better time to swim."

British Swimming National Performance Director Michael Scott has made the implementation of ITCs a priority since his arrival last year and he views it as a major component of his strategic plan for the sport from 2008 through to London 2012 and beyond.

"Creating a world-class daily training environment is an essential part of our overall strategy towards realizing our long-term performance goals," explained Scott. "This will enable us to further challenge for more future Olympic success. Sean's appointment as the ITC Head Coach at Stockport is a natural progression from his role as Head Coach at Stockport Metro. Over the last two Olympic Games Sean has produced three Olympic medalists and a raft of national team representatives at all levels. He is a talented coach and will be a valued member of both the ITC and British Swimming coaching staff over the next four years."

British Swimming's new program Head Coach Dennis Pursley believes the ITCs will provide the nation's swimmers with a network of training and support to rival the very best in the world.

"We are extremely excited about the ITC program as it will give our British swimmers a significant advantage over most of their competitors," said Pursley. "There are very few training opportunities in the world of swimming that offer world class coaching, highly qualified support staff and ideal training conditions with an exclusive focus on preparation for peak performance in major international competition. Nowhere in the world will British swimmers find uncompromised training opportunities more conducive to success in major international competition than in the ITC program right here in Great Britain."

Speaking of Stockport Sports Trust's delight at being awarded the ITC Chief Executive Malcolm McPhail said: "We are delighted that our bid has been successful. Stockport will without doubt play a major role in preparing swimmers for London 2012.

"Following our success in Beijing, the ITC will have a great impact on young people in the borough and they will have several Olympians as inspirational role models on their doorstep, plus the best coaching and sports science available."

Mr McPhail added: "The ITC will attract swimmers from across Britain but a large proportion will be Stockport Metro swimmers, and our young swimmers within the competitive development program will benefit from the additional resources."

British Swimming will operate ITCs at key 50m pool and training facilities at the University of Bath, Loughborough University, Stirling, Stockport and Wales National Pool in Swansea.

Special thanks to British Swimming for contributing this report.

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