Regan Steps Down as Head AIS Coach; La Fontaine Is Acting Head Coach

CANBERRA, Australia, Dec. 23. MARK Regan, head coach of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Swimming Program, today announced his decision to resign after seven years at the Institute.

Internationally renowned swimming coach Pierre La Fontaine, a Canadian who joined the AIS earlier this year, will act as head coach until a decision has been made on a replacement. La Fontaine left the famed Phoenix Swim Club in the US to join the AIS.

The AIS has been in turmoil recently, with the forced resignation of famed Russian Coach Gennadi Touretski following an alcohol-related incident on an overseas flight, and the decision by several of Australia's top swimmers to train elsewhere.

Regan, who has been on extended leave for the past 10 weeks, said he had decided to leave the position for personal reasons and would now take a break to re-assess his future.

He joined the AIS as a senior swimming coach in 1995 and was appointed as head swimming coach in 1998. Previously he was head coach at the Mt Pritchard (formerly Cabramatta) Amateur Swimming Club. He had also served as an Australian Olympic Coach in 1996 and 2000.

AIS Director Michael Scott thanked Mr Regan for his contribution to the success of the AIS Swimming Program, which produced World and Commonwealth Games champions and Olympic medallists, including swimmers of the calibre of Petria Thomas and Justin Norris.

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