The first four Team England coaches heading to the Gold Coast for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in April have been announced.
National Centre Bath Lead coach McNulty will be attending his fifth consecutive Commonwealth Games for Team England. He has coached for England at every Games since Manchester 2002. At Glasgow 2014, his group of swimmers from Bath won 15 medals. He is also one of the most successful British Olympic coaches, with five swimmers winning six medals over the last three Olympic Games.
Commenting on his selection, McNulty said: “It’s always a huge honour and a privilege to represent England at a Commonwealth Games.
“To not only take on the very best athletes in the Commonwealth, but to also go head to head with Australia on their turf makes this one a great competition to look forward to and relish. This is really what it’s all about.”
Mel Marshall and Jolyon Finck will be heading into their second Commonwealth Games, after making their debuts at Glasgow 2014. Based at the National Centres in Loughborough and Bath respectively, the pair are coaches to two of the best swimmers in the world at the moment, Olympic and World Champion Adam Peaty, and Olympic and World Champion James Guy.
British Para-Swimming National Coach, Graeme Smith, will be supporting the Para-Swimming athletes. An Olympic bronze medallist, Smith has played athlete support roles at the Olympic Games and previously managed athletes including Rebecca Adlington and Keri-anne Payne.
Commenting on the coach selections, Head Coach Kevin Renshaw said: “I am delighted with the first coaching selections we have made for Team England heading to the Gold Coast next year.
“They are coaches that have very good experience behind them and all know what it takes to win medals at the highest level. All are strong characters who exhibit all the characteristics and behaviours required to help Team England achieve their goals on the Gold Coast in April.”
Also announced today were five members of the support team. Physiotherapists Jane Carre and Dan Nicholls, sports scientists Clare Lobb and Abi Clarkson, and strength and conditioning coach Dan Waddingham will all take on key athlete support roles in the run up to and during the Commonwealth Games.
Sports Science and Medicine Lead Diane Elliot 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, and learn about the team behaviours that are required at a major multi-sport event.”
The coaching and support staff announcements today follow the announcement earlier this month of the first 15 swimming athletes. The remaining coaches and athletes will be selected following the Swim England National Winter Championships 2017 taking place between the 13-17 December. The final team will be announced later this year.