Alliance to Propel NSW Swimmers on Global Stage

The Sydney University Swimming Performance Centre will elevate the performance of talented student athletes from across New South Wales, providing clear pathways for swimmers who wish to pursue their academic and athletic goals to the highest level. Eligible student athletes will be supported by a combination of Sydney Uni Sport’s Elite Athlete Scholarship Program and NSWIS scholarships.

Swimming NSW Performance Centres provide high performance environments led by international level recognised coaches. The Sydney University Swimming Performance Centre is the latest addition to the existing Performance Centres located at the University of Newcastle, the Australian Institute of Sport, Sutherland Leisure Centre and Sydney Olympic Park.

The University of Sydney has a long and prestigious history of sport, whilst also being regarded as a world leading university. Since 1912, Sydney University has supported over 224 Olympians and Paralympians including 44 athletes and coaches at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 The Performance Centre is the next step in Sydney University Sport’s mission to strengthen the role of university sport within Australia’s high performance pathways whilst providing high quality education.

Sydney Uni Sport CEO Ed Smith stated: “As CEO of Sydney Uni Sport, I’m thrilled to announce our collaboration with the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) and Swimming NSW to launch a Performance Centre that is designed to elevate our swimmers to world class competitive standards. This ambitious initiative aligns our resources, coaching expertise, and facilities to ensure that our athletes are not only representing Australia but are reaching their full potential both professionally in the workforce and athletically on the Olympic and Paralympic stages right here in Brisbane in 2032.”

“This partnership underscores our commitment to developing top-tier athletic talent and offering our student athletes the holistic support they need to excel. Our collective vision is for New South Wales to become the home of Australia’s fastest and smartest swimmers. Together we hope to inspire excellence in our swimmers, setting the stage for Sydney Uni Sport to play a central role in a new era of Australian swimming”.

The NSW Institute of Sport has a proud history of success in the pool, supporting Olympic and Paralympic greats including Ian Thorpe AM and Matthew Levy OAM. During the 2024 Paris Games NSWIS recorded the 100^th Olympic medal won by one of its scholarship holders when University of Sydney student, William Yang (photographed below), was awarded a silver medal for his role as a heat swimmer in the 4 x 100m freestyle event, while Para triathlete/cyclist Lauren Parker recorded NSWIS’s 200^th Paralympic medal.

The establishment of a Performance Centre within a university environment is one of several strategies to ensure NSW swimmers shine at the 2032 Games. 

NSWIS CEO Professor Kevin Thompson said: “NSWIS is pleased to be a member of this partnership, and we welcome the prospect of a world class high performance coach guiding NSW swimmers towards the excitement – and high expectations – of a home Games in 2032”.

“The partnership between Sydney Uni Sport, Swimming NSW and NSWIS is one that also presents a tremendous opportunity to not only provide athletes, in this case, swimmers, with a high performance training environment but it’s one that also provides a world class education that will equip the athletes for life after sport.”

Swimming NSW CEO and Olympic medallist Kirsten Thomson OLY said: “Swimming NSW is thrilled to announce the Sydney University Swimming Performance Centre. We are grateful to our partners for believing in our vision to return NSW to number one for performance in the pool and confident we will recruit a world class coach to lead the program”.

“The prospect of our two university partners (Sydney University and Newcastle University) working together to support swimmers across the state will create a unique environment that will strengthen our performance on the international stage and provide new opportunities for our swimmers”.

The commencement of the Performance Centre is subject to the recruitment of a world-class high-performance coach to lead the program. This process will commence immediately. Interested applicants can apply for the role HERE.

ENDS

Main image features from left to right: Ed Smith – CEO Sydney University, Tameeka Johnson – Sydney Uni Swimming Scholarship Athlete, Kirsten Thomson OLY – CEO Swimming NSW, Elizabeth Gan – Sydney Uni Swimming Scholarship Athlete, Andy Burns – High Performance Manager NSWIS and, Max Oldham – Sydney Uni Swimming Scholarship Athlete