Singapore Swimming Association appoints new national head coach
The Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) has appointed Australian Stephan Widmer as its new national head coach and performance director.
The Swiss-born 50-year-old coach has groomed Olympic champions Libby Trickett, Leisel Jones and Jessicah Schipper, said an SSA media release on Tuesday (30 May). His swimmers have set 20 world records and won 16 world championship titles, it added.
Widmer, who has won Swimming Australia’s Coach of the Year award four times and was part of Australia’s coaching team for three Olympics, is currently the state head coach of Queensland. He will begin his SSA tenure in July.
“I am delighted and honoured to be given this opportunity to become the National Head Coach of Singapore Swimming. I am impressed with the vision and the ambition of Singapore Swimming and I am looking forward to the challenge of grooming more world-class coaches and athletes as Singapore strives to become a top swimming nation,” said Widmer.
One of Widmer’s key areas of focus will be to ensure that the objectives outlined in the SSA’s National High Performance Plan for Swimming, which include the long-term development of athletes and coaches, are achieved.
“The plan was a blueprint for long-term development and success for swimming. In line with that plan, we were looking for someone who would be able to achieve the objectives that were laid out and carry on our vision of turning Singapore into a world-class aquatics nation,” said SSA president Lee Kok Choy in the release.
“After long discussions with the team, we believed that Widmer’s caliber and proven track record in grooming world-class swimmers and coaches would allow us to reach that goal,” he added.
More Singapore sports stories:
Joseph Schooling eyes medals, world record at July World Championships
MMA: Angela Lee retains ONE Championship title, Singapore fighters shine
