bscta : Michelle Hewson

Other Coaching Achievements: 1999 first year to gain National Age Group Qualifiers 2 swimmers, 2 events. 2000 same 2 swimmers at NAGs, 7 events. Same year one of my Masters won the National Masters 100m Butterfly. 2001 currently 4 swimmers in 11 events

Representative Coaching Honours: None yet!

Coaching Influences: My own former coaches including former GB International Cate Jackson and listening to Bill Sweetenham present at the 2001 BSCTA Conference. Also, my own swimmers with their desire to achieve!

Favourite Coaching Resources: The books "In Pursuit of Excellence", "Sporting Excellence" by David Hemery (very interesting man, although wrong sport!) The web. and videoing swimming on the tele and analysing afterwards. The commentary is usually very imformative especially when it is Adrian Moorhouse which even the kids can relate to aswell.

Favourite Coaching Venues: I love Ponds Forge. I competed there at the GB Masters in 1997. The water was freezing but it made you get to the other end in quick time! I re-visited PF back in October 2000 at the Inter County Gala to assist Nick Juba and the County team.

Most important coaching qualities: Understanding a swimmer and trying to treat each one as an individual. Compromise if and where necessary! Also, being able to make them do things (i.e. a new distance in a competition), that they may not usually do, and making it seem like their idea in the first place! With my mixed level of club, enjoyment is the key which leads to good results.

Best British swimmer of all time: Sorry, I have 4. Both Karen Pickering and Alex Bennett both had very serious car accidents but were determined to get back in the pool through much pain and anxiety to a top level of swimming. Sharon Davies for still holding British records from nearly 20 years ago. Sue Rolph for being a superb all round swimmer with many talents and a real hunger to do well and for having the heart to speak out.

Best Swimmer of all time: Mark Foster for being so damn quick! Ian Thorpe is amazing and never runs out of steam! Duncan Goodhew for his many achievements and being the great Ambassador that he is now for our sport.

Ambitions as a coach: Long term, to coach swimmers to International level and achieve GB or England coaching status (I have always wanted a t-shirt with a GB flag on it!). Short term, to continue to enjoy a job that I love doing and for as long as possible.