SWIMMING Swim Ireland Appoints a High Performance Director

Irishman Peter Banks has been appointed as High Performance Director for Swim Ireland and will officially take up the position on May 1 2009. Banks, who moved from Ireland to Florida in 1989 to further his career is one of the most experienced and well respected swimming coaches and leaders, not only in the United States but throughout the world. He has coached age-group, National, International and Olympic swimmers including American swimmers Brooke Bennett, winner of three individual Olympic Gold Medals (1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney) and Maritza Correia, silver medalist as part of the USA Women's 4x100m Freestyle Team Relay (2004 Athens).

Banks has also held the position of Director of Club Development for the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA), from 2001 - 2004 and he joins us from his current position of Sports Development and Aquatics Director at Brandon Sports & Aqautic Centre in Brandon, Florida.

In 2000, Banks was appointed as the USA Head Women's Coach for the World Championships in Greece and as USA Assistant Women's Coach for the Sydney Olympic Games. In this year also, he was awarded ASCA Swim Coach of the Year. Banks has also presented at numerous International Coaching Clinics and Conferences in Australia, UK, South Africa, Canada and the USA.

Following a Review of Swim Ireland's High Performance Swimming Programme last year, a decision was taken by the Swim Ireland board of directors to restructure the programme by implementing the services of a High Performance Director between now and the 2012 Olympic Games in London. This resulted in the position of High Performance Director being advertised in December 2008 and Swim Ireland can now confirm that a formal offer has been accepted by Banks. Banks will have the overall responsibility of leading Ireland's High Performance Programme in preparation for the London Olympic Games and beyond.

"This is a crucial time for Irish swimming to have a High Performance Director in place and we are delighted that Peter has made the decision to come on board. In terms of performance, Irish Swimming had one of its most successful Olympic Games ever, last year in Beijing. With 2009 marking the beginning of a new Olympic cycle and with the next Olympics due to take place on our doorstep in London 2012, we want to provide Irish swimmers with the best opportunities to develop and reach their potential", commented Sarah Keane, Chief Executive Officer of Swim Ireland.

The specific responsibilities that Banks will carry out will include developing and successfully implementing Swim Ireland's High Performance strategies. He will be responsible for communicating the plan to relevant stakeholders and building positive communicative relationships with relevant parties. He will liaise with the Irish Sports Council and Sport Northern Ireland and other external agencies on the planning and implementation of the National performance strategy and performance matters generally.

His role will also involve establishing and/or further developing the Swim Ireland Performance Centres, co-ordinating in conjunction with the relevant coaches the training, competition and associated programmes for Ireland's top athletes and managing the direction and application of sports science, sports medicine
and athlete welfare consistent with national strategies and outcomes. Banks will also be responsible for the strategic planning for all camps and competitions, including all logistics and personnel.

John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council commented: "In Peter Banks Swim Ireland has recruited a person who can lead the elite side of the sport through the next few, crucial years. He has the requisite knowledge and experience to unleash the potential of Ireland's young swimmers and to take advantage of the sustained investment in the sport over recent years".

Two weeks ago swimming received an allocated investment of €400,000 from the Irish Sports Council, for 2009.The ongoing support of the Irish Sports Council and Sport Northern Ireland is paramount to Swim Ireland developing and implementing its High Performance Programme and more importantly achieving its High Performance goals. With World Championships, World Student Games, European Junior Championships and European Youth Olympic Games all taking place this summer, 2009 is set to be a busy year for Irish Swimming.

In advance of the official commencement of his contract, Banks will attend the Irish Long Course National Swimming Championships next month which take place at the National Aquatic Centre, Dublin from April 16-19. It is also hoped that Banks will attend the Swim Ireland Annual General Meeting, which takes place in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone from April 25 - 26. Banks commented "I am really excited to be a part of Irish Swimming again, especially at a time when Irish Swimming is showing great promise for the future".

The Dave Mc Cullagh Memorial Gala takes place this weekend at the UL Arena, Limerick from 27-29 March. This event represents the first opportunity in Ireland for Irish swimmers to qualify for the major competitions in the summer, including the World Championships in Rome, the European Juniors in Prague and the World Student Games in Belgrade.

For further information please contact:
Sarah Keane /Chantal Gibney, Swim Ireland
Ph: 086 - 3817933
Email: edo2@swimireland.ie