Spence: Top swim coach to stay in Queensland

Sport Minister Judy Spence today confirmed Queensland Academy of Sport state swimming coach Stephan Widmer is remaining in Queensland and at the Academy.

Ms Spence said: “I’m delighted that Stephan has rejected an overseas approach and will continue as a high performance coach at the QAS for the next Olympic cycle, leading towards London 2012.

“Stephan began his career at the QAS in October 1997, and since then has experienced great results in the pool with his talented athletes.

“Stephan’s dedication to his athletes combined with their achievements on the national and international scene resulted in an acknowledgement in 2005 and 2007 when he was named QAS Coach of the Year and Telstra Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007,” Ms Spence said.

Stephan said recognition like this and at competitions when his athletes achieve world records are extremely rewarding, however the simple things are also just as rewarding.

“I know how hard my athletes work, they are pushed to the limits and when they touch the wall and look up at their time, even if it is only a small increase on their PB, you can see the happiness in their eyes and you know they’ve earned it, that is just as rewarding,” Widmer said.

Widmer stated that there were many reasons and many people who contributed to him deciding to continue on with the QAS and his vision of creating an elite training centre for future swimming champions.

“There were two significant options presented to me and both were equally appealing, however, one came out on top.

“I was privileged to be able to make the choice between the two, I believe I work hard, but I feel I am very lucky to be offered these options for my future career as a coach in the sport I am passionate about.

“The process was handled very professionally by both the QAS and British Swimming. To move to Britain and head one of their Swimming Intensive Training Centres was very tempting. I believe in what Michael Scott and what he is doing, however the program here in Queensland presents me with an opportunity to grow from within an organisation that is visionary and supported by world class services and facilities.

“We just need to make sure that we make the most of these facilities combined with the knowledge and expertise of the staff that operate within them, producing learning opportunities for our athletes into the future.

“We need to continue to make a difference for our athletes and I believe that we can do that here at the QAS, as a team, working together to create winning solutions across several units,” Widmer continued.

On a personal note, Stephan enjoys the support his young family receive here in Brisbane, from extended family, especially now with the addition of their baby son, Luca.

“It is reassuring to know that my family has this support, and being able to bring my son up so close to the beach is also pleasing,” Widmer said.

Professionally, Stephan is looking forward to challenging himself to create an environment for his athletes that will encourage them to take the next step into the elite performance level.

When Stephan first appeared on the coaching scene, athletes were unsure about joining his squad simply because they didn’t know him and his coaching philosophy. Once his reputation started to build, Stephan’s phone rang off the hook, but as his athletes reached the pinnacle in their sport, it is believed that young athletes thought it wasn’t possible to be part of his squad.

This is as far from the truth as it can be.

“Anything is possible in the sport of swimming, as long as athletes have the potential and are willing to work hard for their results; no level of success is out of reach.

“One of my athletes, Libby Trickett didn’t believe as a teenager that she could be a champion swimmer, but look where she is now,” Widmer said.

Stephan will be preparing to increase his squad numbers, only doing so now, because he believed it would be unfair to grant a scholarship to a new athlete if it was possible that he would be leaving.

“Queensland and Brisbane has a dense swimming culture and I see it as the capital city in the world of swimming and working within such an environment is important to me.

“Now with the impressive facilities that surround me, including the new QAS Recovery Centre, I can look forward to adding another element to my regime,” Widmer said.

Stephan and his squad are now in their final preparation stages for the Beijing Olympic Games. Believing he will be lining up a more experienced group of athletes, Stephan is looking forward to a fierce battle for medals in August.

Following Beijing, Stephan is looking forward to some well earned long service leave, while some of his athletes will come home to prepare for the Short Course Championships in September.

QAS Executive Director, Bennett King said that the QAS is holding onto a true asset in Stephan. A coach of his calibre, with a world class record, is a major coupe not only for the athletes he will train, but for fellow coaches and staff as well.

“Coaching plays an integral role in the development of our elite athletes, providing the best in this field is a priority for the Academy, combined with the other support services and facilities on offer at the QAS,” Mr King said.

“We are very happy to hear that Stephan will remain in Queensland to take part in the next phase of development, here at the QAS.”

The Queensland Government is committed to supporting the ongoing development and improvement of the QAS, to ensure the best facilities and services are provided to its athletes enabling the continuation of the one-stop-shop philosophy that the Academy is renowned for.

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