Swimming Australia has this morning announced that Michael Bohl and Rohan Taylor will take on the role of National Team Coaches for the EnergyAustralia Swim Team through to the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona (July 28 to Aug 4).

Working with new Director of High Performance, Michael Scott, Bohl will be charged with running the women’s team and Taylor the men’s, with the trio set to form a formidable coaching unit in the build-up to Barcelona.

Swimming Australia President Barclay Nettlefold said the appointment of both Bohl and Taylor is another positive step for the sport, on the opening morning of the 2013 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships in Adelaide.

“Our High Performance Committee put forward the approach of a men’s and women’s team coach to see the team through to this year’s World Championships, and in Michael Bohl and Rohan Taylor we have two very experienced coaches,” said Nettlefold.

“Both men will complement Michael Scott’s skills in the area of high performance and I’ve said all along that our job is to enable athletes and coaches to perform at their best, and that’s what this coaching unit is designed to do.”

“Ultimately we will be looking at appointing a Head Coach post the World Championships in August, and work with Michael once he starts to plan that process. But this is the right combination for 2013 and we’re fortunate to have such experience to draw on.”

An Australian Team Coach at three Olympics including coaching Stephanie Rice to triple gold in Beijing and putting nine athletes on the team to London last year, Bohl says he sees the position as a leadership and mentor role primarily.

“The Australian Swim Team is one unit, men and women combined, but working with Michael Scott and Rohan and looking at the men’s and women’s groups separately is the best approach to prepare for Barcelona.”

“I see my role as an opportunity to provide some mentorship to coaches as well bring the girls together when needed to get the best out of them in the water.”

A Team Coach at the Beijing Olympics, Delhi Commonwealth Games and most recently the Women’s Team Coach for the World Short Course Championships in Turkey, Taylor will take charge of the men’s team in Spain.

“We’ll have just 86 days to prepare for Barcleona, following the team selection next week, and our focus as a team and then as a men’s group, has to be about pulling together the best preparation possible,” said Taylor.

“Hopefully my experience and relationships can assist in making that happen, and I’m looking forward to working with the athletes and coaches over the next three months. It is a challenge for all of us to prepare as best we can and one that we are all capable of meeting.”

Bohl and Taylor will officially start in the role at the completion of this week’s 2013 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships, while Michael Scott will start with Swimming Australia on Wednesday 1 May. 2013 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships (Apr 26 to May 3) – For Full Results Click Here How Does Qualifying Work – The first and second placed available finisher in the A Final of an Individual Olympic Event will also need to swim a time that equals, or is better than the qualifying time listed for that event. The qualifying times are set by Swimming Australia and are equal to the eighth placed time to qualify for the final at the 2011 FINA World Championships. For a full list of qualifying times and the selection criteria for the 2013 FINA World Championships click here. To see the selection criteria for the IPC World Championships click here.

Key Dates:

EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships – SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre, Adelaide – Apr 26 to May 3

EnergyAustralia Swim Team – Barcelona Orientation Camp – AIS Canberra – May 4-9

EnergyAustralia Swim Team – Montreal Orientation Camp – Adelaide – May 4-6

2013 FINA World Championships – Barcelona – July 28 to August 4 – www.bcn2013.com

2013 IPC World Championships – Montreal – Aug 12-18 – www.paralympic.org/Events/ Montreal2013

This is an unedited press release.