Melanie Marshall made history at the British Swimming Coaches Association’s presentation of the Coach of the Year award, taking the prize for the second consecutive year.
Last year, Marshall became the first woman to earn the award, and further cements her status as one of the best coaches in the world.
Marshall’s most famous athlete is Adam Peaty, who won the 50 and 100 breaststroke gold medals at the world championships. Peaty shocked the world with a 57.92 world record in the 100 breast last April at the British nationals, and continued his success all the way to Russia. In addition to gold medals in the breaststroke events, Peaty was a major part of Great Britain’s victory and world record in the mixed 400 medley relay.
Marshall and Peaty have been working together for about six years, and Marshall quickly transformed Peaty from junior-level contender in 2013 to world record holder in 2014. Marshall is one of the few elite world-class swimmers to become as talented as a coach. She was an Olympian for Great Britain in 2004 and 2008, winning multiple medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Jol Finck, who coached James Guy to gold in the 200 free and silver in the 400 free at the world championships, received the Coaching Award of Excellence for his work in a very good year for British swimming. Guy was one of six athletes who helped Great Britain win the 800 free relay for the first time at a world championships.
Six other coaches were given the Coaching Award of Excellence - Dave McNulty, Ben Higson, James Gibson, Russ Barber, Steve Tigg and Elaine Johnston.
The Youth Coach of the Year award was shared by Sean Balmer and Nathan Hilton. Balmer coaches Luke Greenbank, who set a junior world record in the 200 back at the European Games. Hilton works with Rosie Rudin, the reigning junior world champion in the 400 IM.
In the ranks of Para Swimming coaches, Glenn Smith of Mansfield Nova was named coach of the year for his work with Ollie Hynd and Charlotte Henshaw, while a Para Coaching Award of Excellence went to Ashley Cox of Boldmere who guided Tully Kearney to four gold medals at the IPC World Championships.
Lifetime achievement awards were given to Ian Tuner and Eleanor Walsh. Turner was Britain’s head coach between 1999 and 2008 and more recently the head coach of Singapore, but is known as much for coaching Paul Palmer to two Olympic medals in 1996. Eleanor meanwhile is a shining example of commitment to the sport of swimming. She has devoted her life to the building of a swimming pool in Cockermouth, starting a swimming club in the town and producing a host of international standard swimmers, and all this achieved whilst being in the unusual position of coaching from a wheelchair.
Each year the BSCA rewards a young coach with limited or no previously international coaching experience who has made a breakthrough over the year with the Alan Hime Memorial award which this year went to Ryan Livingstone of Newcastle swim team.