Australia names coaches for world swim championships

SYDNEY (AFP) –

Illustration. Michael Bohl and Rohan Taylor have been appointed as Australian team coaches for the Barcelona world championships in July, Swimming Australia said on Friday.

Michael Bohl and Rohan Taylor have been appointed as Australian team coaches for the Barcelona world championships in July, Swimming Australia said on Friday.

Bohl, who coached medley swimmer Stephanie Rice to triple gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will take charge of the Australian women’s team, while Taylor will work with the men, Swimming Australia (SA) said.

The pair take over from Leigh Nugent, who stood down as Australian team head coach last month in the wake of a dismal London Olympics campaign, marred by ill-discipline, misuse of prescription drugs and drunkenness among the swimmers.

Bohl and Taylor will be working with newly-appointed Director of High Performance and ex-head of British swimming Michael Scott.

“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,” SA President Barclay Nettlefold said.

“In Michael Bohl and Rohan Taylor we have two very experienced coaches and they will complement Michael Scott’s skills in the area of high performance.”

Nettlefold said his organisation will be looking to appoint a head coach after the (July 28 to Aug 4) world championships.

Bohl and Taylor will officially start in their roles after this week’s national world championship trials in Adelaide, while Scott will start work with Swimming Australia on May 1.