Sutherland Leisure Centre to become high performance swimming centre

The training ground for swimming legend Ian Thorpe is set to become a high performance centre to nurture the next generation of Olympians.

Sutherland Shire Council Leisure Centre sill become a new high performance centre. Picture: Sutherland Shire Council Facebook

The new training ground for the next generation of Olympic swimmers - where legend Ian Thorpe honed his skill - in south Sydney has been given the green light,

Swimming NSW and Sutherland Council have partnered to establish a southern NSW performance centre at Sutherland Leisure Centre.

Under the proposal, high-performance swim coaches of national or international calibre and assistant coaches will be employed and a university will be approached to partner with the centre to provide athlete development and scholarships.

The head coach will provide leadership programs, training and mentorship to squad coaches who would also receive professional development and attend major tournaments.

The council’s learn to swim and squad program at the centre will continue as part of the performance centre.

The leisure centre will continue the learn to swim and squad programs. Picture: Sutherland Shire Council Facebook

Swimming NSW commercial and marketing officer James Hickman said the organisation had a vision to return to being the number one state organisation for performance and participation in the sport ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Establishing a performance centre in southern NSW is crucial to the achievement of this vision and will provide a pathway for swimmers and coaches to pursue our sport at a competitive level,” he said.

Mr Hickman said he expected the partnership would boost participation in the sport, provide world-class swimmers with local coaches who would benefit from mentorship from the head coach.

He said the high performance centre would help reinvent Sutherland Leisure Centre.

Sutherland Leisure Centre Aquadot co-president Tim Lee also supported the partnership noting the swimming club had a proud history of training Olympians, national competitors and medallists.

“To be competitive, we must have access world class swimming facilities and coaches,” he said.

Coaches, a university partner and performance support will be provided. Picture: Sutherland Shire Council Facebook

Mr Lee also said even if not all swimmers reached a highly competitive level, they would still learn other skills and have experiences through the centre.

He said no swimmer would be left behind or pushed out of the club, with all children being mentored from coaches.

Council endorsed the partnership at its meeting on Monday night and gave approval to the chief executive officer to finalise the agreement.

A council report said Swimming NSW wanted to establish a new performance centre prior to the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and operate at least until the completion of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.

NSW Institute of Sport will also form part of the partnership and will provide performance support for coaches and assessment for athletes.

It will also offer performance workshops and education sessions; and access to support staff biomechanics, performance analysis, strength and conditioning and physiotherapy.

Revenue from all squad participants and performance participants will go to the council, which will contribute to the payment of coaches.

A council report said the partnership was expected to grow participation further throughout all the levels of swim school and squad program, because it would attract high performance swimmers to Sutherland and increase the number who stay in Sutherland rather than travelling to Sydney Olympic Park and other venues.

Swimming NSW has three other performance centres at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush, the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and NUsport Performance Centre at Newcastle.