AUT Millennium is proud to welcome the Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) Para-Swimming Team to our facility, with the team having taken residence here in November this year. PNZ are committed to ensuring athletes have access to optimal training environments, and have decided to base Head Performance Coach Jon Shaw and National Development Coach Gary Francis at AUT Millennium in order to both maximize performance, and to continue to nurture upcoming athletes.
Head Performance Coach Jon Shaw is fully behind the move to AUT Millennium “This is indeed an exciting time for Para-Swimming and creates an opportunity for our athletes to train in a high performance environment.” He continues, “We are excited as the move now brings together our Para-Swimmers from across the country including Sophie Pascoe and Mary Fisher as they are now able to train on a regular basis at AUT Millennium.”
The PNZ Para-Swimming Team is in good company here at AUT Millennium, with the New Zealand Swimming High Performance Training squad also based here, as well as foundation club North Shore Swimming. Already working closely with Swimming New Zealand, Para-Swimming have secured a sub-lease of ample lane space for the team’s training needs.
Additionally, with AUT Millennium serving as the National Training Centre for High Performance Sport; the Para-Swimming team will be in close proximity to New Zealand sports governing body, and the services and assistance they offer for athletes and coaches.
Malcolm Humm (PNZ High Performance Director) says, “A critical component of the PNZ 2013 – 2020 High Performance Strategy is to ensure New Zealand Para-Swimming athletes have access to world leading coaching and training facilities. Having athletes exposed to a high performance environment at AUT Millennium provides them and the PNZ Para-Swimming programme the best opportunity to continue to be one of the leading Para-Swimming nations.”
Kiwi athletes have excelled in recent years on the world stage in Para-Swimming, and by establishing their base alongside the world class swimming facilities and support services offered at AUT Millennium, Paralympics New Zealand plan to continue this success well into the future. As the Para-Swimming team at AUT Millennium continue their preparations for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, they will also benefit from the opening of the National Aquatics Centre due for completion in mid 2015. The increased pool space and international standard competition venue will no doubt ensure our country’s top Para-Swimmers are in peak condition leading into their pinnacle event.
Paralympics New Zealand Contact:
Melissa Dawson – Media Liaison
024 4004 4799
