Paralympic swimming coach Graeme Carroll was today announced head of the new Paralympic High Performance Swimming program at the Australian Institute of Sport.

A joint appointment of the Australian Paralympic Committee, Swimming Australia and the AIS, Carroll brings extensive top level experience to the post, with some of his protégés including Paralympic gold medallists Ben Austin and Matt Levy, and former world marathon champion Shelley Taylor-Smith. 

The appointment reaffirms the AIS’ increasing commitment to Paralympic sport.

The Chief Executive Officer of the APC, Miles Murphy, said the new Paralympic Swimming Program is an exciting step forward in the APC and AIS’ valuable partnership.

‘The APC sees the appointment of more full-time Paralympic coaches at the AIS, as a key pathway to success for Australian Paralympic Teams,’ Mr Murphy said.

‘With the support from the Australian Federal Government and the Australian Sports Commission, the APC has been able to make a significant investment to make such appointments.’

‘The APC enjoys a tremendous relationship with the AIS, and Graeme’s appointment is crucial in improving the training environments of elite swimmers with a disability, and ultimately, their performance at a Paralympic level.’

The number of athletes benefitting from AIS programs has doubled from 38 in 2007-2008 to 84 in each of the next three years. This includes 10 new residential scholarships at the AIS in swimming and athletics.

For the first time, swimming will have six athletes on full residential scholarships in Canberra, while 12 athletes will remain involved in AIS-funded national camps.

AIS Director Professor Peter Fricker says the AIS’ continued support of Australia’s Paralympic athletes is integral.

‘The success of our Paralympic scholarship program was evident by the results obtained in Beijing and the appointment of Graeme Carroll will certainly only build on this,” Professor Fricker said.

‘Evan O’Hanlon and Heath Francis, who both won three gold medals in track and field in Beijing, are just two examples of how the residential scholarships have aided our Paralympic athletes. Increasing this number by 10 is another positive step forward.’

Media Contact: David Packwood, AIS Media Tel: 0408 417894