Swimming: Coach goes from top laps to laptops

Otumoetai Swimming Club head coach Stefan Swanepoel has swapped his goggles for a laptop.

The popular coach, who turned the club into a national junior age-group powerhouse, has begun a corporate career at Inland Revenue.

The 31-year-old said that leaving the club after five years was the hardest decision he had made.

"It was getting to that point in my life where I recently got married and we are thinking of starting a family," he said.

"Just wanting that quality time because I left before the sun came up and I got home after the sun goes down. Almost every second weekend I was away."

Swanepoel is proud of what he has achieved since he arrived from Auckland in November 2009.

"It was a hard situation when I started. I would turn up in the mornings and there were a couple of dedicated athletes in Jessica Miller and Holly Boyle who would be there at quarter to five in the morning, ready to start.

"Within the space of two years ... we managed to build up to 30 swimmers in the morning. That is where it gained momentum and once the numbers came, the kids enjoyed being there.

"That is the key part. If they don't like it they are not going to work hard and not want to improve. The numbers ignited the flame for the performances."

Swanepoel joined forces with John Bryant at Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service to create a unique synergy between the two clubs that was hugely beneficial to both.

"That has been the absolute best thing I have done. Spindles [Bryant] has given me athletes like Andrew Newton and Sam Shergold, who have both won world championships. My guys said 'wow, we have these world champions here, we need to be training at their level' and our guys were able to add a competitive edge to Spindles' juniors and to get that important dry-land training on the beach."

Swanepoel leaves the club in great shape.

"Otumoetai are taking 18 swimmers away to the junior nationals today and I would say that is in the top 10 as far as numbers attending. For us to have done what we have done from our little pool attached to the high school is something I am extremely proud of."