The announcements form part of wider changes to the high performance structure of British Para-Swimming as they aim to boost their fortunes in the sport in the years building up to Rio 2016.

Improvements have also being offered to training environments while increased levels of support for athletes will be offered through a larger sports science team.

The newly appointed head coach Rob Greenwood will also take up his role later this month and he will be joined at the National Performance Centre by a yet to be appointed national coach, a new role within the programme.

The pair, along with another national team coach in Rob Aubry, will work collaboratively to provide world leading coaching support for the athletes on the programme both domestically and at camps and competitions.

One of Great Britain's most high profile para-swimmers Ellie Simmonds in action at the 2013 IPC World Championships in Montreal


Great Britain won 39 medals at London 2012, including seven gold.

Despite the impressiveness of this performance it represented a downturn on the 11 titles they won at Beijing 2008 and the 16 at Athens 2004, a contrast with the improvements seen in most other sports over the same period

The latest series of structural changes therefore represents an attempt to restore the Athens levels of success up to Rio 2016 and beyond.

National performance director Chris Furber is delighted with the decision to base solely in Manchester.

He explained how "a review took place to ensure that we were providing athletes with the best support and services within their daily training environments."

"The decision was made, as we move forwards towards Rio, that we would have one National Performance Centre where we will have the very best support and services that athletes require," he said.

"We will continue to work with SwimWales regarding the support that athletes receive in Wales and how we can also support their talent programmes.

"Manchester provided us with a great facility to create the home of British Para-Swimming, it already housed a number of our programmed athletes and our support staff and will be a world leading centre."

Fuber explained how because Manchester is also home to a number of elite sports including taekwondo and cycling, it provides an excellent support network which we can utilise.

He also expressed his excitement with the new look coaching team.

"I am excited about the new look national coaching team, which will be led by the new head coach Rob Greenwood, and Rob Aubry will continue to support the athletes in a roaming position," he said.

"We are currently recruiting for another national coach to support Rob [Greenwood] in Manchester." 

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