The 37-year-old from Falkirk, third in the 1500 metres freestyle at Atlanta 1996, is due to take up his new role at the National Performance Centre in Manchester on November 11. 

Since retiring from competitive swimming after competing in his consecutive third Olympics, at Athens 2004, he has worked for British Swimming in an athlete support role and then with Elite Sport Properties, managing double gold medallist Rebecca Adlington and Paralympic champion Richard Whitehead.

Most recently Smith has worked with Kevin Renshaw at the Intensive Training Centre in Loughborough, coaching Olympians Dan Fogg and Roberto Pavoni and world open water swimmer Jack Burnell.

Smith's joins a new coaching set-up at British Para-Swimming recruited since London 2012.

In March former British Cycling Paralympic lead coach Chris Furber was appointed British Swimming's National Performance Director of Para-Swimming while Rob Greenwood started as new head coach earlier this month.

"I was very impressed with Chris and Rob and their vision for the programme moving forward," said Smith, who also won two silver and two bronze medals at the World Championships.

"I wanted to be part of this new team from the start.

"I am looking forward to hitting the ground running and getting on deck alongside Rob to begin the work for Rio [2016].

"There is a professional attitude within the whole programme and I am proud to be a part of the team.

"I have been coached by and worked alongside some of the best coaches in the world and in my time at Elite Sports Properties managed some of the most talented athletes in both Olympic and Paralympic sports.

"I am coming to this role with experience of every aspect of an athlete's life and an understanding of the strains and pressure they go through.

"I hope to use this to get the best out of the athletes on the programme."

Jessica-Jane Applegate won the 200 metres freestyle in the S14 category, one of seven gold medals collected by British swimmers at London 2012

Britain's swimmers finished seventh overall at London 2012, winning a total of 39 medals, seven of them gold, slipping back from their fourth place at Beijing 2008, where they claimed 41 medals, 11 gold.

"At the heart of the NPC is performance and someone of Graeme calibre is perfect for this role as we build the new centre and programme," said Greenwood.

"You don't win an Olympic medal without a performance mindset and he will add a great mentality to the centre.

"He comes at this role with a different mindset after managing the likes of Rebecca Adlington, Keri-Anne Payne and Richard Whitehead who have won medals at major competitions.

"He will develop his coaching skills but will be on a good wavelength with the swimmers from the start.

"He will add a dimension of understanding to the coaching set up and can share his experience with all of the swimmers and encourage them to continue their good work."

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