Loughborough University’s Director of Swimming Ian Armiger announced today he will leave his position of 15 years after the London Olympics in 2012.
Armiger is set to take the post of Technical Director for Swimming in the Cayman Islands which will begin in September 2012.
As an influential member of Loughborough’s coaching team for the past 15 years, he has been witness to both former and present Loughborough swimmers successes in the pool at both national and international level.
Many have gone on to win medals at the Commonwealths, Olympics, and European Championships and break world records along the way. This has lead to Loughborough University’s swimming team winning many accolades including the BUCS Championships and 2009 BBC East Midlands Sports Team of the Year award.
Ian’s complete approach to his coaching shows an awareness of the important role he has undertaken at Loughborough, especially his role in maintaining the right balance for his swimmers come the London Olympic Games. In a recent interview with Label Magazine he said:
“The first thing is not to make drastic changes to the programme that has been working well so far. I spoke about finding the edge and something different, but the danger is that people go ‘it’s Olympic year’ so they think they have to go and change things…”
“The coach is crucial to the training environment, the atmosphere, managing the social and cultural dynamics in the team, marrying in all the support services and having the knowledge to communicate with the psychologists and biomechanics.”
In a press release earlier today Armiger spoke of his decision:
“Loughborough University Swimming has been my life for the past 15 years and I’ve loved every minute of it. Working with such fine coaches, swimmers and support staff in a unique and positive environment has enabled us to develop the programme from relatively small beginnings to the dizzy heights of world swimming.
“It’s been a tough decision to move on but, as for many coaches, post 2012 Olympics is a time for reflection and new challenges.
“Whilst I am very sad to be leaving Loughborough University, I am looking forward to the exciting opportunity to make a difference to Cayman Island Swimming.”
After 40 years as a swimming coach, it is sad to see such an instrumental member of Loughborough coaching depart.
We wish him all the best for his future successes.
