Plymouth College director of swimming, Jon Rudd, has been named as the head coach for the England swimming team that will head to Glasgow next summer ready to fight for honours at the Commonwealth Games.
Also head coach of Plymouth Leander Swimming Club, Jon is best known for coaching Plymouth College pupil, Ruta Meilutyte, to her Olympic gold medal at the London 2012 Games. The Lithuanian swimmer backed that performance up with a gold medal and two world records at the World Championships in Barcelona a year later. Most recently he coached another Plymouth College pupil, Ben Proud, to a new British record in the 50m Butterfly that had stood for ten years.
With almost 25 years' experience, Jon is looking forward to bringing those skills to this new position.
"It is a fantastic privilege to be leading my own country into a major games," said Jon. "There is something very special about being part of an England team in swimming as we almost always compete under the Union Flag.
"To bear the St George's Cross into a Commonwealth Games, hosted in Scotland, will undoubtedly stir that unique blend of friendship and rivalry that exists amongst the home nations of Great Britain.
"It will be my job up to and including the summer of 2014 to find every means possible to aid the English athletes in producing true world class performances in Glasgow next year."
Plymouth College Headmaster, Dr Simon Wormleighton, said, "We are absolutely delighted with Jon's appointment as head coach to the England swimming team. We are very proud of our swimming community and this kind of recognition is a great honour for the school, the club and the city of Plymouth."
