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Simon B., Pasadena, CA Swimming Coach

Simon B.

Swimming

SILVER

3-time Olympian for Great Britain, 6-time NCAA Champion, current US Open Record Holder for 200 Freestyle View all coaching experience

This coach is unavailable to take clients at this time.

Training Locations
Training Locations
  1. 169 S St John Ave, Pasadena, CA

Coach is willing to travel up to 10 miles

  • University of Arizona (AZ)

  • 4 years

  • Qualified Private Coach

  • Adults, Teenagers

  • Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Distance Freestyle, Sprint Freestyle, Individual Medley

  • Flip Turns, Kicking, Pacing, Pulling, Relays, Sprinting, Starts, Technique, Open Turns

Credentials

  • University of Arizona (AZ)

  • 4 years

  • Qualified Private Coach

Services

  • Adults, Teenagers

  • Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Distance Freestyle, Sprint Freestyle, Individual Medley

  • Flip Turns, Kicking, Pacing, Pulling, Relays, Sprinting, Starts, Technique, Open Turns

More About Coach Simon

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m a bit of perfectionist when it comes to swimming. As a competitive swimmer (I retired after the 2012 Olympics), I was continually seeking advice on technique, training methods, race strategy and the list goes on. Over the years I’ve picked up a lot of it! Representing both the University of Arizona and the Great Britain National Team, I was an integral part of building teams. I know the work that goes into it and I know the attention to detail that’s required to get from good to great.

As a 3-time Olympian I have unique expertise when it comes to competitive swimming. While I love being a student of the sport, I truly enjoy sharing my knowledge with young swimmers and anyone looking to improve. I began giving private lessons 4 years ago, while I was training in Tucson, Arizona. Over the years, I have coached swimmers as young as 6 and as old as 66, as well as age-group, college, Masters swimmers and triathletes. As a swimmer, my specialties were freestyle and backstroke, however I am proficient in coaching all 4 strokes as well as starts and turns.

Some of the accomplishments I am most proud of are:
National/International:
3-Time Olympian for Great Britain (’04, ’08, ’12)
4-Time Olympic Games Finalist
6-Time World Championship Finalist
2-Time Commonwealth Games Champion
3-Time Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist
Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist
European Silver Medalist
European Bronze Medalist
5-Time European Championship Finalist

College:
3-Time NCAA Div. I Champion (200 Freestyle)
NCAA and U.S. Open Record Holder in the 200 Freestyle with a time of 1:31.20
3-Time NCAA Relay Champion
21-Time First Team NCAA Div. 1 All-American
10-Time School Record Breaker (University of Arizona)

I coach all of my lessons at Maranatha High School, in Pasadena. This is an indoor 25 yard pool, fully equipped with kickboards, pull bouys, paddles, starting blocks and lots of other fun equipment I like to use to help the athlete make stroke changes. I begin each session by watching the athlete swim, as each swimmer has a natural stroke, feel, and rhythm in the water. Swimming is not a one-size-fits-all kind of sport and there are many ways to swim fast. Because of this, I treat each swimmer as an individual and try to use their natural stroke to build upon, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.

I am truly passionate about helping swimmers improve their technique and efficiency and I would love the opportunity to work with you and help you reach all of your swimming goals!

I’ve represented Great Britain in three Olympic Games, three World Championships, three Commonwealth Games and three European Championships over a ten year international swimming career.

I have been in four Olympic finals with a highest individual place of 7th and a highest relay place of 4th. I have been in eight World Championship finals with a highest relay place of 4th. I have been in six European Championship finals winning two silver medals and two bronze medals.

In 2005 I set three British records at our national championships in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle to qualify for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. At the Commonwealth Games I won a gold medal in the 100m freestyle, setting a new British record and posting the No. 1 time in the world that year. I won another gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay and a silver medal in the 200m freestyle individually.

I represented the University of Arizona at the NCAA Chmpionships for four years from 2003 – 2006. I won the 200yard freestyle in 2003, 2005 and 2006 setting an NCAA and U.S. Open record of 1:31.20, that still stands today. I won three further NCAA titles in 2006 as a member of the 4x50y medley relay, 4x100y freestyle relay and 4x200y freestyle relay setting two NCAA records and U.S. Open records in the process.

We will begin with a brief warmup (before the session begins preferably), then I will watch you swim (or perform the skill you wish to correct). We will discuss what I see and how I think we can improve.

We will then perform appropriate drills and technical exercises to help you understand how to improve your technique in your everyday practice.

Throughout the session we will discuss any subject or philosophy that relates to our swimming or competitive goal.

Our session will conclude with discussion about how to continue using the drills and adjustments that we talked about in your own practice, resulting in higher quality workouts and better race results.

Action Photos

Client Reviews

Using the back-to-breast transition turn that Simon taught me, I was able to break the World Record in the 200 I.M.! He explained things simply and clearly, making it easy for me to learn.
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