an online magazine from eyeway.org

issue 2 january-february 2005
click here to browse other issues

other sections in this issue: by george | focus | perspectives | profile | forum

Headlines : INTERNATIONAL news
other headlines sub-sections: india news | calendar of events

British disability swimming performance director nominated for the BBC Coach of the Year award

BBC News (UK); December 2004

British disability swimming performance director Tim Reddish said he was “shocked” to have been nominated for the B.B.C. Coach of the Year award. Reddish was one of five coaches shortlisted for the honour, which was won by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

"This is recognition for the whole team -- the swimmers who do the business and all of the support staff," he said. "It is a great achievement and hopefully all of the Paralympic swimming squad will feel part of it."

The Paralympic swimming team came back from Athens with 52 of Team G.B.'s 94 medals -- 16 golds, 20 silvers and 16 bronzes -- surpassing Reddish's pre-Games target. Swimmer Sascha Kindred, who won two golds and a bronze in Athens said that the recognition for Reddish means a lot to disability sport.

"This year we had people like Lee Pearson, Tanni Grey Thompson and Jim Anderson winning BBC awards against able-bodied athletes and Tim's achievement is another step to getting us recognised as elite sportspeople."

Reddish was unable to make it to the star-studded ceremony at B.B.C. Television Centre as he was in the process of training in his new guide dog. "It would have been a great honour to have been there because the Sports Review of the Year has been a real highlight for me for many years," he said. "But for the first two to three weeks of guide dog training, you and your dog are virtually inseparable and going to the ceremony wouldn't have helped the process. It's very unfortunate, but my guide dog is vitally important to me as I need it to get around and do my job."

Reddish said he was amazed to be included in the same short-list as Arsene Wenger. Reddish is a fan of Nottingham Forest. Arsenal's achievement in surpassing their run of 42 unbeaten games helped net Wenger the award. Reddish, who will remain as the sport's performance director until after the Beijing Olympics in 2008, is keen to focus on more success.

"We are now working on a four-year plan and, as well as looking towards Beijing, we have the World Championships in South Africa at the end of 2006," he said "We need to identify the youngsters coming through over the next two years so we can build on what we achieved in Athens through to Beijing."

Other World News stories in this issue:
Rock Hall open Ray Charles exhibit
Help for visually impaired jobseekers offered by online mentors
At Perkins School for the Blind, new museum is accessible to all
Device helps blind persons keep up-to-date
Gadget to help easy mobility for visually-impaired persons

top of page