Gold Medal Ready

Michael gained a PhD in Human Movement Studies a long time ago and that helped him be a full-time athlete for 14 years, competing at 3 Olympics in the Laser Class (winning Bronze in 2000).

Blackers switched to coaching for the 2008 Games and still enjoys it today, especially after wins at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. He is also currently in final preparations for the Tokyo Games. He is passionate about high performance and excellence and hopefully that rubs off on the people he works with. Blackers pays a lot of attention to details, alongside making sure the big ‘levers’ in elite performance are consistently being pulled the right way. He finds the mental preparation for any big event fascinating because of the varied forms it might need to take depending on the situation and personalities involved.

In his spare time, he grows some veggies at home and is planning the next ski trip – both are great contrasts to a boating life. He also has a lovely wife and two young kids!

I have experienced Olympic competition once as an athlete (1976 Silver Medallist) and three times as a Head Coach of Men’s Hockey Teams (Great Britain 2000 - 6^th, Australia 2004 - Gold, Australia 2008 - Bronze). I have also had the experience of being a High Performance Director at the Queensland Academy of Sport that has provided me with a broad understanding of the Australian High Performance System.

With this experience and the opportunity to reflect I believe I have developed a clear understanding of some of the most important factors associated with developing growth in individual athletes and teams and the ability to perform best when it matters most.

"I’m grateful for the mentors I’ve had in my life and keen to share some of my knowledge about preparation and performing under the greatest pressure with other coaches and athletes so that they reach their potential".

Noel is a former Australian coxswain and during the 1980’s he was a Physical Education teacher.

Since 1990 he has been a successful international coach and at times a sports administrator. Coaching the “Oarsome Foursome” (Men’s Coxless Four) to World Championship wins and Olympic Gold Medals in 1992 and 1996.  He led the 2008 Olympic Rowing Team as Rowing Australia High Performance Director with 2 wins and a silver medal.  In 2013 Noel accepted the position as Lead Coach of Men’s Sweep in New Zealand coaching the world renowned “Kiwi Pair” to Gold at Rio in 2016.

Noel is passionate about coach education and now on return to Australia has the role of Head Rowing Coach at the Victorian Institute of Sport where he is responsible for the strategic, operational technical leadership of the program. In this role he is able to help guide the next generation of coaches with a mantra of “helping them to not make the same mistakes he made” hence being a keen member of the GMR Alumni and more than willing to put back what he got out of sport.

He is a passionate supporter of the Geelong Football Club and sees 2020 as a golden sports year!

Rohan is currently the Swimming Australia State Head Coach for Victoria and Tasmania and National Team Coach Leader. He was a National Team Coach at the 2008 and 2016 Olympic Games, 5 World Championships and 3 Commonwealth Games.

Rohan coached Leisel Jones to two Olympic Games gold and 1 silver medal and Shayne Reese to Olympic gold and bronze in the relays. Rohan can offer his knowledge and experience related to coaching an athlete who was expected to win.

When it comes to mindset and mental preparation for Olympic Games Success, Rohan recommends keeping routine, accept the distractions and be comfortable being uncomfortable. He is part of the GMR Coaches Alumni to share experiences and connect with like-minded coaches. Rohan aims to make a difference to the people he works with and to his family.

Craig is High Performance Coach at Melbourne Vicentre, home club of elite athletes to the tune of Mack Horton, Koti Ngawati and Daniel Cave.

Craig was fortunate to represent South Africa in their first Olympics post-Apartheid in Barcelona in 1992. This experience fostered his desire to help swimmers achieve their personal goals in and out of the water. He moved to Melbourne in 2008 to take the next step in that journey where he lead Mack Horton to claiming the gold medal in Rio in the 400m freestyle.

Craig’s favourite quote is attributed to Nelson Mandela – “Either I win or I learn”. Craig is currently preparing Mack and several other athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Richard Ian Charlesworth AO is an Australian sports coach and former politician. He played first-class cricket for Western Australia and international field hockey for the Kookaburras, winning a silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics.

Charlesworth prided himself on preparation and being willing to try new ideas. Sometimes it is necessary to select based on attitude, rather than skill. A strong attitude ensures the individual has both the desire and ability to be pushed.

As a coach he was Hockeyroos coach for eight years (1993-2000); two Olympic Gold medals and two World Cup Golds. They sat ranked #1 in the world for the entire period with Charlesworth as coach. Kookaburras coach for six years (2009-2014); Olympic Bronze, two World Cup golds and Commonwealth Games titles. In finals and semi-finals of major tournaments, his teams won 20 of 21 matches.

In the last 60 years Australian Hockey has won nine major world competitions (Olympic Gold and World Cup Gold). Charlesworth has been involved in seven of those as a coach or player.

Rhett has coached multiple Olympic rowing crews over the years with the best result a gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the Men’s Double Scull with Scott Brennan and David Crawshay.

He is now Western Australia Institute of Sport Rowing Head Coach responsible for scholarship holders and technical lead of the WA pathway system.

After retiring as an athlete due to injury, Brent applied for and took up a position as AIS Scholarship Coach - Racewalking. He worked in this capacity until 2005, taking on Nathan Deakes, Jared Talent, Michael McCagh and Adam Rutter amongst others. It was under his guidance that Nathan won his bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic 20km final in Athens. Brent was the official Olympics Team Coach for racewalking on that trip.

From there, Brent was successful with Jared Talent in Beijing winning silver and bronze medal and the gold medal in London.

Glenn Beringen is an Australian international swimming coach and former athlete. He won a silver medal for breaststroke at the 1984 Summer Olympics and 1982 Commonwealth Games.

An early retirement as a swimmer allowed Beringen to almost immediately pursue his career as a coach. His first major coaching role in 1991 was head coach of the South Australian Sports Institute where he was for 11 years. In 2002, Beringen continued his career as a coach this time accepting the position as head coach at the Australian Institute of Sport. Coaching two Olympic gold medals in 2004 with Petria Thomas and Sarah Ryan.

Rollason began his coaching career in Australia and has coached Jodie Henry to Olympic Gold, and trained Belinda Hocking and Matt Abood who swam at the Rio Olympics 2016.

Shannon is a six-time Olympic Games gold medal-winning coach. Shannon took over as head coach at Denmark’s National Training Centre back in 2013 with intent to lead the program through the Rio Olympics.

Rollason guided the team through Rio, where Pernille Blume won the nation’s first Olympic gold medal in swimming since the 1940s. The women’s 4×100 medley relay also took home bronze.

Lyall is the Rowing Australia Pathways Head Coach. Lyall has worked at the Australia Institute of Sport and Rowing Australia since 1997 and has coached the Australian Senior Team 20 times, winning 18 medals including Kim Brennan to the gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the Women’s single scull.

Lyall is focusing his attention on Australia’s talent pathway and supporting Australia’s future elite coaches and rowers.

Tim Walsh is an Australian rugby union coach and a former professional player. He is currently head coach of the Australian men's sevens team and was previously head coach of the Australian women's sevens team which won the Olympic gold medal in 2016.