During her decorated career, Mel Marshall was a role model to everyone who loved swimming, from budding and novice swimmers through to wannabe Olympians, pathway prospects and fully-fledged professionals.
Nothing has changed since she hung up her cap. She has forged a second distinguished career as a coach, earning a glowing reputation as one of the best in the world – a role model now to novice coaches, emerging coaches and elite coaches alike.
As an athlete who completed the journey from the bottom to the very top of the sports development pyramid, she has first-hand experience of what great coaching looks and feels like (and not so great coaching too), and therefore an understanding and appreciation of what qualities and personal attributes it takes to succeed as a coach.
Here, in her own words, Mel lists the four biggest things she learnt as an athlete which have become ingrained into her coaching practice and behaviours, and which she believes every coach should possess.
Her first coaching tip is short and to the point, a simple statement of fact as much as an essential requirement of coaching: the need to be athlete-centred.