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Showing posts from 2013

What a great summer in Ireland !

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My life as a full time coach........ From the Division 1 and 2 National Championships to the Youth Olympics Festival and European Junior Championship and finishing with the British Age Group championship with mixed results in swimming most people would think it would be enough for one man. Young Talented Athletes from Claremorris swimming club and their Head coach Sebastien Locteau But my drive to succeed as a sportsman brought me to open the Sports Ireland training centre "phase 1". Not just a gym but a proper training facility with Richard Feeney to bring one of the first custom gyms where people are like athletes and reviewed on a regular basis. We basically focus on why they join and what are their short term and long term goal with monitoring and follow up. The centre also offer cross fit training, boot camps, slash hammer, tractor tyres, boxing, martial arts, dance classes, usual Pilates, yoga, capoeira  etc….. with physio, chiro, acupuncture and massa

Coaching Mid season review

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2012 Olympic games Qualifier Barbara Sanchez Results seems to look good from my side as a coach, Barbara running 2.37 Marathon, James 3rd In limerick Marathon, Swimming National Championship top nartional performances and last weekend the Been one of the Irish Coach for the celtic tri nation in Scotland with the Irish swim team was great. Niamh Kilgallen in action (Sportsfile picture for swim Ireland press release) Realistically results are still not what i am looking for as a coach, there is lots of international coach doing the same, I need to step up myself ! - Celtic tri Nation International swim meet : Sarah Kelly (Ireland) : 200Fly 2.19 & Niamh Kilgallen (Ireland) 50 Breaststroke 34.79 4th, 100 Breaststroke 3rd, 200 Breaststroke 3rd, Medley Relay 2nd. - Sebastien Locteau Swim Coach for Ireland Celtic Tri Nation 2013 -Prague Marathon Barbara Sanchez 11th Female 2h42min05 - Limerick Marathon James Doran 3rd 2h44min08 - Rotterdam Marathon 9th Female, Barb

Sarah Kelly & Niamh Kilgallen Qualified for the Irish Team

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Two athletes coached by Performance Coach Sebastien Locteau will represent Ireland at the CELTIC TRI-NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP Friday 10th Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th May 2013 .  The two Girls will swim part of the Irish senior Team. Sarah kelly from Comans Swimming Club will swim the 200Fly and Niamh Kilgallen from Claremorris swimming club will swim the 200m Breaststroke.  Sarah Kelly brought a silver medal last year for Ireland and after her 8th place at the European Junior Long Course Championship and 12th at The European Senior short course Championship is expected to perform at the meet. Swimming between 52 to 58 000m a week her coach as been pushing her to step up this year. Her coach said "She has the perfect parent as an athlete. Collette her mother brings her everywhere, support her without been pushy and has a major role in her preparation. The key of her success is trust, honesty and great communication".  Niamh Kilgallen who will represen

Performance week

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Coaching in the last few weeks has been amazing but the cherry on top of the cake happened in one day! 1 European Junior & 1 European Youth Olympic qualification achieved in Limerick, 15miler won in Cork & 5th place in Seville Marathon. Finally being nominated as one of the High Performance Coaches of the Year really made that weekend exceptional.  Those 4 people from 4 different clubs, some from different sports are certainly some of the most talented athletes I have been working with. I have been asked many times by Performance Directors who coached Olympic Medallist and world champion like Chris Jones or Peter Banks to consider specialising. I have been thinking about it over the years and remember Steve Trew support in my career. His autograph on his book says “from here to the stars” and always thought if he believed in me like my athletes do and did, I have something in me which can help me to succeed. One of my weaknesses as I have been told many time

2012 coaching results review

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The last few years have been very interesting. Not many people can say they do a job they love.  My job is a lifestyle, not something you leave behind you when you go home. Many can argue it’s not healthy but if I had a normal 9 to 5 job, I would probably go coaching anyway after work. The last few years have been great and looking at 2011 and 2012 back now it is time to sit down and review what happened, where are we going from there and how realistic my expectations are. I hear people saying I have been lucky with my coaching career, I used to believe them . The truth now that I am older is that there is no way I could have been lucky for 14 years with international results in 3 different sports. I replied sometimes, if I am so lucky I definitely should keep going as luck is part of the game. I am not the most talented coach around, but I am for sure one of the hardest worker and that’s good enough to motivate my athletes and keep them on their toes. Yes some ye