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Campbell’s gold medal prep paved way for game-changing partnership

Daniel Lane

NSWIS Media

Bronte Campbell OAM’s build up to her gold medal winning Paris 2024 Olympic Games campaign has paved the way for a game-changing partnership which allows New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holders and emerging NSW and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) swimmers to reside and train in the ACT.

The purpose of the newly formed Swimming Australia Technology Hub at the AIS involving NSWIS, Swimming NSW (SNSW), Swimming Australia (SA), and a parallel MoU with the Australian Capital Territory Academy of Sport (ACTAS) is to keep future Dolphins on the green and gold pathway to Brisbane 2032.

The agreement allows NSWIS to conduct training camps for its swimming cohort in the ACT. This has allowed the likes of Albury’s emerging star Sienna Toohey, teenage Olympic gold medallist Olivia Wunsch OAM and Paralympic Games medallist Chloe Osborn to utilise the Territory’s facilities.

Ms. Campbell, whose four Olympic appearances have yielded three gold medals and a bronze, described the agreement as a positive development for swimming ahead of the Brisbane Games.

“I wouldn’t have competed in Paris had I not been able to split my time training between Canberra and Sydney,” she said. “I wanted to train under [Olympic gold medal winning coach] Shannon Rollason but also return to Sydney once a month, so I’m appreciative that ACTAS and NSWIS ensured I had the support services I needed as I moved between the two hubs.

“It’s because I know this arrangement works, I welcome the agreement. I believe it as a great development for fellow swimmers to have the option to train in an environment that suits their needs.”

Under this national system ‘first’ all eligible athletes will:

Enjoy full access to the Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) swimming pool, recovery facilities, world class technology, and its gymnasium.
Utilise NSWIS / ACTAS athlete support services, including NSWIS biomechanist David Pease, physiologist David Pyne and ACTAS’s gymnasium.
Be exposed to the SNSW Performance Centre headed by Rollason and his assistant coach Laura Brindley.
Increase and enhance SA’s performance Hub environments that provide world class environments where swimmers can go to develop and enhance their performances.
Return to using AIS hub to hold ‘Next Gen’ camps, national event and relay camps along with targeted testing of swimmers to improve their performance.
Build on SA’s current capability to innovate and develop new technologies designed to enhance coaches’ capability and, ultimately, an athlete’s performance. This includes iterating on the wetplate testing facility which provides feedback on such skills as dives and turns.
Have access to new AIS facilities coming online throughout 2026.

QUOTES:
NSWIS High Performance Manager, Andy Burns said: “Bronte trained at the AIS with ACTAS support in the lead up to her gold medal winning performance in Paris whilst supported by NSWIS and training under her Canberra-based coach, Shannon Rollason.
“Her performance demonstrated the model is conducive for both the athlete and NSW success. She opened an exciting opportunity for swimming in Australia.”

Swimming NSW CEO Kirsten Thomson OLY said: “This partnership represents a national system working creatively together to enable world class performances.
“SNSW is proud to provide environments for swimmers across NSW and the ACT that will contribute to Australia’s success at a home Games in 2032.”

Swimming Australia’s Executive General Manager of High Performance Sport Greg Shaw said: “You need to collaborate to innovate and this partnership will provide swimmers outside of QLD with access to technology and expertise that has been available to others for the last two Olympic cycles – and keep expanding our performance footprint across Australia – keeping us on top of the podium.
“The AIS has led the way with swimming technology for more than 40 years and this partnership for the AIS Technology Hub will ensure our athletes are again starring on the global stage.
“We saw Paris gold medallist Cam McEvoy OAM use the high-tech block developed at the AIS to power his performance in Paris. Now this technology, and advancements on it, will be available to swimmers in Canberra and potentially help the next generation of NSW swimmers like Sienna Toohey and Olivia Wunsch OAM power to sprint and relay dominance.

Assistant Director, Sports Programs ACTAS, Andrew Stainlay, said: “After partnering with Swimming Australia and Swimming NSW for the last two Olympic and Paralympic cycles (2016-2021 and 2021-2024), we are excited to continue supporting athletes and the sport of swimming through our National Institute Network partnership with the Australian Institute of sport and NSWIS.

“This collaboration represents a new and innovative way to enhance our support, ensuring our local athletes have the best resources and opportunities to succeed. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this MoU with NSWIS.”

NSWIS SOPAC Hub’s squad coach Adam Kable said: “This agreement, which makes the AIS’s facilities accessible to NSW’s and ACT’s best swimmers unlocks enormous potential to help our swimmers improve.”

SNSW Performance Centre’s Head Coach Shannon Rollason said: “It’s an exciting time in Australian Sport, and this collaboration provides a wonderful opportunity for NSW and regional talented swimmers to reach their potential.”