20 Alderman Drive, Henderson
waitakereswimmingclub@gmail.com
Paul
Kent
Director of Coaching
Paul Kent began competitive swimming at the age of seven and was a pretty good IM and breast swimmer winning regional, and National Junior titles. Paul’s first selection team was the 1982 Pacific School Games, Brisbane, Australia where he made the final of the 100m Breaststroke. Paul was burnt out by the young age of 13years old and retired from competitive swimming. In 1991 aged 19 under coach Brett Green, Paul made his comeback, and in 1993 moved to train with the Carlyle Club based in the Narrabeen Sports Academy, Sydney training under renown Australian Olympic Coach Paul Hardman.
Paul’s career highlights include winning gold and silver at the World Short Course Championships held in Rio in 1995. Paul qualified for the 1996 Olympics, 1994 Commonwealth Games, 1993,94,95,99 World Championships and the 1995 Pan Pacific Games. Paul broke 39 NZ Open Records and was ranked number one in the World and missed the world record in 50m Breast by 0.1 of a second three times. Paul was named New Zealand Breaststroke Swimmer of the 20th Century, he was a finalist for a Halberg Award in 1995 and in the same year was a TVNZ Young Achiever recipient.
Paul held the New Zealand Open records for well over a decade in short and long course in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events. Adding to his New Zealand records, he also broke six Australian Long and Short Course Records, four Commonwealth Records and held numerous Australian and NZ Open titles. Paul was ranked number one in the World for 50m Breaststroke in 1995, 1997 and 1998.
Paul started his Professional Coaching career in 2000. Paul owned and founded the Metro Swimming Club (United Swimming Club) In 2009 he revived his childhood team the Roskill Swimming Club taking them to second Nationally behind his another of his old clubs, North Shore Swimming Club. In 2016 Paul founded and coached the MAGS Swimming Club taking the school to their first-ever NZSS Championship in 2019. Paul was part of the technical coaching team to the NZ Olympic teams in 2004, 2008.
Paul has a proven coaching record and is highly regarded in NZ swimming circles, having consistently produced NZ record-holders and National Champions.
Getting to know more about Paul:
What Stroke/s did you swim:
Individual medley and breaststroke
Who were your Coach/es:
Paul Hardman (AUS) and Brett Green (NZ)
When did you start swimming?
I was in the water well before I turned three years old because my parents like boating and wanted us, kids, to be safe. I started competitions at age seven or eight years.
What did you enjoy most about swimming? Or what was your best experience while swimming?
When I came back into the sport, it was about getting fit to start with. I found that I really enjoyed the process of working hard to make improvements in the gym, and eventually in the pool. I really loved the challenge of putting it all together on race day, not much has changed for me as a coach. I still get the same excitement seeing athletes enjoying the processes and the dedication needed to be the best.
Best advice/tip for up and coming swimmers?
Keep turning up! Put your energy into doing the small things extremely well and be relentless at chasing your goals. Never listen to gossip, always go to the source.
What was your favourite swim meet you attended, and why?
I had lots of great meets where I won medals and broke lots of records. My sentimental favourite would have to be my first ever long course Nationals in 1992. The NZ Winter Championships held in the Kilbirnie pool, Wellington, was my first major swim meet since retiring six years earlier. I surprised myself by winning 2 Golds and 1 Silver. I also broke my first NZ Open Record in the 50m Breast from heat one (the slowest heat, because I was entered with no time) The Newspaper article the next day headlined the sports section and read PAUL WHO?
What is your proudest accomplishment outside of swimming?
I am very proud to be a Dad to my daughter Anya. Having her has given me a better understanding and balance to my life and helped me improve as a coach.
Waitakere Swimming ClubOUR COACHES
Paul has a proven track record of success in teaching and training swimmers.
Assistant Coach to Paul Kent for Gold & Silver Squads Thomas Morriss
Head Coach for Bronze & Development Squads
Head Coach for Bronze & Development Squads
I joined the club in the middle of 2021 looking to further my career in swimming and coaching.
For the past 6 years I’ve been swimming and in 2018 I started representing Samoa. My first and favourite event was Oceania Champs in Papua New Guinea, meeting everyone on the team and the race environment created an amazing memory for me, I can’t wait to represent the flag again at bigger and better events.
My passion in swimming lead me to becoming a coach, for the past 3 years I have been involved in learn to swim, junior and age group squads. Having joined in the middle of covid I look forward to assisting in growing and creating an even stronger club.
Junior CoachPenelope Van Solkema
I have been involved with Waitakere swim club since 2018 and have been competitively swimming for 5 years. I have qualified for many regional competitions, and used to swim for the gold squad.
I am a student at Avondale College. I have accomplished many things, including successfully passing Cambridge in year 11. My future academic endeavours include marine biology and architecture. I hope to continue my academic passions for many years to come.
As a coach of Waitakere Swimming Club I hope to improve and encourage swimmers throughout their swimming journey. I look forward to being a part of the swimmers growth and development in the pool and create a fun and healthy environment for everyone to succeed.
Junior CoachBowen Crawford
I joined Waitakere Swimming Club In 2019 to continue to develop and further my swimming career. I’ve been competitively swimming for the past 10 years since age 9. This is my 4th year swimming for Waitakere Swimming Club and my second year of coaching.
I started swimming at Mt Roskill Swimming Club under Paul Kent and followed him to MAGS Swimming and then onto Waitakere Swimming Clun. I have represented WSC at all major New Zealand meets. Throughout my swimming career I have been a national champion in the 50,100,200 Breaststroke and have represented New Zealand at the Australian State Teams in the 50,100,200 Breaststroke as well as representing Auckland at Victoria State Champs also in the 50,100,200 Breaststroke and I.M Relays.
I started coaching to help junior swimmers build and develop their skills and technique so they could pursue their goals in the pool. My success in swimming has driven me to help give junior swimmers the same opportunities I had at their level. Being part of Waitakere Swimming Club coaching team has given me the chance to help assist in growing and building a stronger thriving club.
