Former Blue Pool coach trains UK Invictus swimmers

A MELKSHAM swimming coach has been chosen to train the UK team at this year’s Invictus Games and will be heading to Orlando in Florida next month for the competition.

Steve Fivash has spent the last three months training a team of 35 injured military personnel, and will travel with them to the games in May.

Steve, a trainer for 25 years, started his career at Melksham’s own Blue Pool and has spent the last nine years coaching swimmers with disabilities, including Paralympic gold medallists at the 2012 games.

Steve said, “It’s an honour and a privilege for me to have been selected to coach the team. This is the first time I’ve worked with these swimmers, and it was challenging at first because I wasn’t sure what level to pitch them at.

“The team have various injuries from their time in the military – some have physical or visual disabilities, and some have mental issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

“They have all been amazing to work with because they’ve taken on information so well and put it into practice straight away. Motivation isn’t even a question; they are all here to be the best they can be and are honoured to be representing their country, and it’s rewarding for me to be able to help them achieve that.”

This will be the second year of the Invictus Games, which will be held at  ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World near Orlando.

The competition is an Olympics-style event which sees injured or sick military personnel from around the world compete in a range of sports.

Find out more online at www.invictusgamesfoundation.org