- About postgraduate study
- Part-time study
- Courses
- Order a Prospectus
- Faculties & Departments
- UK students
- EU students
- International Students
- How to apply for your course
- Handy Hints
- Open Events
- Student Recruitment
- Money Matters
- About Us
5 Jan 2011 16:07:45
An international student from Germany is helping ensure British swimmers are well prepared for the London 2012 Olympics.
Professional swimming coach Joshua Neuloh is in the final year of a degree in Sport Science and Coaching at the Bedford campus of the University of Bedfordshire.
The 22 year old is also an assisting coach at Loughborough to British Swimming’s senior coach Kevin Renshaw, responsible for six swimmers within the Great Britain squad.
After moving to England in early 2008 to pursue his dream of coaching, Joshua has not looked back since. He was a swimming coach for four and a half years in his native Germany before moving abroad and starting at Bedfordshire in late September 2008.
He said: “I came to England because I knew there was a lot of money being invested in British Swimming and sport in general due to the Olympics and this would bring a lot of opportunities.
“I was looking for coaching opportunities when I arrived as I used to coach back in Germany from quite a young age when people asked me to take over some lessons and I never looked back.”
Joshua soon started a work placement with the Loughborough University swim team, several of whom also compete for Great Britain, and he now coaches 60-70 of their students.
He quickly established contacts with the British Swimming Intensive Training Centre (ITC) and Centre of Excellence, also based at Loughborough. This sees him coaching five middle distance swimmers, including Olympic bronze medallist Joanne Jackson, and one open water swimmer. He was also involved with Olympic silver medallist David Davies until recently.
Although he did not go to the Commonwealth Games in India, Joshua was at the European Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last summer. Next up for Joshua and his swimmers are the British trials in March before the World Championships in Shanghai, China, this summer.
Joshua was based in Bedford for the first two years of his degree and travelled up to Loughborough each day but he has now moved to Loughborough and comes back to Bedfordshire two or three times a week for lectures.
Joshua said: “I’m only missing one training session out of ten each week and that’s ok for all parties involved.
“I see my future in coaching in swimming. London 2012 is the main focus of all of our swimmers. I will stay in Loughborough until then and I’m undecided after that. I will look at my career plan when the Olympics are over.”
The University’s Director of Sport, Professor John Brewer, said: “Great coaching is the key ingredient for success in any sport, and Josh is making a real contribution to the development of our very best swimmers.”
Latest news» 2011» January» Joshua is helping the Brits to swim success
