Our Great Coach on this episode is swimming coach Michael Bohl.

Michael Bohl has been a swimming coach for 33 years and counting.

He has been the coach of Australian swimmers who have been on the podium at every summer Olympics between the 2008 to 2021.

Some of his most notable athletes include 5 time Olympic Gold medalist Emma McKeon and 3 time Olympic Gold medalist Stephanie Rice.

In 2000 he received the Australian Sports Medal and in 2010 was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to swimming .

Michael is the type of leader that puts you at ease as soon as he says hello. He has an infectious energy that draws people to him; and he couples this with a style that emphasizes personal accountability and the importance of character when it comes to elite performance.

He is also able to zoom in and focus on the small things, and then step back and and engage with each athlete on a vision for their future. He is just a terrific bloke, and in this wonderful interview some of the highlights for me were:

• His view that failure is the fertilizer of success.
• How swimming coaching is a combination of art and science.
• And The analogy he uses about a stage coach and the horses that drive it to illustrate what is required in preparation for a major event.

I hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did.

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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