The Australian Sailing Team (AST) has announced the appointment of Jim Colley as the new 49erFX National Coach, a significant step for the program as it heads towards the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Colley, an Olympian, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, stating that he aims to integrate his eight years of campaigning experience into developing both current and future skiff sailors. He highlighted the potential for crossover learning between the 49er and FX classes.
A structured coach development plan accompanies Colley’s appointment, designed to enhance his growth and benefit from world-class coaching expertise. He will receive mentoring from Master Coach Victor Kovalenko and AST Technical Director Michael Blackburn, alongside coaching insights from Rafa Trujillo and Arthur Brett, leveraging the wealth of knowledge from Australia’s medal-winning coaches.
Additionally, all high-performance program coaches can access the Australian Institute of Sport’s Coach Development programme, led by Belinda Stowell, a 2000 Olympic Gold medallist. This initiative enhances the sailing program through top-tier coaching resources.
Colley underscored the importance of a coach functioning as a campaign manager, fostering a positive training environment for athletes to excel. His established understanding of high-performance coaching aligns well with the AST’s technical expertise, which he intends to utilise in driving the FX program forward.
With a strong technical background from both the AST and SailGP, Colley aims to bring a data-driven approach and innovative ideas to the squad. His extensive coaching experience, which began at age 16, reflects his commitment to giving back to the sport.
Colley shared his excitement to return to the high-pressure international competition landscape, expressing eagerness to contribute to the FX squad’s success. He believes the ups and downs of Olympic campaigning are incredibly rewarding and looks forward to being part of fostering success within the team.
The AST also expressed gratitude towards outgoing National Coach Victor Paya for his contributions to the 49erFX programme. Paya’s expertise has strengthened the squad and performance pathway, and while he will pursue coaching roles with the ROCKWOOL Denmark SailGP Team, he will remain involved part-time as Australian Sailing’s Double Handed Performance Coach, ensuring continuity and benefiting from his insights.
Colley’s appointment signals a focused commitment to performance and collaboration within the FX program, backed by a robust support network.
Follow the Australian Sailing Team:
Web: www.australiansailingteam.com.au
Instagram: @aussailingteam
Facebook: @aussailingteam
#AustralianSailing #SailingNews #49erFX #JimColley #OlympicSailing #SailingAustralia
Interested in seeing more Racing News? Click here
Want to see what we’ve written about Australian Sailing lately? Click here
