Our coaches
Our coaches are committed to long-term success and sustainability. The Head Coach is responsible for the Club's Swim Programme and works collaboratively and in unison with the Squad Coaches and Otters Management to deliver the Swim High-Performance Plan.
Alex Bowsher
Head Coach
Contact [email protected]
Senior Coach (Swim England - Level 3)
Our head coach Alex has been involved with swimming since the age of 2, firstly as a swimmer, then as a volunteer, a teacher, and finally as a coach.
Alex has worked with swimmers at all levels, from non-swimmers, toddlers to 60+, to an array of national champions including international representation within the GB squad and Para-Swimming.
As a coach, he prides himself on creating an inclusive space for swimmers to succeed in a low pressure, fun environment, recognising the individual needs and challenges of each of the swimmers.
In addition to swimming, he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Coaching from Cardiff Metropolitan University, equipping him with key information in sports psychology, physiology, biomechanics to inform his practice. He then gained a Masters degree in Social Psychology from Surrey University, giving a unique perspective of swimming.
As well as the head coach of Chalfont Otters, Alex also works closely with Swim England on their development programmes across the country.
Alex is currently finishing qualifications in Strength and Conditioning, which will further help the physical development of our athletes.
Qualifications:
- Level 3 Swim Coach (Swim England)
- Level 1 Assistant Teacher
- BSc Sports Coaching
- MSc Social Psychology
CPDs and Additional Programmes:
Working with Blind and Visually Impared Athletes
Athlete Mental Health in Elite Sport
Level 3 in Workforce development
Coaching others to Coach, UK Sport
Coaching Downsyndrome
Mental Health Awareness for Sport and Activity +
Sport Burnout and Overtraining Syndrome
Supporting Female Development
Advanced Research Methods and Statsistics (Level 7)
Supporting female performance in sport and fitness
Swim England Talent Team
Inspire Coach Development Programme
Ellie King
Assistant Head Coach
Contact: [email protected]
We are very excited to have Ellie King join the club as our Assistant Head Coach. Ellie has 10 years of coaching and teaching experience. She joined Dunstable SC aged 11 and represented the club at Nationals, before transitioning into coaching and taking up a place at Loughborough to study for a degree in sports coaching. After graduating she returned to Dunstable as their Assistant Head Coach and is excited to be our Assistant Head Coach leading our Intermediate Performance and Competitive squads.
"I have been swimming competitively since I was 11 years old and have loved being a part of the sport. Achieving county, regional and national finals throughout my swimming career, it has motivated me to become a level 2 swim teacher and coach and help lead all club swimmers to enjoy swimming as much as I did and achieve results to the best of their ability!"
Georgina Vane
Junior Swimming Lead
Contact [email protected]
With her role as Junior Development Lead, Georgina has some great plans about how to develop our swimmers across all JD groups, with her coaching having a focus on technical development, fun, and being a place where all can achieve, in essence our Otters ethos.
"I joined Chalfont Otters at the age of 8, as a swimmer and have continued to swim, qualifying for Counties, Regionals and Nationals in the recent years. After qualifiying as a level 1 swimming coach I started to direct my time into coaching instead of swimming and have qualified as a Level 2 coach and Level 1 swim teacher. I am extremely excited to be the Junior Development lead as I know the JD swimmers have so much potential. My aim is to develop these squads so that we have a set structure and plan for this season and beyond. We see some of our junior development swimmers make Counties this year and I am extremely excited to see even more swimmers achieve each year. I hope I can pass the love and passion I have for swimming and the club to these younger swimmers. "
Fiona Williams
Head of Teaching
Contact [email protected]
Fiona has a wealth of experience and passion for the sport of swimming, which she brings to our Saturday morning sessions as Head of Teaching at Chalfont Otters.
I have enjoyed and participated in club swimming from the age of 6, and I still swim with the Masters here at Chalfont Otters. Swimming is an essential life skill so at Otters we aim not only to provide a high standard of teaching and coaching, but inspire youngsters to enjoy, and be involved with aquatics, not just in the early years but over the long term.
Kelvin Jones
