The Head Coach of the Aquatics GB Performance Centre squad based at the University of Bath, David McNulty, has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours.
David McNulty at the Team Bath Sports Training Village | Photo © Team Bath
McNulty, an inductee into the University’s Hall of Fame for Sport, has coached swimmers to 11 medals at the past three Olympics and is now preparing for another Games, the sixth of his career, on the Team GB coaching staff at Paris 2024.
McNulty, who was recognised for his services to swimming, has been based at the Team Bath Sports Training Village (STV) since September 2008.
He said: “I’m absolutely over the moon with this recognition. Normally it’s about making the swimmers’ dreams come true, as a coach, and this is time for me to reflect on what I’ve done personally.
“I’m over the moon with the Olympic record in the time I’ve been here at the Aquatics GB Bath Performance Centre and this award means so much.
“Thank you to everyone who has been a part of that journey along the way – all the great athletes, all the great staff, and I thank Aquatics GB as well.”
David, a popular presence around the STV, has developed the Bath Performance Centre into one of the world’s leading training programmes.
A host of swimmers have won Olympic medals while training in Bath, including Michael Jamieson (silver, London 2012); Jazz Carlin, Siobhan-Marie O’Connor and Chris Walker-Hebborn (silver, Rio 2016); and Tom Dean (gold), James Guy (gold, silver), Freya Anderson (gold), Calum Jarvis (gold) and Matt Richards (gold) at Tokyo 2020.
His swimmers’ success at the latter Games saw McNulty named as Team GB Coach of the Year in 2021 and he will be looking for more medals this summer after Anderson, Dean, Kieran Bird, Leah Crisp and Jacob Whittle were named in the Paris 2024 Olympic swimming squad.
McNulty, who was part of the inaugural intake of UK Sport’s elite coaching programme, successfully graduating in 2016, has been vocal in his praise for the University of Bath and its support for the Performance Centre.
He has worked closely with Team Bath staff over the years, particularly Director of Sport Stephen Baddeley, to ensure the swimming facilities at the Sports Training Village are world-class.
Improvements during the past decade include a complete refit of the London 2012 Legacy Pool, installation of underwater cameras and a retractable 25m turn-wall to help short-course training.
