Coaching

Director of Coaching

PAUL KENT

Paul Kent began competitive swimming at the age of seven and was a pretty good IM and breast swimmer winning regional, and National Junior titles. Paul’s first selection team was the 1982 Pacific School Games, Brisbane, Australia where he made the final of the 100m Breaststroke. Paul was burnt out by the young age of 13years old and retired from competitive swimming. In 1991 aged 19 under coach Brett Green, Paul made his comeback, and in 1993 moved to train with the Carlyle Club based in the Narrabeen Sports Academy, Sydney training under renown Australian Olympic Coach Paul Hardman.

Paul’s career highlights include winning gold and silver at the World Short Course Championships held in Rio in 1995. Paul qualified for the 1996 Olympics, 1994 Commonwealth Games, 1993,94,95,99 World Championships and the 1995 Pan Pacific Games. Paul broke 39 NZ Open Records and was ranked number one in the World and missed the world record in 50m Breast by 0.1 of a second three times. Paul was named New Zealand Breaststroke Swimmer of the 20^th  Century,  he was a finalist for a Halberg Award in 1995 and in the same year was a TVNZ Young Achiever recipient.

Paul held the New Zealand Open records for well over a decade in short and long course in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events. Adding to his New Zealand records, he also broke six Australian Long and Short Course Records, four Commonwealth Records and held numerous Australian and NZ Open titles. Paul was ranked number one in the World for 50m Breaststroke in 1995, 1997 and 1998.

Paul started his Professional Coaching career in 2000. Paul owned and founded the Metro Swimming Club (United Swimming Club) In 2009 he revived his childhood team the Roskill Swimming Club taking them to second Nationally behind his another of his old clubs, North Shore Swimming Club. In 2016 Paul founded and coached the MAGS Swimming Club taking the school to their first-ever NZSS Championship in 2019. Paul was part of the technical coaching team to the NZ Olympic teams in 2004, 2008.

Paul has a proven coaching record and is highly regarded in NZ swimming circles, having consistently produced NZ record-holders and National Champions.

Getting to know more about Paul:

What Stroke/s did you swim:
Individual medley and breaststroke 

Who were your Coach/es:
Paul Hardman (AUS) and Brett Green (NZ)

When did you start swimming?
I was in the water well before I turned three years old because my parents like boating and wanted us, kids, to be safe. I started competitions at age seven or eight years.

What did you enjoy most about swimming? Or what was your best experience while swimming?
When I came back into the sport, it was about getting fit to start with. I found that I really enjoyed the process of working hard to make improvements in the gym, and eventually in the pool. I really loved the challenge of putting it all together on race day, not much has changed for me as a coach. I still get the same excitement seeing athletes enjoying the processes and the dedication needed to be the best. 

Best advice/tip for up and coming swimmers?
Keep turning up! Put your energy into doing the small things extremely well and be relentless at chasing your goals. Never listen to gossip, always go to the source.

What was your favourite swim meet you attended, and why?
I had lots of great meets where I won medals and broke lots of records. My sentimental favourite would have to be my first ever long course Nationals in 1992. The NZ Winter Championships held in the Kilbirnie pool, Wellington, was my first major swim meet since retiring six years earlier. I surprised myself by winning 2 Golds and 1 Silver. I also broke my first NZ Open Record in the 50m Breast from heat one (the slowest heat, because I was entered with no time) The Newspaper article the next day headlined the sports section and read PAUL WHO? 

​​​​​​​What is your proudest accomplishment outside of swimming?
I am very proud to be a Dad to my daughter Anya. Having her has given me a better understanding and balance to my life and helped me improve as a coach.