
Bishop's Stortford Swimming Club has appointed Kristof Michaliszyn as the new head coach to develop a top class swimming program at county, regional, national and international level with effect from the 1st February.
Club chairperson Veneta Aldous commented "Kristof is the quality coach that we have been looking for with the right blend of experience both as a swimmer himself and developing swimmers from a young age through a layered coaching programme, eventually becoming international champions. We are committed to make Bishop's Stortford Swimming Club one of the top clubs in the east of England and produce a quality aquatic competitive swimming programme for our community. I believe Kristof will help us achieve this’.
Kristof is a former Polish national team member and Butterfly champion in 1975. Following his swimming career, Kristof entered coaching as an age group development coach before moving to Canada, where he worked under one of the most renowned coaches in the world Paul Bergen at Etobic Swim Club in the age group development and senior programme.
Kristof then became assistant head coach at the Canadian Dolphins swim club under Canadian national coach Tom Johnson, where he worked with Canadian champions, world and Olympic contenders.
In 1986 Kristof moved to California where he worked as head coach and developed swimmers from California Champions to United States Swimming Junior National Champion and National Championship contenders. Kristof also coached a para-Olympic champion and world record holder. Whilst in the US he worked with top coaches like Mark Shubert, David Marsh and Larry Liebowitz. More recently, Kristof has worked with Norwegian champions and Olympic medallist Sara Nordenstam.
Until his appointment to the Bishop’s Stortford Swimming Club, Kristof has been helping to develop the age group programme at his home club in Poland as well as working with the Polish national coach Mirek Drozd and world champions , M. Sawrymowicz, P. Stanczyk, Junior World Champions M. Matczak, M. Hreniak and European Champion K. Baranowska.