Stephan has worked in high-performance sport for more than 20 years, the first 15 of which was at Queensland Academy of Sport. During his active coaching time, his swimmers won 20 World Records, 3 Olympic Gold Medals and 16 World Championship Gold Medals.
His coaching concept is based on a process driven and race pace specific training model to create athletic swimmers. Stephan employs people management skills, explores human behavior and has a highly complex understanding of swimming techniques. Stephan understands the complexity of human limitations, both physically and mentally. He knows what it takes to lead athletes to their true potential, how to find the key to their ability to break World Records, to win World Championships or reach the pinnacle of sport, an Olympic Gold medal.
In 2014 he was appointed as the Swimming Queensland Head Coach and Mentor Coach. With this professional change came also a cultural shift in his passion for the sport:
Facilitate learning and mentoring opportunities for swimming coaches.
Improve the coaching specific education for each developmental stage by designing world-class coaching methods for each development stage
Integrating athletic development, movement and physical literacy into the LTAD model
Since July 2017, Stephan has applied the same coaching and mentoring philosophy to Singapore Swimming, where he is employed as the National Head Coach and Performance Director.
Stephan completed a Bachelor in Physical Education and Master of Science degree in Zürich, Switzerland.
Stephan Widmer Achievements:
Medal of the Order of Australia: For Service to Swimming as a Coach
2004, 2008 and 2012 Australian Olympic Team Coach
4-time Swimming Australia Coach of the Year
