British swimming coach
Deryk Sydney Snelling (22 July 1933 – 4 September 2021) was a British swimming coach, from Lancashire.
Early life.
He was the eldest of five children of Sydney Snelling and Edith Taylor. His father owned many grocery stores and other businesses.
He completed his national service from 1952 to 1954 with the Lancashire Fusiliers, where he discovered a liking for swimming coaching.
Career.
Southampton.
He formed a swimming club in Southampton in 1960. By 1962 he was the head of swimming for Southampton Education Committee, and with Southampton Swimming Club.
At Southampton he coached David Haller (swimmer).
Canada.
He started coaching in Canada in October 1967 for Swimming Canada. He was the head Olympic swimming coach of Canada three times, in 1972, 1976, and 1992. He coached a Canadian university swimming team from 1980 to 1996.
British Swimming technical director.
He was the first UK technical director of swimming in July 1996, with a four-year contract, when he was aged 62.
At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Australia, the GB swimming team did not pick up any medals, whatsoever; this was the first time that that had happened for the GB Olympic swimming team since 1936, at the Olympics in Germany.
He was succeeded in November 2000 by the Australian coach Bill Sweetenham.
Personal life.
He married Laura on 14 March 1955, her 21st birthday. He returned to live in Canada after the 2000 Summer Olympics.
His wife died on 5 March 2020. He died in September 2021, aged 88, in Nanoose Bay.
References.
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