Rescue 2014 Australian Teams announced - Keith Caldwell Team Manager
Congratulations to our Club President Keith Caldwell who has been announced as Team Manager of the Australian Open Life Saving Team to contest the World Life Saving Championships in France.
Olympians will bolster the Australian Life Saving Team, with Surf Life Saving Australia and Royal Life Saving Society – Australia having announced the 24 names of the 2014 Australian Life Saving Team to contest this year’s World Life Saving Championships, Rescue 2014, in France in September.
London Olympian kayaker Naomi Flood, a member of the successful Australian World Championship campaigns of 2008 and 2010, returns to the women’s team while, Olympian and champion swimmer Ryan Napoleon makes his debut in the men’s team.
General Manager, Capacity and Capability, Surf Life Saving Australia, Kitty Chiller said that these athletes are Australia’s best of the best, and will compete against more than 40 countries including New Zealand, France, Japan, USA, UK, Wales, Canada and Italy in the city of Montpellier on the Mediterranean Sea.
“The New Zealand Life Saving Team is the current World Champions however Australia has shown that they are a force to be reckoned with having won the 2013 International Surf Rescue Challenge and the 2013 German Cup,” Miss Chiller said.
“These athletes should feel incredibly proud to be representing their country. Rescue 2014 will test the skills of the best in the world in water safety and rescue management, both in the pool and on the beach,” she said.
“Surf Life Saving Australia and the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia have worked together to build the Australian Life Saving Team, and we support them on their journey to competing for Australia at the world titles,” Miss Chiller said.
Australian Life Saving Team Head Coach Danny Short said he is excited with the team which he believes can take on the Kiwis.
Flood and Napoleon, a member of RLSS Queensland, will be joined by newcomers - world beach sprint and beach flags champion Jake Lynch (Newport) and four-time Australian single ski champion and prospective Rio kayak Olympian Lachlan Tame (Avoca).
“The inclusion of Flood and Lachlan Tame gives the team a huge boost - they bring not only their brilliance in the water and on the beach but also a level of enthusiasm which will be a positive influence on the whole team,” Mr Short said.
“Having them both in Japan last year was a huge plus with Flood again leading by example in competition and around the team - it is great to have her back in the team after her London Olympic campaign and her amazing performances on the ski for Manly at this year’s Aussies,” he said.
“Northcliffe and RLSS Queensland’s Napoleon, who swam the 400m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle in London, will be a welcome addition, particularly in the pool lifesaving events where Australia struggled to match it with World Champions New Zealand and Pool Lifesaving champions Italy at Rescue 2012 in Adelaide,” he said.
AUSTRALIAN LIFE SAVING TEAM
Men’s
Shannon Eckstein – Northcliffe SLSC (Capitain)
Andrew Bowden – Bronte SLSC / The Hills Life Saving Club
Jake Lynch – Newport SLSC
Ryan Napoleon – Northcliffe SLSC / RLSS Queensland
Tim Schofield – Terrigal SLSC / The Hills Life Saving Club
Lachlan Tame – Avoca Beach SLSC
Women’s
Miranda Bell – Northcliffe SLSC
Naomi Flood – Manly LSC
Pamela Hendry – Maroochydore SLSC / Brisbane Life Saving
Melissa Howard – Kurrawa SLSC
Christina Ruiz – Northcliffe SLSC / RLSS Queensland
Kristyl Smith – Northcliffe SLSC
AUSTRALIAN YOUTH LIFESAVING TEAM
(Captain TBA)
Joshua Brown - Byron Bay SLSC
Daniel Collins – Redhead SLSC
Matt Davis – Northcliffe SLSC / RLSS Queensland
Jason Gough – Mooloolaba SLSC
Nik Green - Alexandra Headlands SLSC
Brad Woodward - Shelley Beach SLSC / The Hills Life Saving Club
Prue Davies – Currumbin SLSC / RSSS Queensland
Chelsea Gillett - Maroochydore SLSC / Brisbane Life Saving
Ella Heiniger - Byron Bay SLSC / Port Hacking Lifeguard Club
Nicole Kay – Mooloolaba SLSC
Alyssa Koenan – Northcliffe SLSC
Georgia Miller – Manly LSC
TEAM MANAGEMENT
Australian Life Saving Team Management
Head Coach: Danny Short – Maroochydore SLSC
Team Manager: Keith Caldwell – Bulli SLSC
Assistant Coach: Wade Sinclair – Picnic Bay SLSC
Physio: Nick Marshall – Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC
Sport Science/ Assistant Manager: Caitlin Braddick Southport SLSC
Australian Youth Lifesaving Team Management
Head Coach: Brett Dowker – Currumbin SLSC
Team Manager: Garry Mensforth – Umina SLSC
Assistant Coach: Craig Holden – Elliot Heads SLSC
Physio: Troy Eady – Byron Bay SLSC
Australian Life Saving Team/ Youth Lifesaving Team
Beach Coach: Martin Lynch – Newport SLSC
Travelling staff members
Kitty Chiller – SLSA GM capacity & Capability (Female Athlete Liaison – Australian Youth Lifesaving Team)
Nathan Hight – SLSA Sport Manager (CEO’s Representative, Australian Life Saving Team and Youth Lifesaving Team)