This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 27th, 2012at 5:43 pm by Active Nation

Olympic Coach Awarded Honorary Doctorate

Olympian and Olympic Diving Coach, Lindsey Fraser, who heads up the Active Nation diving programme, has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Sport by Solent University in Southampton.

Recognising the work she has done in partnership with the University as well as her considerable achievements in the sport since her first appearance at the Olympic Games as a competitor in 1980, Lindsey was presented with the degree at a ceremony held at the Guildhall on Friday 23^rd November 2012.

Lindsey took up diving at the age of 11, soon after learning to swim, and quickly showed an aptitude for the sport.  She combined her career as a competitive diver with studying and later working as a secondary school teacher and acting as a coaching volunteer.

In both 1980 and 1984 Lindsey was a member of Team GB, competing in the Women’s 10m platform event.  She retired from competition in 1985 and transferred her commitment to coaching, initially alongside a successful teaching career.

In 1999 Lindsey was offered the post of Diving Development Officer at the newly built Quays Swimming and Diving Complex in Southampton.  This gave her the opportunity to commit full time to coaching, giving her top athletes a chance of the training they needed to aim for the Olympic Games.

Over the years Lindsey has coached numerous young divers, achieving European, Commonwealth, World and Olympic medals.  Her most successful diver to date is Pete Waterfield, Commonwealth gold medallist (2002) and Olympic silver medallist (2004). Pete has trained with Lindsey from the age of 9 years old and continues to dive with her at the age of thirty one.

Other Olympians coached by Lindsey are Blake Aldridge, Stacey Powell and Chris Mears.  Her protégés testify to her excellent ability as a coach. Chris Mears explained: “Lindsey’s relationship with her divers and her understanding of what will bring out the best in them is outstanding.  She always knows what to say at the right moment to make all the difference and her presence increases the chance of a best performance for me.”

In 2004 Lindsey was recognised for her coaching skills when she was awarded the Helen Rollason medal as the top female UK coach across all sports.

Lindsey’s contribution to the sport is not only in world class performance coaching, she has also set up a top quality programme in Southampton catering for all comers from young children to adults beyond retirement age and for those diving as a hobby to serious competitors at all levels.  In addition she is instrumental in developing the next generation of coaches, both in Southampton and through supporting other clubs and programmes.

Summing up her reaction to receiving her honorary doctorate Lindsey said, “I am thrilled to have been recognised in this way by a prestigious body outside of my sport.  It means a great deal to me that the work I have done over the years is seen as having made a difference at this level and I place great value on the award I am receiving.”