Marc Spackman

Marc Spackman (born 7 February 1979 in Lincoln, England)[1] is a former England and Great Britain Olympic swimmer[2] who had a successful International career spanning 10 years. Formerly ranked in the World top 20 in the 200 metres Freestyle, he is a current professional Swimming Coach for The Royal Wolverhampton School Swimming Club.[3]

Marc Spackman

Personal information
Full name	Marc Nicholas Spackman
Nationality	British
Born	7 February 1979 Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	86 kg (190 lb)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Club	Lincoln Pentaqua 1984–97
College team	University of Bath 1997-2004
Coach	Royal Wolverhampton School SC (2014–present) Maxwell Swim Club (2012–14) Harrow SC (2009–12) Lincoln Vulcans (2006–09)

Notable Swimming Results

World Championships Fukuoka 2001 4th 4x200 Freestyle Relay (time 7:15.60) LC

Olympic Games Sydney 2000 5th 4x200 Freestyle Relay (time BR 7:12.98) LC

World Championships Athens 2000 4x200 Freestyle Relay (time ER/BR 7:03.06) SC

World Championships Hong Kong 1999 4x200 Freestyle Relay (time 7:07.20) SC

World Championships Perth 1998 4x200 Freestyle Relay reserve (7:17.33) LC

European Junior Championships Glasgow 1997 4x100 Freestyle Relay (time BJR/EJR 3:24.83) LC 7th 200 Freestyle 1:52.80 LC

National Championships 1995 Leeds LC 200 Individual Medley 2:11.86 200 Freestyle 1:59.02 5th 100 Freestyle 54.56

National Championships 1994 Coventry LC 200 Individual Medley 2:14.23 200 Freestyle 2:00.79 100 Breastroke 1:09.15

National Championships 1993 Leeds LC 200 Individual Medley 2:19.36

As a professional athlete, Spackman won two major games medals as part of the Men's 4x200 Freestyle Relay in the World Championships (Hong Kong 1999 & Athens 2000 - British & European Record) and as a 17-year-old qualifying for the 4x200 World Long Course Championship relay team that won Bronze in the final. Spackman qualified for and competed in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games qualifying from the British Championships (Olympic Trials) in July 2000 for the Great Britain Olympic Team.[4] Spackman competed alongside strong competitors and Olympians Paul Palmer and James Salter (both Olympic finalists in their own right). The team qualified for the Olympic final from the heats in 7:16.98 and placing fifth in 7:12.54 (a new British Record and fifth fastest all time) missing out on a medal by 0.2 hundredths of a second.

Spackman competed for the City of Lincoln Pentaqua from 1983 to 1997[5] and the University of Bath 1997-2003[6] both under Great Britain Olympic team Head Coach, Ian Turner. After ending his swimming career in 2003, he studied Art and Design foundation degree at the City of Bath College and advanced to Nottingham Trent University to study Graphic Design graduating in 2006 with honours.[7] During University Spackman began coaching at the Lincoln Vulcans swimming club, initially as Assistant Coach and then as Head Coach in 2006.[8]

During this period Spackman's results were outstanding,[9] coaching and developing Elizabeth Simmonds[10] to win Quadruple Gold in the 2007 European Junior Championships (breaking European Junior records), World Championship Silver in a new European Record time and Olympic Qualification (Beijing 2008) in a new British Record on the 200 and 100 metres backstroke. Also working with Paralympic Champion and World Record holder Robert Welbourn[11] and European Junior Silver Medallist Sophie Allen.[12] In 2009, he moved on to the Borough of Harrow SC[13] (formerly Harrow and Wealdstone Swimming Club) and more recently became the Elite Coach at the Royal School.[14]