Mitch Nairn started his coaching journey as a 16-year-old, whilst training and racing competitively at Taupo Swimming Club. He started as a learn-to-swim teacher, before moving to Auckland to study at university while coaching the masters squad at the Tepid Baths.

Nairn has always had a love for swimming, which inspired him to take up coaching. He loves supporting the journey of athletes, as they aspire to reach the goals and dreams that they may not have believed were possible. Supporting athletes achieve such goals is one of the most rewarding parts of his job.

After his time in Auckland, the next step in his coaching journey saw him move to Melbourne, where Nairn coached at the Western Aquatic Academy Swim Club. Nairn returned to New Zealand in 2018, joining Pukekohe Swimming Club as the Head Coach.

During his five years with Pukekohe, Nairn coached swimmers on to multiple New Zealand teams, with the first being the 2019 World University Games (Napoli, Italy), where he was also selected as a team coach. Shortly afterwards, Nairn was part of the staging camp in Austria ahead of the 2019 FINA World Junior Championships.

2022 was a big year for Nairn, as he gained selection as a team coach on his first Aquablack team - the 2022 FINA World Aquatics Championships (Budapest, Hungary). A few months later, one of his swimmers, Andrew Jeffcoat, won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (Birmingham, England) in the 50m backstroke.

Club 37 was established in early 2023, with Nairn appointed as Head Coach. In the same year, Nairn was named again as a team coach for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships (Fukuoka, Japan) after four Club 37 athletes were selected to the team.

Later that year, Nairn began coaching Lewis Clareburt. Not long into their partnership, Clareburt became only the second New Zealander to win a gold medal at a World Aquatics Championships in 2024, when he claimed gold in the 400m individual medley in Doha. It was a special moment for the duo, with Clareburt qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and Nairn guiding his first athlete to an Olympic berth.

Following Clareburt adding the 200m individual medley qualifying time for Paris in Hawke’s Bay, Nairn was named to the coaching team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This is the first time Nairn has been selected on to an Olympic team.

Nairn is renowned for whistling and cheering on his athletes at national championships. From producing national titles and international medals to guiding one of the fastest club relays in the world to his passion for the community around his club, Nairn is proud of all his swimmers.

Outside of swimming, Nairn is a massive fan of the Arsenal Football Club and loves spending time with his partner Sophie and two young daughters.

💥 Selected to first Games campaign

Paris 2024 will mark Nairn’s first Olympic Games, with Club 37's Lewis Clareburt set to take on three events at the Games. Laticia Transom, who is based in Australia, brings the club’s presence in the team up to three.

🥇 Guided Lewis Clareburt to World Championship title

Coached Lewis Clareburt to victory in the 400m individual medley at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, with Clareburt becoming only the second New Zealander to win a gold medal at a World Aquatics Championships.

🥇 Guided Andrew Jeffcoat to Commonwealth Games title

Coached Andrew Jeffcoat to his gold medal winning performance in the 50m backstroke at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

💥 Four New Zealand relay records across short and long course

His club currently holds four New Zealand records across short and long course relay events: men’s 4x100m freestyle (LC), mixed 4x100m freestyle (LC), men’s 4x50m freestyle (SC), and men’s 4x50m medley (SC).