Simon Mayne started his swim coaching and teaching journey whilst studying at university in Bedford, United Kingdom. Whilst studying Physical Education and Mathematics he found a love for numbers and biomechanics, opting to major in Aquatics as part of his degree.

Mayne started as a lane coach with Bedford Swim Squad in 1996. After gaining experience in the United Kingdom, Mayne made the move to New Zealand in 2001 where he took up the Head Coach role for Wairoa Swimming Club for two years. Alongside his role as a school teacher, Mayne further developed his skills before moving to Auckland. Mayne spent seven years at West Auckland Aquatics, later moving in to the Head Coach role, where he coached an array of swimmers on to New Zealand teams, such as Junior Pan Pacs, World University Games and Oceania Games. Amongst these swimmers, many achieved medals on these teams with a full list provided below. Whilst with West Auckland Aquatics, Mayne also supported athletes to impressive results on the triathlon and Ironman scene.

During his time in West Auckland he coached Daniel Sharp to a silver medal in the SB13 100m Breaststroke at Beijing 2008 & London 2012.  He formed an excellent coach-athlete relationship with one of New Zealand’s most successful swimmers, Cameron Leslie. It’s been a journey that has taken them around the world and lots of international success. Most notably, Mayne and Leslie combined to win the SM4 150m Individual Medley at three consecutive Paralympics (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016) each in World Records. This partnership spanned 15 years, multiple World Championship campaigns and four World Champion titles.

Following his seven years with West Auckland Aquatics, Mayne moved to be Head Coach of the HP Paralympics NZ Programme based in Auckland. It was here that he coached Jesse Reynolds on to the Tokyo 2020 team where he placed sixth in the S9 100m Backstroke.

In 2022, Mayne became the Paralympic Programme Lead for Swimming NZ and has overseen the preparations leading into Paris 2024. With his wealth of experience guiding and coaching Para athletes, it’s a role that was well suited to Mayne.

Mayne’s proudest moment is coaching a swimmer selected on the Olympic team in Beijing, and two swimmers selected on the Paralympic team in the same year.

Something you might not know is that Mayne discovered he was allergic to chlorine in 2007, which is an unfortunate trait given his years of involvement in the aquatics industry. Mayne was also a semi-professional basketballer and loves to watch the NBA in his down time.

International Athletes Coached By Mayne

Cameron Leslie

➡️ 2019 Para Swimming World Championships - London (Gold S4 50 BK & 50 FR)

➡️ 2018 Pan Pacific Championships (Gold 150 IM)

➡️ Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (Gold SM4 150IM WR*)

➡️ 2013 IPC World Championships - Montreal (Gold 150 IM & Bronze 50 BK)

➡️ London 2012 Paralympic Games (Gold SM4 150 IM WR*)

➡️ 2009 IPC World Short Course (Gold 150 IM, Silver 200 FR, Bronze 50 FLY)

➡️ Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games (Gold SM4 150 IM WR*)

➡️ 2007 IPC Pan Pacific Championsips(Gold 200 FR & 150 IM Bronze 50 Fly)

Jesse Reynolds

➡️ Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games (6^th 100 BK)

➡️ 2019 IPC World Championships – London (6^th 200 IM & 6^th 100 BK)

➡️ 2018 Pan Pacific Championships (3xBronze 100 BK, 200 IM & 100 BR)

Chris Arbuthnott

➡️ 2019 IPC World Championships - London (9^th 100 FLY)

➡️ 2018 Pan Pacific Championships - Cairns (4^th 100 BK)

Daniel Sharp

➡️ London 2012 Paralympic Games (Silver 100 BR)

➡️ 2009 IPC World Short Course (Gold 100 BR & Silver 50 FR)

➡️ Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games (Silver 100 BR)

➡️ 2007 IPC Pan Pacific Championships (Gold 100 FR &50 BR Silver 50 FR)

Daniel Bell

➡️ 2009 Junior Pan Pacific Championships (Gold 4x100 Med,100 BK & Fly, Bronze 50 & 100FR)

➡️ Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (5^th place 4x100 Medley Relay)

➡️ 2008 World Junior Championships (3x Golds Fly & BK)

➡️ 2008 World Short Course (Bronze 4x100 Medley)

➡️ 2007 AYOF (Gold 100 BK)

Starn Simpson

➡️ 2009 Junior Pan Pacific Championships - Guam (Gold 4x100 Medley)

Carmen Ooi

➡️ 2009 Sukma Games – Malaysia (1x Gold 3x Silver 1x Bronze)

Nikki Ooi

➡️ 2009 Sukma Games - Malaysia (1x Gold 4x100 Medley Relay)

Michael Jack

➡️ 2009 World Cup - Singapore

Sarah Vettoretti

➡️ 2007 World University Games - Bangkok

Brett Newall

➡️ 2009 World University Games - Serbia

Natasha Simpson

➡️ 2008 Oceania Games

Teresa Adam

➡️ 2009 Australian Youth Olympics Triathlon (6^th)

➡️ 2010 Budapest ITU Triathlon (6^th)

➡️ 2011 ITU Elite Seoul Triathlon (7^th)

➡️ 2019 Ironwoman Cairns (1^st)

Carl Read

➡️ 2014 Ironman Cairns (8^th)

➡️ 2015 Fiji LD Ironman (2^nd)

➡️ 2016 Ironman W. Australia (16^th)

➡️ 2017 Ironman Australia (8^th)

Teams Selected as Coach

➡️ Head Coach - 2006 IPC World Championships - Durban

➡️ Coach - 2007 Trans Tasman Tri Series - Australia

➡️ Coach - 2007 Aussie Youth Olympics - Sydney

➡️ Head Coach - 2007 IPC Oceania Games - Darwin

➡️ Head Coach - 2008 Trans Tasman Tri Series - Australia

➡️ Coach – Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games - Beijing

➡️ Coach - 2009 Junior Pan Pacific Championships - Guam

➡️ Coach - 2009 IPC World Short Course Championships - Rio

➡️ Coach - 2009 Sukma Games - Malaysia

➡️ Coach - 2012 Paralympic Games - London

➡️ Coach - 2013 IPC Pan Pacific Championships – Montreal

➡️ Coach - 2015 IPC World Championships - Glasgow

➡️ Coach - 2016 Rio Paralympic Games - Rio

➡️ Coach - 2018 Para Pan Pacific Championships - Cairns

➡️ Coach - 2018 Commonwealth Games - Gold Coast

➡️ Coach - 2019 IPC World Championships - London

➡️ Coach - 2020 Paralympic Games - Tokyo

➡️ Head Coach - 2022 Para Swimming World Championships - Madeira

➡️ Coach - 2022 Commonwealth Games - Birmingham

➡️ Head Coach - 2023 Para Swimming World Championships - Manchester

➡️ Head Coach - 2024 Paralympic Games - Paris

💥 Selected to Paris 2024 as Head Coach, marking his fifth Paralympic Games campaign

Mayne was selected as Head Coach of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games swimming team, marking his fifth Paralympic Games campaign. Mayne coached on teams for Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Tokyo 2020. Paris 2024 will mark his first Paralympic Games where he is Head Coach.

🥇 Coached Cameron Leslie to three Paralympic gold medals in world record times

Mayne and Leslie combined to win the SM4 150m individual medley at three consecutive Paralympic Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016), winning the gold in a new world record time at each edition of the Games.

🥇 Coached Cameron Leslie to four World Championship titles

Mayne guided Leslie through multiple world championship campaigns over their 15 year partnership, culminating in four world championship titles.

🥈 Coached Daniel Sharp to two Paralympic silver medals

Coached Daniel Sharp to back-to-back Paralympic silver medals in the SB13 100m breaststroke at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

💥 Coached Jesse Reynolds to Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Guided Jesse Reynolds to his sixth place finish in the S9 100m backstroke at the Tokyo 202 Paralympic Games.