Gary Humpage - University of Birmingham Sport Swimming Coach

Sport: Swimming

Birthplace: Birmingham

School attended: Hodge Hill Comprehensive

Greatest sporting achievement: I came 12th in the National 200 fly and captained the City of Birmingham Age group team, which came 4th in the National Freestyle relay team in 1988.

Greatest coaching achievement: Coaching Melanie Easter during the period she won five gold’s at the Atlanta Paralympics setting world records in the 200 and 400 meter freestyle event.

Most memorable occasion in sport: 1988 Seoul Olympics. City of Birmingham had 5 team members competing in that Olympics. Nick Gillingham, who was a team mate won silver in 200 breast stroke, which was fantastic. I was also never forget Adrian Moorhouses gold. What a fantastic finish.

Likes: Swimming training outdoors in long course pools especially at night, or if it’s raining. That’s always been special for me.

Dislikes: Negativity

Hobbies and interests: Swimming

Person who most influenced your career: Many of my coaches had a tremendous and lasting influence on my life. I owe a lot to Brian Fellows Taylor who worked in the Munrow Sports Centre when I first started there at the tender age of 16. He was a manager and ASA tutor who set me on the teaching swimming path and helped me qualify as a swim teacher, coach and later ASA swimming tutor. He always encouraged me and spoke very highly of my achievements.

Favourite ground/stadium: The Swimming Hall of Fame pool in Fort Lauderdale in Florida is a unique venue. There is just so much swimming history there its amazing.

Last book read: Peter Kay`s autobiography

Favourite movie: “Pride” a true story about swimming coach Jim Ellis. He took a team of African American Swimmers who had never competed, and turned them into a championship winning team. In so doing they saved their pool at the local YMCA from being shut down. Coach Ellis is still coaching the team today and has swimmers competing in Olympic trials. Amazing story.

Favourite music: I love stadium rock so bands like U2, Simple Minds, Led Zeppelin and Van Halen were, or still are pretty awesome.

The best thing about playing sport and studying at UoB: Two things; firstly students leave Birmingham was a world class education and secondly, the potential to succeed in sport is massive. I must also add that the team spirit here is wonderful and the coaches are also very supportive of each other.