About Anita
Anita Killmier has had an extensive involvement in swimming spanning 40 years. Anita began her swimming career as an elite, nationally ranked Backstroker under the guidance of legendary coach Harry Gallagher winning numerous medals at Australian Championships.
She also represented South Australia in Women's water polo. Her aquatic 'education' was rounded out with a brief exposure to synchronised swimming and lifesaving.
She also represented South Australia in Women's water polo. Her aquatic 'education' was rounded out with a brief exposure to synchronised swimming and lifesaving.
Anita's love of swimming continued unabated when, after a short retirement from the sport and a brief stint as a Primary teacher, she returned to competitive swimming in the fledgling Masters movement. This coincided with her decision to pursue a career in swimming teaching and coaching.
In 1981, she began working for 'Aquarobics', at the Melbourne City Baths. Aquarobics was one of the most progressive organisations for its time. They were one of the first in the country to offer hydrotherapy and Aquarobics classes, and almost single-handedly helped to legitimize and popularise water exercise classes.
Anita undertook arguably the first Leaders Course in Water Exercise and gained a huge following for her classes aimed at the over 50's age groups. At this time, she also recognised there were no dedicated swimming squads for adults and began what is generally seen as the first adult fitness swimming squad in Melbourne - if not Australia.
In those days mainly former competitive swimmers, surf and water polo players were interested in swimming as a form of fitness, but Anita quickly realised that the benefits of water would herald a boom in the sport with the adult sector largely uncatered for. Additionally, many adults either couldn't swim or saw swimming as the domain of the young elite. Anita has since been a leading pioneer in the area of adult swimming teaching and fitness swimming.
She has taught thousands of adults to swim including many fearful adults who had traumatic experiences as children, and encouraged many more to make the transition to swim and train for fitness. A surprising number have passionately embraced the sport and have become champions in their own right within Masters Swimming.
Later, Aquarobics obtained a large government grant that enabled Anita to write 3 booklets under the National Life Be In It - Come'N Try Aquatics Campaign.
In 1981 she also joined the emerging Masters club Powerpoints, taking on the mantle of club coach shortly after. Powerpoints rapidly elevated to the top club in Australia, a position it held for over ten years. She continued to compete, winning numerous National and even World Masters titles.
A highlight during this period was a world record relay win in Tokyo at the World Masters Swimming Championships ( Tokyo 1986) whose team members included Aussi icon and Female Swimmer of the 20th Century, Dawn Fraser, Commonwealth Games Medallist Marjorie McQuade and 1932 Olympian Frances Bult (nee Vorrath).
She held the position of National Coaching Director, AUSSI Masters Swimming Inc. for 7 years and helped design and implement their National Coaching Accreditation scheme. In 1990 and 1992 Anita won the AUSSI Masters Swimming Coach of the Year Award. Her book Mastering Swimming although now out of print, was widely recognised as the leading text for coaching adults. A small number are still available for purchase through the office.
Dissatisfied with the standard of technique displayed by children coming into her coaching programme from other swim schools, she decided to form her own company in order to ensure a higher standard coming into squad through her Learn to Swim.
Anita has a Diploma in Teaching, is Austswim qualified and has her Silver Licence Coaching certificate from the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA). She is also a Level 2M coach of Masters Swimmers as well as a Level 1 Open Water coach.
In recent years she has turned her attention to teacher and coach education. As well as her own in-house workshops that staff must attend, Anita has been a regular lecturer at coaching courses and at the prestigious Australian Coaches and Teachers Association Conference both at a State and National level, and conducts clinics around regional Victoria.
Now a registered Austswim Course Provider & Assessor and Life Saving Victoria Workplace Supervisor, she lectures and presents teaching and coaching courses internationally. In 1998 she was invited to conduct a Level 2 Coaching Course in Sri Lanka via the International Olympic Committee’s Solidarity Programme.
This, coupled with her husband’s transfer to Colombo at the same time, enabled her to work in Sri Lanka until 2000. During this time she formed the Sri Lanka Aquatic Coaches and Teachers Association and put in place courses to accredit both Swimming Teachers and Coaches to an International Standard. She also coached the Sri Lanka National Swim Team attending the South Asian Federation Games in Nepal in 1999.
With an Australian High Commission grant, she also set about training teachers in Disabled Swimming and began the first programme (free to participants) to teach swimming to the disabled. The disabled represent 10% of the population, yet are treated largely as outcasts and often shunned by society. Many of the participating children were homeless street kids abandoned at birth by parents unwilling or unable to look after them. Unfortunately this programme ceased after she left.
Anita's husband's work postings led her to consult, coach, run clinics and workshops for both staff and swimmers at the American School of Dubai; the Singapore American School; The British Club (Singapore); and the Dubai American Academy. She returned home to recommence in her business in 2006.
Her greatest joy is transforming swimmers from learners into beautiful fluent swimmers and her children, who have both taught in the program before moving overseas.
Anita was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for her contributions to swimming in 2000 and the Jim O'Dougherty Award in 2012 from Swimming Victoria - a Coaching Achievement Award for coaching a young swimmer to his first Australian National Championship Gold Medal.
Anita is a Life Member of the Powerpoints Masters Swimming Club and was awarded a Life Membership of Melbourne H2O Swimming Club in 2023.
In 1981, she began working for 'Aquarobics', at the Melbourne City Baths. Aquarobics was one of the most progressive organisations for its time. They were one of the first in the country to offer hydrotherapy and Aquarobics classes, and almost single-handedly helped to legitimize and popularise water exercise classes.
Anita undertook arguably the first Leaders Course in Water Exercise and gained a huge following for her classes aimed at the over 50's age groups. At this time, she also recognised there were no dedicated swimming squads for adults and began what is generally seen as the first adult fitness swimming squad in Melbourne - if not Australia.
In those days mainly former competitive swimmers, surf and water polo players were interested in swimming as a form of fitness, but Anita quickly realised that the benefits of water would herald a boom in the sport with the adult sector largely uncatered for. Additionally, many adults either couldn't swim or saw swimming as the domain of the young elite. Anita has since been a leading pioneer in the area of adult swimming teaching and fitness swimming.
She has taught thousands of adults to swim including many fearful adults who had traumatic experiences as children, and encouraged many more to make the transition to swim and train for fitness. A surprising number have passionately embraced the sport and have become champions in their own right within Masters Swimming.
Later, Aquarobics obtained a large government grant that enabled Anita to write 3 booklets under the National Life Be In It - Come'N Try Aquatics Campaign.
In 1981 she also joined the emerging Masters club Powerpoints, taking on the mantle of club coach shortly after. Powerpoints rapidly elevated to the top club in Australia, a position it held for over ten years. She continued to compete, winning numerous National and even World Masters titles.
A highlight during this period was a world record relay win in Tokyo at the World Masters Swimming Championships ( Tokyo 1986) whose team members included Aussi icon and Female Swimmer of the 20th Century, Dawn Fraser, Commonwealth Games Medallist Marjorie McQuade and 1932 Olympian Frances Bult (nee Vorrath).
She held the position of National Coaching Director, AUSSI Masters Swimming Inc. for 7 years and helped design and implement their National Coaching Accreditation scheme. In 1990 and 1992 Anita won the AUSSI Masters Swimming Coach of the Year Award. Her book Mastering Swimming although now out of print, was widely recognised as the leading text for coaching adults. A small number are still available for purchase through the office.
Dissatisfied with the standard of technique displayed by children coming into her coaching programme from other swim schools, she decided to form her own company in order to ensure a higher standard coming into squad through her Learn to Swim.
Anita has a Diploma in Teaching, is Austswim qualified and has her Silver Licence Coaching certificate from the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA). She is also a Level 2M coach of Masters Swimmers as well as a Level 1 Open Water coach.
In recent years she has turned her attention to teacher and coach education. As well as her own in-house workshops that staff must attend, Anita has been a regular lecturer at coaching courses and at the prestigious Australian Coaches and Teachers Association Conference both at a State and National level, and conducts clinics around regional Victoria.
Now a registered Austswim Course Provider & Assessor and Life Saving Victoria Workplace Supervisor, she lectures and presents teaching and coaching courses internationally. In 1998 she was invited to conduct a Level 2 Coaching Course in Sri Lanka via the International Olympic Committee’s Solidarity Programme.
This, coupled with her husband’s transfer to Colombo at the same time, enabled her to work in Sri Lanka until 2000. During this time she formed the Sri Lanka Aquatic Coaches and Teachers Association and put in place courses to accredit both Swimming Teachers and Coaches to an International Standard. She also coached the Sri Lanka National Swim Team attending the South Asian Federation Games in Nepal in 1999.
With an Australian High Commission grant, she also set about training teachers in Disabled Swimming and began the first programme (free to participants) to teach swimming to the disabled. The disabled represent 10% of the population, yet are treated largely as outcasts and often shunned by society. Many of the participating children were homeless street kids abandoned at birth by parents unwilling or unable to look after them. Unfortunately this programme ceased after she left.
Anita's husband's work postings led her to consult, coach, run clinics and workshops for both staff and swimmers at the American School of Dubai; the Singapore American School; The British Club (Singapore); and the Dubai American Academy. She returned home to recommence in her business in 2006.
Her greatest joy is transforming swimmers from learners into beautiful fluent swimmers and her children, who have both taught in the program before moving overseas.
Anita was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for her contributions to swimming in 2000 and the Jim O'Dougherty Award in 2012 from Swimming Victoria - a Coaching Achievement Award for coaching a young swimmer to his first Australian National Championship Gold Medal.
Anita is a Life Member of the Powerpoints Masters Swimming Club and was awarded a Life Membership of Melbourne H2O Swimming Club in 2023.
"To succeed in swimming you need talent, commitment, perseverance and the passion to be the best. You need a caring, loving family who will give you unconditional support. You also need a coach who will work with you and help realise your full potential as a swimmer and as a human being.
You need a coach who can help you be all you can be. You need a coach who understands swimming: technique, skills, physical preparation, mental preparation, racing and recovery. You need a coach who will consistently provide with the best possible planning, preparation and performance environment.
You need a coach like Anita Killmier. Anita's experience, dedication and commitment to excellence in all aspects of swimming can provide you with the opportunity to realise your swimming dreams. She offers something that few other coaches in the world offer: professionalism, personalised coaching and peak performance.
With you, your family and Anita working together, there really are no limits to what you can achieve"
Wayne Goldsmith
Wayne is one of Australia's leading and most well respected Sports Consultants. His websites are:
http://www.sportscoachingbrain.com
http://www.moregold.com.au
http://www.moregold.com.au