About Anita
Anita Killmier has had an extensive involvement in swimming spanning 40 years. A contemporary of Swimming legend Shane Gould, 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 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, and prior to Triathlon beginning, 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, swimming for fitness and racing.
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 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 under Anita's guidance. She continued to compete, winning numerous Masters National and World Masters titles in 1984 (Christchurch) 1986 (Tokyo) and 1990 (Rio) along with Masters National Records and even a World record for 800m Freestyle in her respective age group.
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.
Simultaneously, Anita began coaching the children of her adult swimmers. 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 Learn to Swim; in 1986, H2O Swimming Works was born.
Anita's qualifications have included
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 in Sri Lanka (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.
Anita's Swimming Victoria affiliated Age Group club known as MH2O Swimming Club has a lengthy history providing coaching for both age groupers and Masters swimmers alike and has produced Nationally ranked swimmers some of whom have competed at International level. We were the first 'One Club' in Australia, a concept pioneered by Anita. The concept was for a single swimming club for all ages and to unify swimmers from Swimming Australia and Masters Swimming Australia under one club to allow families to swim, train and race together.
Post Covid Anita decided to scale back operations with some of her pools not reopening in a timely manner. She was forced to close her age group squad program and handed over the Masters coaching to the swimming club where it continues to thrive today.
A highlight of this time was working through the difficulties of Covid and lockdowns to ensure our swimmer Col Pearce, was able to train, compete and gain selection in the 2021 Tokyo Para Olympics where he won a bronze medal in the 100m Butterfly, and now continues as a much loved Australian team member and media personality with the Nunawading Swimming Club.
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.
In recent years she has turned her attention to teacher and coach education. As well as her own in-house workshops and online training modules 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 and has presented Teaching and coaching courses internationally. Her Facebook Page Mastering Swimming continues to educate and improve swimming technique and her online courses for self taught swimmers allows swimmers from all around the world or in remote locations to gain access to quality instruction.
Anita is a Life Member of the Powerpoints Masters Swimming Club and was awarded a Life Membership of Melbourne H2O Swimming Club in 2023.
Anita's greatest joy is transforming swimmers from learners into beautiful fluent swimmers, and her children, who both taught in the program before moving overseas.
She is available for clinics and workshops in Victoria and Australia.
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 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, and prior to Triathlon beginning, 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, swimming for fitness and racing.
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 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 under Anita's guidance. She continued to compete, winning numerous Masters National and World Masters titles in 1984 (Christchurch) 1986 (Tokyo) and 1990 (Rio) along with Masters National Records and even a World record for 800m Freestyle in her respective age group.
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.
Simultaneously, Anita began coaching the children of her adult swimmers. 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 Learn to Swim; in 1986, H2O Swimming Works was born.
Anita's qualifications have included
- Diploma in Teaching,
- Austswim Teacher
- Silver Licence Coaching certificate from the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA).
- Level 2M coach of Masters Swimmers as well as a
- Level 1 Open Water coach.
- Austswim Course Providor and Assessor
- LifeSaving Victoria Supervisor
- Workplace Trainer and Assessor
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 in Sri Lanka (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.
Anita's Swimming Victoria affiliated Age Group club known as MH2O Swimming Club has a lengthy history providing coaching for both age groupers and Masters swimmers alike and has produced Nationally ranked swimmers some of whom have competed at International level. We were the first 'One Club' in Australia, a concept pioneered by Anita. The concept was for a single swimming club for all ages and to unify swimmers from Swimming Australia and Masters Swimming Australia under one club to allow families to swim, train and race together.
Post Covid Anita decided to scale back operations with some of her pools not reopening in a timely manner. She was forced to close her age group squad program and handed over the Masters coaching to the swimming club where it continues to thrive today.
A highlight of this time was working through the difficulties of Covid and lockdowns to ensure our swimmer Col Pearce, was able to train, compete and gain selection in the 2021 Tokyo Para Olympics where he won a bronze medal in the 100m Butterfly, and now continues as a much loved Australian team member and media personality with the Nunawading Swimming Club.
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.
In recent years she has turned her attention to teacher and coach education. As well as her own in-house workshops and online training modules 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 and has presented Teaching and coaching courses internationally. Her Facebook Page Mastering Swimming continues to educate and improve swimming technique and her online courses for self taught swimmers allows swimmers from all around the world or in remote locations to gain access to quality instruction.
Anita is a Life Member of the Powerpoints Masters Swimming Club and was awarded a Life Membership of Melbourne H2O Swimming Club in 2023.
Anita's greatest joy is transforming swimmers from learners into beautiful fluent swimmers, and her children, who both taught in the program before moving overseas.
She is available for clinics and workshops in Victoria and Australia.
"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
The formula for water is H2O. Is the formula for an ice cube..H2O squared? Lily Tomlin