Kingston Royals Swimming Club
Coaches
Craig Gibbons - Director or Swimming - [email protected]
I began my swimming journey at a club called Bicester Blue Fins aged 5, I quickly enjoyed swimming and moved to a local club called Maxwell and began to climb the swimming ranks. I swam at multiple counties, regional and national meets. I then moved onto Loughborough University to try to achieve my goal of making the highest levels of the sport. This happened in 2012 when I made the Great Britian Olympic Team, this was the highlight of career and the culmination of a lot of ups and downs.
I decided to retire in 2014 and took up a role coaching with Hamilton Aquatics in Dubai. Like many of the top coaches in the UK I learnt my trade with Hamilton before moving onto Malta to coach Sirens ASC to their first ever championship win. I then returned to the UK to become the head coach of Natare West London, achieving National success and placing multiple swimmers on Junior National Teams. Following this I stepped into a managerial role by helping the City of Oxford as Director of Swimming.
I missed coaching on poolside and returned to full time coaching at Reed’s School in Cobham, creating the club from scratch and building it into one of the most successful swimming teams in the UK, placing swimmers on European Juniors teams and winning international medals.
Alongside my coaching with Reed’s, I am proud to support Kingston Royals as Director of Swimming. As we move into the new Kingfisher Pool the future is very exciting for our club, and I am motivated to help in every aspect to support the club and coaching staff in achieving their goals.
Ross Paul Douglas - Head Coach - [email protected]
I'm Ross Paul Douglas, Head Coach at Kingston Royals. I bring a wealth of coaching experience to the role, having spent six successful years as a Performance Coach with the University of Edinburgh programme. Before that, I led North Ayrshire ASC as Head Coach, where I was proud to steer the club to a nomination for Scottish Swimming’s Club of the Year in 2017. My coaching journey began with Hamilton Aquatics in the UAE, where I developed my craft in one of the world’s most competitive age-group environments.
At the heart of my coaching philosophy are three core pillars:
- Athlete-Centric Approach– I believe in putting the individual at the forefront of their journey.
- Emphasis on Technique– I focus on building a strong technical foundation for long-term success.
- Nurturing Environment – I aim to create a culture where athletes can thrive, both in and out of the water.
I remain deeply passionate about the sport and driven by a commitment to helping athletes unlock their full potential. For me, success isn’t defined solely by medals or records—but by personal growth, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. Whether I'm guiding swimmers to international honours or supporting them in achieving personal milestones, my goal is always the same: to challenge, support, and empower each athlete to be their very best.
My coaching philosophy is rooted in long-term development. I want every swimmer I work with to leave the sport not only with a strong technical foundation but also with a deep love for swimming and the confidence to thrive in every part of life.
International Coaching Experience
- Support Coach, European Junior Championships – Great Britain, Belgrade 2023
- Coach, FINA World Cup Series – Great Britain, Berlin 2022
- Coach, FINA World Championships – Zimbabwe, Budapest 2022
- Coach, Geneva International Meet – Scotland, Geneva 2019 & 2020
Sadie Flynn – County Coach - [email protected]
I began my swimming journey at my local swimming club, competing for 10 years at County, Regional and National Championships in both Scotland and Britain.
At 16, I started assisting with the Learn to Swim program, teaching after my evening training sessions. It was during this time that I discovered my passion for coaching and teaching swimming. After retiring from competitive swimming, I fully committed to coaching, taking on a position as Lead Coach and progressively moving up within the club and completing my Level 1 and Level 2 Coaching qualifications.
Joining KRSC has given me the opportunity to expand my coaching skills and work with new swimmers. I look forward to refining their technical training and inspiring them to reach their full potential.
Ashton Hough – Juniors Coach - [email protected]
I’ve loved the water since I was three and swimming has been a huge part of my life ever since. I started teaching at 16 with a volunteer-run swim school, and over the past 16 years I’ve worked with everyone from toddlers taking their first dip to junior athletes fine-tuning their technique.
I’ve been lucky to coach at some of the best swim programs, including Hamilton Aquatics in Dubai, where I helped young swimmers transition from learn-to-swim into squads, and Stockport Metro, the UK’s most successful swimming club, working alongside some of the country’s top development coaches. These experiences have shaped my coaching philosophy—focusing on strong fundamentals to give swimmers the best chance to reach their potential.
Outside of teaching, I love open-water swimming around London, exploring new places, and cycling through the city. Swimming has always been my passion, and getting to share that with others is the best part of what I do!
Nora Benko – Academy Coach - [email protected]
I’ve started to swim as a child. My primary school was a sports school. We had sessions every day before our school from age 6 and from age 10 twice a day. I stopped swimming around age 14. Did fencing for a year but when I tried water polo I found my sport. In a couple of years time I became a professional Waterpolo player. I was lucky enough to play for one of the best teams in Europe and had an opportunity to represent my country numerous times during my career.
In 2009 I moved to the UK. First I started to teach swimming at Putney Leisure Centre where I made friendship with Damien Bryan. When he became the head coach of Kingston Royals he asked me to come and coach for him. He and Paul Hurley helped me to become the coach I am now.
I worked with all squads throughout the years. From Cadets up to Masters. Right now I’m the lead coach of the Academy and the Masters squads. Working with young ones gives me the opportunity to teach them the love of the sport. To help them understand with hard work and good mindset they can achieve their dreams. Not just in sport but in their private life too.
Ella Moskalievova – Competition and Club Coach - [email protected]
After my competitive swimming career came to an end following COVID due to multiple reasons, I found a new passion in coaching. Despite qualifying for multiple national championships in the Czech Republic, I discovered that helping others improve in the sport is even more rewarding.
I have three years of coaching experience, starting at my home club in the Czech Republic, where I also earned my coaching qualifications. During the summers, I had the privilege of coaching at The BEST Centre Sports Centre in Mallorca, where I gained invaluable technical skills from experienced coaches and Olympic swimmers.
Now, I am furthering my knowledge by studying Sports Science at university, and from January 2025, I am proud to be coaching at Kingston Royals. I am passionate about helping swimmers reach their full potential through technical precision, structured training, and a love for the sport.
