Long-standing Aquatics GB Team Manager Dawn Peart is leaving the organisation after 15 years, having made a major contribution across five Olympic cycles.
Dawn - whose official title is Head of Performance Team Development and Planning - has overseen vital logistical leadership across the organisation, which has contributed to the successes of Aquatics GB athletes and teams on the international stage for well over a decade.
As well as being a senior Team Manager across five Olympic Games and multiple World Championships and European Championships for British swimming teams, Dawn has also nurtured the development of numerous other Team Managers across Aquatics GB and the Home Nations through Team Manager Performance Learning Experience workshops, while her role as a mentor in the SIGA Women Global Mentorship Programme in 2023 highlighted her passion for empowering female leadership within the industry. Dawn has mentored several women working in businesses and the high performance sporting arena
Dawn was also Swimming Team Leader for England at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
Dawn was recently named winner of the Support Staff Award winner at UK Sport's prestigious PLx Awards, recognising a member of staff who has challenged themselves to achieve exceptional and inspiring performances in the last year.
On winning the PLx Award, Dawn said: "Paris was my fifth Olympic Games, and I wouldn't have been able to achieve that without the support of all the volunteer team managers who work across aquatics, supporting the 79 events delivered this year, for diving, para swimming, open water swimming and in addition, all the pathway events. This is a very special moment, and I would like to thank UK Sport for including this award as a category.
"To my colleagues who I've worked with over the last 30 years in the sport, all the support staff working in all Olympic and Paralympic sports, behind, alongside and in front of the teams, because, without that support, the teams probably wouldn't have achieved the level of success without your contribution. A big shout-out to all of you who are working behind the scenes. It's all about collaboration. It's not just one person.
“‘I would like to take this opportunity to wish all athletes, coaches, and support staff at Aquatics GB, every success on their pathway towards LA and beyond (I will be following you all) and a very Happy Christmas!’
Aquatics GB Performance Director Chris Spice – who has worked closely with Peart and been Team Leader on multiple Olympic and World Championship teams alongside the senior Team Manager over the past decade – said: “Dawn has been a central figure in the success of our swimming teams on the international stage, overseeing and embodying the team cultures and behaviours that lay the platform for high-performance success.
“Her experience and effectiveness in the arena and her way of engaging and communicating with all athletes and staff make her such an outstanding Team Manager, and explain why she is so well-respected and liked by generations of athletes – while her organisational skills, along with those of the whole Operations team, help the behind-the-scenes work that ensures our athletes have the chance to train and perform to the highest standard.
“She will be greatly missed at Aquatics GB, and I wish her all the best for whatever comes next.”