Top
Cart 0

Achievers
Swim
Academy

 

Taylor McKeown founded Achievers Swim Academy with the ambition of sharing her passion for swimming with others. In 2014, Taylor was invited to be a guest coach and mentor at her first swim clinic, hosted by another Australian swim coach, after a successful win at that year’s Commonwealth Games.

 
 
 

Taylor absolutely loved the opportunity she was given to inspire, share her knowledge and help others improve their technique. Focusing on performance first, Taylor waiting until after the 2016 Rio Olympics to start planning the academy, ensuring she can give it her all, and in 2018 Achievers Swim Academy was created.

 

Achievers Swim Academy was created with the vision of providing it's clients with world-class stroke correction through the use of current swimming champions as coaches.

 
asa-section-image-test-1.jpg

Training with
Achievers

 
 

Private lessons are run with a modern approach, consistent feedback and tailored drills are given to assist in improving the client’s stroke. As a retired high-performance athlete, Taylor McKeown was given access to the world’s best swim assistance and feedback, priceless knowledge and ingredients to create a champion. Taylor is able to filter this information through Achievers Swim Academy and its coaches to provide its clients with the best swimming critiques.

 
 
 

Achievers Swim Academy thrives off its use of current and retired Olympic swimmers as mentors and coaches.

 
 

Achievers Swim Academy takes a tailored approach to its classes, which are prepared with specific swim abilities in mind. Whether you’re aiming to qualify for your first state championships, win an Australian title, improve your technique, learn new swim drills or improve your overall swimming ability, Achievers has a class for you.

 
 

My attitude to training and life is to do everything with 100% effort and intent to succeed. It is this passion that I want to share throughout Achievers Swim Academy.

- Taylor McKeown, Founder / Head Coach

 
achievers-swim-academy-about-taylor.jpg

Taylor
McKeown

Taylor McKeown was one of Australia's premier breaststrokers during her career, having medalled in the 200m breaststroke at the Australian Open Championships consecutively since 2011 to 2022. Also highly competitive in the 100m breaststroke and 200m individual medley, Taylor has medalled in these events at the Australian Championships, showing strength across all strokes.

In 2010, as a 15-year-old, Taylor burst onto the Australian junior swimming scene as she took out her first national titles in the 100m and 200m breaststroke.

In 2014 Taylor qualified for her first Australian Open team, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. She went on to win gold in the 200m breaststroke at the games and also won a bronze medal in the same event at the Pan Pacific Championships later that year.

2015 was Taylor's first FINA World Championships, held in Kazan, Russia. She battled sickness throughout the competition but finished strong with a bronze medal in the 4x100m medley relay.

2016 brought around an opportunity for Taylor to qualify for the Rio Olympics, she went on to win silver in the 100m breaststroke and gold in the 200m breaststroke at the Australian Championships, which saw her qualify for her first Olympic Games.

In Rio, Taylor finished 11th in the 100m breaststroke. In the 200m breaststroke, she qualified fastest into the final after a blazing semi-final swim, however, finished 5th in the final, just shy of a medal. She then rebounded and won her first Olympic medal, a silver in the 4x100m medley relay team.

2017 was Taylor’s second FINA World Championships, held in Budapest, Hungary. She was accompanied by her younger sister of 6 years, as Kaylee made her debut on the senior Australian Swim Team for the 200m backstroke. Taylor finished 9th in the 100m breaststroke, 7th in the 200m breaststroke and won a bronze medal in the 4x100m medley relay.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, she finished 5th in the 200m breaststroke, and later on in the year moved to the Gold Coast to change coaches and continue her persuit for swimming excellence and improvement.

2022 was Taylor’s third and final Commonwealth Games representation. Taylor announced retirement after competing in the 200m breaststroke final and has since followed a passion in freediving and swim coaching.

Taylor has been private coaching since establishing Achievers Swim Academy in 2018 and has completed over 800 private swimming lessons and 15 group swim clinics since. Taylor’s coaching style is highly versatile, as she is great at adapting to her swimmer’s needs. Taylor has experience coaching swimmers as young as 5 and is confident in coaching swimmers with intellectual difficulties such as autism and ADHD.
Taylor is attentive, caring, friendly, encouraging and motivating as a coach, excited by the opportunity to work with swimmers and help them unleash their full potential.

Kaylee McKeown

Kaylee McKeown is widely recognized for her remarkable achievements in the pool. Born in 2001, in Redcliffe, Queensland, she showed early promise in swimming, following in the footsteps of her older sister, Olympic medalist Taylor McKeown. Kaylee quickly carved her own path, becoming one of the most dominant backstroke swimmers in the world.

Making her first Australian Dolphins debut at age 15, for the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungry, Kaylee showed she was a force to be reckoned with. She claimed 4th place in the 200m backstroke final, competing against reining world champions, Olympic medallists and world record holders.

Her breakthrough came at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021 due to the pandemic), where she won three gold medals, solidifying her status as a global swimming sensation. She claimed victories in the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, and as part of the 4x100m medley relay team, setting an Olympic record in the 100m backstroke. Her success was a testament to her exceptional talent, work ethic, and mental resilience, particularly as she competed while mourning the loss of her father, Sholto, to brain cancer in 2020.

Kaylee also made history in June 2021 by setting the world record in the 100m backstroke with a time of 57.45 seconds, surpassing the previous record held by American swimmer Regan Smith. This performance demonstrated her ability to push the boundaries of the sport.

Known for her versatility, Kaylee excels not only in backstroke but also in medley events, showcasing her all-around swimming skills. She has continued to dominate at major international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kaylee solidified her status as one of the sport's greats by achieving a historic "double-double" in backstroke events. She became the first female backstroker to win both the 100m and 200m events at consecutive Olympic Games, defending her titles from Tokyo 2020.

In the women's 200m backstroke final, McKeown set an Olympic record with a time of 2:03.73, showcasing her dominance in the discipline. She also claimed a bronze medal in the 2oom individual medley.

Beyond her individual successes, McKeown's performance contributed significantly to Australia's impressive medal tally in swimming at the Paris Games. Her achievements have further cemented her legacy in Australian swimming history.

Kaylee’s coaching style has been described as nurturing and highly insightful by those who have been lucky enough to secure a session with her. Kaylee has completed various private coaching sessions and group clinics since 2017, showing ability not only to perform at a high level, but coach at one too.

Jake Packard

Jake Packard is renowned for his achievements in breaststroke events on the international stage. Born on 1994, he represented Australia at major competitions, including the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Championships. Packard was celebrated for his smooth and efficient breaststroke technique, as well as his ability to perform under pressure, particularly in relay events.

At the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Packard earned a silver medal in 4x100m medley relay, establishing himself as a key member of Australia’s medley relay squad.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Packard won a bronze medal as part of the Australian men's 4x100m medley relay team. He played a crucial role in the heats, swimming the breaststroke leg and helping secure the team’s position in the final.

Packard’s career reached another high point at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, held on home soil on the Gold Coast. Competing in front of a home crowd, he helped Australia clinch gold in the men’s 4x100m medley relay, contributing to the nation’s dominance in the event. Domestically, Packard was a consistent medalist in breaststroke events at the Australian Swimming Championships, showcasing his dedication and skill throughout his career.

After retiring from competitive swimming in 2021, Packard shifted his focus to coaching and mentoring the next generation of swimmers. His journey in the sport, marked by hard work, teamwork, and resilience, has left a lasting impact on Australian swimming and serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes.

Jake’s coaching style is often praised for being fun, motivating, and highly engaging, creating an enjoyable environment that fosters growth and confidence in his swimmers. Known for his insightful approach, Jake has the ability to break down complex techniques into easy-to-understand instructions, making his coaching accessible to swimmers of all levels.

As a father himself, Jake has a natural rapport with children, bringing patience, understanding, and encouragement to every session. His personable nature and genuine passion for swimming make him not only a skilled coach but also a role model, inspiring young swimmers to strive for their best both in and out of the water. Jake’s dedication is a testament to his commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a love for swimming in those he teaches.

David Tomkinson

David Tomkinson is a former competitive swimmer with an impressive career, excelling in breaststroke and achieving top 10 national rankings in the 50m and 100m events. As part of one of Australia's most elite swimming programs, he trained under legendary coach Bernie Wakefield at the AIS, alongside iconic athletes such as Susie O’Neill, Jade Edminstone, and Scott Logan. David’s passion for swimming continues today, with multiple top 10 national rankings in Masters Swimming.

Currently, David is the most experienced coach at Achievers Swim Academy, serving as the leading Brisbane-based coach. With over 25 years of global coaching experience, he is highly skilled in working with swimmers of all levels, from beginners to national-level athletes. His expertise includes high-performance stroke correction and advanced race skills. David is a Swimming Australia, SCTA, and AUSTSWIM-accredited coach and holds a QLD Bluecard, as well as Australia’s ‘Character Check Accreditation.’

In 2002, David was selected to establish the Hayley Lewis Swim School in partnership with Olympic and World Champion Hayley Lewis, solidifying his reputation as a leader in swimming development. His commitment to the sport led to the founding of SPL Global in 2018, which won the Thailand Prestige Award for Sports Club of the Year in both 2021 and 2022. He further demonstrated his excellence by receiving the APAC Insider South East Asia Business Award for 'Recognised Leader in Sports Development Thailand' in 2022. In the same year, David launched D7 Swim Australia, a private swimming and travel swim clinic, further showcasing his dedication to transforming swimmers and guiding them toward outstanding results.