Jon Rudd to Step Down After 8 Years at Swim Ireland, Heading to Saudi Arabia
Jon Rudd is set to step down from Swim Ireland after eight years as its National Performance Director, the organization announced on Tuesday.
Rudd will start a new rule in June leading the high performance program for the Saudi Arabia Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Andrew Reid, Swim Ireland’s Head of Performance Pathways & Operations, will take Rudd’s role on an interim basis.
Rudd, who hails from England, was appointed in 2017. He helped usher in a wildly successful era for Irish swimming, which included a gold medal and a bronze medal for distance swimmer Daniel Wiffen at the 2024 Paris Olympics and bronze in the women’s 100 breaststroke for Mona McSharry. Wiffen brought the country its first World, Olympic and European records, as well as its first World Championships medals (and first medals for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games.)
“There is no doubt in my mind that Swim Ireland is a truly great governing body, one that is totally committed to Performance aquatics via a highly supportive Board and CEO and having significant positive impacts on and for the people on the island year on year,” Rudd said in a press release. “The position in Saudi Arabia is one that I have been discussing with them over recent months, and they have a huge ambition to develop a whole host of Olympic and Paralympic sports in the nation, with swimming being a key part of this equation.
“I have very much enjoyed my time in Ireland, and it quickly became home, providing me with an opportunity to work with a wonderful group of staff, athletes, and coaches throughout this time. I will certainly miss the people and the role, but it is time for something fresh, and the role in Saudi Arabia very much presents this.”
Ireland has the World Championships in Singapore coming up in 2025 as well as the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to aim at.
“While we are sad to see Jon leave, we fully respect his decision,” Swim Ireland CEO Sarah Keane said. “Jon can be proud of his time at Swim Ireland and has been a fantastic leader for the organisation. We have significantly advanced the performance programme during his stewardship, which is a testament to his work and the work of his team together with Irish clubs, coaches, and athletes. Irish performance aquatics is in a very strong position, both nationally and internationally. We look forward to continuing to build on the success of the Paris cycle as we look ahead to LA 2028 and beyond.”
Reid has worked with Swim Ireland since 2010 and represented the country internationally as a swimmer. Swim Ireland says it will assess its hiring needs for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic cycle.
“I’m honoured to step into the role as Interim National Performance Director role after 15 great years guiding junior Irish National teams and senior Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games teams,” Reid said. “I’m excited to support stability and progress as we look to Glasgow 2026 and Los Angles 2028 and am grateful to Jon Rudd for his leadership and mentorship over the last 8 years.”
Saudi Arabia has no swimming history on the international stage to speak of. The country made its Olympic debut in 1972. It first sent swimmers to the 1992 Olympics, with two men. It did not send swimmers to either the 2012 or 2016 Olympics and only in 2024 sent its first female swimmer, Mashael Meshari A Alayed, to the Olympics.
