BACK home from his second Paralympics, Bow-born Rob Aubry is taking a short break with his family before getting back to work on the next four-year Paralympics cycle.

British Para-Swimming national coach, Rob was appointed in October 2008, shortly after the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics when Britain came home with a total of 102 medals in the paralympics, behind China.

In London in 2012 GB was third in a paralympic medals table with 120, behind Russia and China.

This summer, GBR came back from Rio with a total of 147 medals won in the Paralympics of which 44 were won by the swimmers.

Rob’s swimming coaching career began in Devon in 1990, including three years at the West of England College for Students with Little or No Sight, and organising big swimming galas.

A keen surfer, Rob took the swimmers to Croyde last summer for a taste of surfing and swimming in the sea, something not all had experienced. This was about breathing and breath control.

He also devised the Multi AU programme for para-swimming which focuses on helping athletes trying win multiple medals at international championships.

Many of the Rio disability swimmers had been involved in the programme at some point.

Rob used to be a scout for new members of the GB team. Always thinking of ways to improve their times, he has made changes to the costume of some of the swimmers,

Of Rio Rob said it had been the most successful Paralympics in recent times for the British team.

Five years ago Rob married Laura. They now live in Exmouth and have two sons. He still surfs whenever he can as well as developing his photography business, specialising in weddings.

Sue Read