Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club appoints Sports Academy Director

Leading triathlon and swimming coach, performance enhancement expert, sports scientist and sports event logistics specialist Craig Johns is joining Phuket, Thailand sport and leisure destination, the Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club (TSLC).

Johns takes up the position of Sports Academy Director of TSLC having come from his position as Head of Swimming at the renowned British International School of Jeddah, where he managed the competitive swim program, regional swimming league, and the development and implementation of a safe swimming curriculum, as well as the pool's facilities and resources.

Johns' sporting, coaching and management skills were also honed during his previous positions as Taiwan National Team Head Coach at the Chinese Taipei Triathlon Association, Aquatics Director at the Taipei American School and Sport Science work with the New Zealand Academy of Sport.

With TSLC aiming to become Asia's leading sport destination, Johns' experience in performance coaching with athletes of all ages and abilities, his proven track record in organising race logistics and managing the NRG2Perform sports performance business, his background as a sports scientist – providing exercise physiology testing, functional performance testing, body composition and video analysis – will confirm TSLC as the region's major sport and leisure facility.

 Johns' wealth of experience means he's well placed to coordinate long-term athlete development, performance sport programs, sports events and integration with the Mind Centre and Integrative Health Centre for TSLC.

Speaking on his appointment, Johns explained "what really attracted me to working for TSLC is that it is an unrivalled facility everyone can use, from the finest professional and amateur athletes to Phuket residents and tourists.

 "I will be able to put my experience to extensive use and I'm excited to be part of the fantastic professional team here and to helping everyone who visits the club to achieve their sporting goals and dreams."

Johns' sporting prowess was groomed in his native New Zealand, where – among other sporting achievements – he was part of the New Zealand Triathlon Team World Championships for four years and gained numerous certificates and qualifications in swimming, triathlon and surf lifesaving coaching.

In addition to a BSc in Sport Science, Johns is currently studying for a MMgt in Sport Business Management.

Thanyapura President Robert Hauck praised his commitment to sport and the science behind it, stating "Craig's attitude and outlook fit seamlessly with TSLC's ethos.

"His first-class experience, profound knowledge, and committed attitude mean he will be an asset to the team at TSLC as it builds up towards the official launch of Thanyapura at the end of this year."

The TSLC megaplex is located on a 23-hectare plot framed by mountains and nature just 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport. It delivers an unrivalled range of academies with competitions, teams and training at all levels and ages, including football, aquatics, tennis, rugby and triathlon academies.

Its facilities are among the best in the region; a 50 metre Olympic-standard outdoor swimming pool with electronic timing system, coaches' observation window and a 600-seater shaded grandstand, a 25 metre outdoor swimming pool with coach/teaching platform, full-size International Rugby Board-standard artificial rugby pitch and 1,500-seat shaded grandstand, four Plexi-cushion indoor tennis courts with a 600-seat shaded grandstand and two Plexi-cushion outdoor tennis courts.

Members and guests are also offered a 500 metre cushioned athletics track with long jump, high jump, triple jump, and a 1500-seat shaded grandstand plus a Limonta 'Soccer Pro' FIFA-standard pitch, floodlit basketball and handball courts, beach volleyball and soccer pitch, state-of- art Fitness Centre with latest Technogym equipment and studios for martial arts, yoga, Pilates and dance classes.

Complementing the top sports facilities is the Thanyapura Integrative Health Centre, which combines several aspects of medicine, such as physiotherapy, traditional Asian medicine and contemporary treatment technologies. Elsewhere, members and guests can enjoy local and international dining choices with signature organic dishes, juice drinks and boosters at DiVine Restaurant. 

For more information go to www.thanyapura.com/home

Images: Craig Johns (top) and Thanyapura's 50 metre Olympic competition pool (below).

9th March 2012 - THANYAPURA HOSTS BOB DWYER RUGBY CLINIC: APPOINTS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE

28th December 2011 - ATHLETIC YOUTH GO FOR GOLD AT THANYAPURA IRONKIDS PHUKET TRIATHLON 

7th September 2011 - PHUKET’S THANYAPURA SPORT AND LEISURE CLUB ANNOUNCES TENNIS PARTNERSHIP

6th August 2011 - CANADA’S OLYMPIC SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING TEAM MAKES THE MOST OF PHUKET SPORT FACILITIES