Sweetenham quits as director

London:

Australian coach Bill Sweetenham left his job as national performance director of British Swimming on Monday, less than a year before the Beijing Olympics.

Sweetenham told British Swimming in December that he would not renew his contract after next year's Olympics and wanted like to be released early from his contract due to personal reasons.

Sweetenham has overhauled British swimming since he became performance director in 2000.

"Since then his whole approach to international competitive swimming has revitalized the fortunes of the national squad and had exactly the effect and impact that we hoped it would across the sport in the UK," British Swimming chief executive David Sparkes said.

Sparkes said British Swimming would announce a replacement soon.

The British Olympic Association said Sweetenham, who survived an inquiry that looked into bullying claims in September 2005, had left British swimming in better condition.

"I am certain that many of the athletes who have benefited from Bill's experience will be challenging for medals in Beijing next year and their success would be a fitting tribute to his time in charge," BOA chief executive officer Simon Clegg said.

Sweetenham was hired after Britain didn't win a medal in the pool at the 2000 Sydney Games.

The country then won two bronze medals at the 2004 Athens Games, and eight medals, including two golds, at the 2005 world championships.