Swimmers born and bred!
'Andrew Baildon’s SUPERFISH Swim Schools' was established by Andrew and Karen Baildon. Andrew, the renowned Australian and International Swimming Champion and Karen, a top national level swimmer and daughter of the legendary dual Olympic Swimming Gold Medallist, World Record Holder and Commonwealth Champion Michael Wenden - were literally born into the world of swimming.
Together, their vast experience and wealth of knowledge gives them a rare insight into all aspects of swimming development and the expertise to develop training progressions at the very forefront of the industry. With a young family of their own, they continue their passion for their sport, striving to provide the very best aquatic facilities for children and adults alike.
"This is our 14th year in 'Learn to Swim' and running SUPERFISH. We began teaching drowning prevention and 'Learn to Swim' when Andrew retired from competitive swimming, after 10 years on Australian Swimming Teams. We opened our first facility on the Gold Coast in 1996 in Southport, under the name of Andrew Baildon Aquatic Centre. It had a 16 metre pool and aside from Andrew and myself, had just two other teachers. Within months of opening we were teaching over 800 children each week.We opened our 2nd Andrew Baildon Aquatic Centre in 1998 at Gaven on the Gold Coast and within the 1st year, were teaching over 1000 local children each week. We also began our comprehensive School Swimming Programs. During this period we were also consultants in the construction of The Runaway Bay Super Sports Centre and Pool Complexes on Couran Cove, Gold Coast."
Andrew was the renowned swimming commentator for FOX Sport at the 2000 Olympic Swimming Trials and Channel 7 expert swimming commentator for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
"In 2001 we opened Andrew Baildon Aquatic Centre Nerang, then in 2003 branched into Brisbane, opening at Sunnybank Plaza, rebranded 'Andrew Baildon's SUPERFISH Swim Schools'. Sunnybank was an instant success being much needed in South Brisbane. By 2003 we had a team of over 40 swimming instructors, were conducting swimming lessons for over 3000 children each week and ran additional Schools Swimming Programs for 15 schools in South East Queensland.In 2006 we won the South East Queensland Business Achievers Award for Sport and Recreation. In 2009 Andrew was the guest speaker at the National Austswim Conference.
From 2007 to our opening in 2009, we designed, developed and constructed Andrew Baildon's SUPERFISH Leisure Pacific Pines on the Gold Coast, encompassing 2 indoor pools, a Jetts Fitness 24/7 hour gym, a café, meeting rooms and SUPERFISH Swim Schools head office - arguably the largest swim school in Queensland, conducting over 2000 swimming lessons each week. Our Jetts Fitness 24/7 Pacific Pines opened with the highest number of members in Australia.
2009 was also the inaugural year as major sponsors and supporters of SUPERFISH Swim Club, an independent club run by volunteers and parents of children attending our Senior Squad Program. In the club's 1st year, we had 2 swimmers attend the Australian National Championships and a Gold Medallist at the Queensland State Championships."
KAREN BAILDON - Founder & Director
