MEET OUR
SQUAD COACHES
Our Swim Academy squad coaches are the driving force behind our performance pathways, bringing energy, expertise, and a commitment to excellence to every session. With a focus on skill development, technique refinement, and building a strong team culture, our coaches are dedicated to guiding each athlete through their swimming journey—whether they’re training for competition or aiming to achieve personal bests. Meet the passionate professionals who lead our squads with knowledge, motivation, and a genuine love for the sport.
HEAD COACH - FRANKA GIELES
Appointed Head Coach in August 2024, Franka Gieles brings a wealth of international experience in swimming and child development to the NUsport Swim Academy. A former national-level breaststroke swimmer in the Netherlands, Franka trained alongside Dutch Olympic greats Inge de Bruijn and Pieter van den Hoogenband, and began her coaching journey under the guidance of renowned high-performance coach Jacco Verhaeren, former Head Coach of Swimming Australia.
With a strong foundation in competitive swimming, Franka also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy and Child Development, and spent more than a decade lecturing in education, child psychology, group dynamics, and ethics—experience that continues to shape her holistic coaching philosophy.
After moving internationally with her family, Franka reignited her passion for swim coaching in Germany before relocating to Cairns, where she worked alongside Head Coach (and husband) Sander Ganzevles at the Cairns Stingrays. Their leadership saw the club thrive, growing both in membership and culture.
Since joining NUsport in 2022, Franka has coached across all levels of the Swim Academy, from development to performance squads. As Head Coach, she brings a program built on brain-based learning, with a focus on critical thinking, skill mastery, and swimmer autonomy. Her coaching sessions are designed not just to improve technique, but to develop confidence, curiosity, and connection.
Franka is passionate about building relationships, engaging with families, and creating an environment where every swimmer is encouraged to strive for their personal best—both in and out of the water.
COACH - MATTHEW WILSON
Matthew Wilson brings world-class experience and a deep passion for swimming to his role as a squad coach. An Australian Olympian and former world record holder in the 200m breaststroke, Matthew’s journey from regional pools to the global stage is nothing short of inspiring.
His competitive career includes standout performances at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, where he equaled the long-course world record in the 200m breaststroke semifinals, earned silver in the final, and claimed gold in the mixed 4×100m medley relay. He continued his success in 2022 with another silver in the same relay event. In 2020, he made history as the first Australian man to swim under 57 seconds in the short-course 100m breaststroke, setting a new Oceania record and earning his second consecutive Swammy Award for Oceania Male Swimmer of the Year.
Matthew proudly represented Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, competing in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.
Now dedicated to coaching, Matthew is passionate about mentoring young swimmers and giving back to the sport that shaped his life. He brings a holistic coaching philosophy that nurtures athletes both in and out of the water. He emphasises strong technical foundations, discipline, and a love for the sport. Empowering swimmers to thrive along the performance pathway.
COACH - TIM ARTHUR-NEWMAN
What started as a lifeguard shift at Mingara Aquatic Centre quickly turned into a lifelong passion for coaching. From teaching babies their first splash to leading Gold-level squads, Tim has done it all—with purpose and energy.
With formal qualifications in Competitive Strokes, Pool Operations, and Swimming and Water Safety through SCTA, he built a strong foundation early in his career. His full-time coaching journey began at Toukley Aquatic Centre, working with Titans Swim Club and the Toukley Sharks—where he played a front-row role in the historic merger of the two clubs. During this time, he completed his Development Coaching accreditation with Swimming Australia.
Now leading lanes at NUsport, he brings that same drive, care, and sharp eye for detail to every session. With a sharp focus on fatigue control, sprint speed, and race execution, his coaching turns potential into podium finishes. Under his guidance, athletes have smashed regional, state, and national goals, collecting medals and breaking records along the way.
If you’re ready to swim faster, train smarter, and be part of something bigger—Tim is your coach.