A Bulgarian swimming champion who has worked with top athletes has joined the coaching team at Hackney Aquatics Club.

Vasil Simov - who was the Bulgarian Junior champion in the 100m Freestyle and also competed in this event as a junior at the European Championships - has joined as assistant coach at the club which meets at Clissold Pool in Stoke Newington.

Mr Simov spent ten years as head coach at the Vihren Sandanski Club, one of Bulgaria’s top swimming clubs, which has consistently produced nationally ranked swimmers.

Club Chair Dick Millard said: “Vasil has the perfect combination of skills for our club – not only has he swum at a top level as a junior but also he has been responsible for developing top-level athletes.

“The change at the club in the last few weeks has just been amazing - everyone has been training harder and, more importantly, achieving phenomenal results.”