Duncan Laing

Andrew James Duncan Laing CNZM OBE (20 June 1933 – 13 September 2008), generally known as Duncan Laing, was a New Zealand swimming coach based in Dunedin. He coached Olympian Danyon Loader, winner of two gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and a silver medal at Barcelona in 1992,^[1][2] and Philip Rush, current world record holder for the fastest two and three way swim of the English Channel.^[3]

Early life

Laing was born in New Plymouth and rose to sporting prominence in both swimming and rugby, playing 28 first class matches for Taranaki between 1952-1955. He also picked up numerous swimming titles during the 1940s and was a strong surf life saver, winning the Nelson Shield with the Fitzroy Surf Life Saving Club.^[4]

He was working at New Plymouth’s Kawaroa Pool as a volunteer swim coach and had built a home near New Plymouth's Rugby Park in the hope of picking up rugby coaching opportunities but plans changed when he saw an advertisement for a swim coach at Dunedin's Moana Pool.

Dunedin coaching career

He began teaching at Moana Pool in 1966, and over 40 years training in Dunedin included 11 Olympic athletes.^[2][5] In 2003, Michael Phelps visited New Zealand to train under Laing.^[6]

His involvement in rugby continued as he coached senior club rugby teams and was a selector for Otago from 1982 -1985.

Personal life

He married Betty Burgess in 1951, and they had six children, four sons and two daughters (one deceased).^[7] He also ran the Moana House rehabilitation centre with his wife.^[3]

He had since retired from professional coaching, and received treatment in 2006 for melanoma on his leg and a brain tumour.^[8]He died in Dunedin 13 September 2008 at the age of 75.^[7][9]

Awards and honours

Laing was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours,^[10] and a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to sport, in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours.^[11][12]

One of the pools within the Moana Pool complex was renamed the Duncan Laing Pool in November 2010.^[13]

He was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 2005^[14] and the Taranaki Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.^[15]