KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) is set to strengthen the national swimming set-up with the appointment of an Olympian from the United States to take charge of the squad following the departure of Eric Anderson.
MAS secretary-general Andy Low confirmed that the US-based coach will replace Anderson, whose contract ended on December 31 last year and was not renewed by mutual agreement.
“We are looking at bringing in two highly qualified coaches, both of whom are Olympians and have stood on the podium at the highest level of the sport,” Andy told Scoop when contacted.
“For swimming, the new appointment will fill the vacancy left by Eric, while for diving, the incoming coach will replace the two previous coaches whom we released earlier.”
Andy said the move reflects MAS’s determination to elevate standards across both disciplines as the association looks ahead to major regional and international competitions.
“These are not just names with Olympic appearances on their resumes. They understand what it takes to compete and succeed on the world stage.
“Our aim is to transfer that culture, discipline, and technical knowledge to our athletes. We want our swimmers and divers to train with the same intensity and belief as Olympic medallists,” he said.
In addition to the swimming appointment, MAS is set to bring in an Olympian from Russia to helm the national diving squad as part of a broader restructuring exercise.
For the record, Anderson and MAS agreed not to extend his tenure after his contract expired at the end of December.
His final assignment was at the SEA Games in Thailand, where the national swimming squad produced an improved medal return.
Malaysia collected two gold, three silver, and five bronze medals — a notable improvement compared to the one gold, three silver, and four bronze medals achieved at the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, as well as the one gold, four silver, and two bronze medals secured in Hanoi in 2021.
Andy acknowledged Anderson’s contribution during his stint with the national programme.
“We appreciate Eric’s efforts and the structure he put in place. There was clear progress in terms of performance and depth.
“However, we also recognise that to move to the next level, especially with regional rivals improving rapidly, we must continuously evolve,” he said.
He stressed that the latest appointments are part of MAS’s long-term vision rather than a short-term fix.
“This is about building a sustainable system. We are not merely chasing medals at one event. We want to ensure that by the time we reach the next SEA Games, Asian Games, and ultimately the Olympic cycle, our athletes are technically sharper, mentally stronger, and tactically smarter,” he added. – February 22, 2026