SINGAPORE - The Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) announced on Friday that it has hired Sonya Michelle Porter as its new high performance manager (swimming).

In a press statement, the SSA said Porter's role is to support head coach Sergio Lopez, and "oversee the pathway development and implementation of an effective structure for athletes and coaches".

She will also work with the swimmers in the 28-strong National Training Centre squad.

According to the statement, Porter, an Australian, has coached at various universities in the United States for 21 years at the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division 1 level. It added that she has coached individual NCAA champions and Olympic finalists, although no names were mentioned.

Edwin Ker, the SSA's executive director said: "With Sonya's vast experience of working with the US' NCAA system, we strongly believe that she will be a huge asset, assisting us to continue to bring high-performance swimming in Singapore to the world's stage."