While at the club he coached three of the greatest distance swimmers – Stephen Holland, Tracey Wickham and Michelle Ford.
[1] In 1980, Sweetenham was appointed inaugural Women's Head Swimming Coach at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
During his time at the AIS, Sweetenham was involved in coaching Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallists Michelle Pearson, Karen Phillips, Suzanne Landells, Georgina Parkes and Rob Woodhouse.
[1] Sweetenham's tenure with Great Britain was marked by medal success at World Championship level, Olympic disappointment, and recurring controversy on his man-management methods.
Prior to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Sweetenham's tenure as Director marked considerable progress in British swimming.