In the English summer of 1996 (June) Zoe moved to Christchurch NZ to join Kim Swanwick, an English born coach and worked with Kim until 1999. After the World short course Championships in Hong Kong 1999 Zoe returned back to Christchurch and started coaching herself since Kim Swanwick had decided to take time out from coaching and concentrate more on the science side of swimming. Under a guide from Kim, Zoe began writing her own swim programmes and by applying what she had learned from Kim to her own swim and gym programmes. This left Zoe planning and coaching herself for the majority of the time while still training in Christchurch from 1999 onwards.

This was a huge turning point in Zoe’s career as from the summer of 1999 Zoe broke her first European record on the 50m breaststroke and went onto to take her first international medal, a silver on the 50m breaststroke in Istanbul during the European Swimming Championships. Following that in December of the same year she became European short course champion which took place in Lisbon.In 2001 Zoe won her first world long course medal, a bronze in Fukioka Japan again in the 50m breaststroke event.

2002 was Zoe’s most successful year where she broke in total four World Records (three short courses and one long course) and won her first Commonwealth Gold medal in her home country held in Manchester England.Following that in 2003 Zoe took her 3rd World Bronze medal in Barcelona Spain.

Zoe still coaches herself and trains most of the time alone.2-3 times a week a few of the swimmers from her nominated club “Jasi” and club coach Peter Burgon meet up at QE2 pools in Christchurch to swim togther and help motivation.Zoe firmly believes that she has grown so much as a person, as a swimmer and coach by coaching herself for the past 7 years with help and guidance from who she calls “her mentor” Kim Swanwick (who is currently the head coach at the University of Bath in UK) and has learned valuable skills and lessons along the way.

More recently Zoe switched countries to now swim under the flag of New Zealand.After representing Great Britain for over a decade Zoe made the decision in January 2005 to change countries and represent NZ, starting at the recent World Championships in Montreal. Why the move? Zoe had made it clear to her former federation Great Britain after breaking her 4th world record in 2002, that she was not happy with the federations lack of support for her sprint training methods along with European championships discriminating selection policies towards 50m swimmers. The lack of funding for her event after her gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2002, made it virtually impossible for Zoe to remain on the GB team.

Zoe firmly believes a swimmer must be happy to swim fast, and individual differences in training approaches must be addressed. Individual flare and daring to be different separate good swimmers into great ones!Clive Rushton, another English born man and then the Performance Director of New Zealand Swimming, helped Zoe make the switch to become a New Zealand Swimmer – it was a hard decision since Zoe’s roots and background are 100% British therefore it took two years to agree to the move. Clive and NZ Swimming in 2005 gave Zoe the full support she was looking for and that was the deciding factor.

NZ played a major part in Zoe’s training and preparation before setting her World records in 2002, the facilities, the lifestyle and better weather were major keys in keeping her fit and healthy. along with this and NZ Swimming’s help Zoe could continue swimming Internationally in a bid to repeat her success, but this time under New Zealand colours and give something back to the country that had adopted her as their own.

Zoe’s parents were both born and raised in Eckington, in Derbyshire the North of England and 20 mins south of Sheffield and still reside there today. Dad was one of thirteen children and mum one of four siblings. Although Zoe is an only child the Baker family is very large, and all of Zoe’s family still live in England.In 2006 Zoe moved back to England to further her studies at the University of Bath and pursue a degree in Sports performance.

In 2008 Zoe worked closely with the Team Bath senior swimmers and is the strength and conditioning coach for sprint, middle distance and distance programmes. Zoe also provided assistance to the Head coach Mark Skimmings on pool deck and works closely with the elite sprint group. More recently Zoe is now the new Head Coach at Street & District S.C training each evening at Millfield School 50m pool.