February 1994 * Volume 35 No. 2 * $2.50

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FEBRUARY 1994 * VOLUME 35 NO. 2 * $2.50

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C~ mllii VE FEBBUARY 1994 VOLUME 35, NO. 2

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THE CHINA DRUG CONTROVERSY The achievementsof ChinaV, women ~,~vimmersare unprecedentedin the histor~ of sport, yet a cloud of suspicionhangs over their heads.What i~ to be done? By Phillip ~,t,hitten

THE RIGHT MIX Thi~ ~ear'~ U.S. Open ~a~, highlighted b.~ four Ame rica n and three U.S. Open records. By Ke ith Bell

A CASE OF DIT:jA VU There v, ere alarming ,,imilarities at the ina ugura l ~,hon cour,e World Championships~. ith the fir~,t long coursemeet in 1973. By Craig Lord

ALLISON WAGNER: 39 MORE THAN OK Allis on Wagneris one of the brightest.3oungest and fa ~,te ~,t-ri~,ingsv, imming ~,tar~, in the United State,. By John Oehser

BACK ON TOP Stanlbrdwon its firs t NCAA ~ater polo title since 1986 and its seventhoverall. By Jeffrey Hohne

On the coxcr." .4/li~on tVak,nc'r. 16. ot the Florida .~,quaHc~ Swim Team..~eta worhl re cord in the 2tin mch'r 131 at the First Short Course World ('hamlfionshipx in ~pain. Her 2:07. 79 hcftc'red Ea~t Germany's Petra Schncider'.~previous re cord by neath th tee se'c'ond.~--a re c'~~rd that .~t~e~dtier ahm* ~t 12 yea~w. ~Photo by Gene Bednarek) Tabh, e{tcontent.w.~h'anwhih,. on the same weekendat the L'.S . Open in Ann Arbor. Mich.. Kristine Quance betteredthe American and U.S. Open short course re cord in the 20(1 meter breast with a 2.25.$4. TIw l.wviott.~ mark wa.~ set by Tl'aCv Catdkins ~2:27.32~ ahno~t 13 vear~ a'.'o, tPhoto by Caroh'n Peticolas~

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CMif ql I(~'~ l+0Mmaslc?r ~,¢rtd address chan,..:'c~ to S',l, IMMI\(; ~,~. ORI D P ( ) Box '+ ~-q, Pa.a.:c"_ i.. • -- "+ ~- "'-: ~-" --" ~~: - :~-~[~ ~.' ' : add :.% " ~ '~ ~1C~" ~I ~' 'r" r+l,~In~' da'~ PIC,i-+' indl.atu" lip ~'t~]c Send ]aNtl from la.t I~LIL" ~ ith addre., chan,2e Rcqucq t,~- rt11..ln,-' I--LI~-. ,qdcr thuT~ :~,,, m,,n:::- rr,,'" . .:::_: : c..:c .. : "-.' ",,--,,r.,.: ,,,: ~., h.T: a..,';llpa[:lcd r,~ pa~ nk'llt \ore -F._.rrl11..~oll o rcprlnl arltd~', or o.~:¢rpt~fron1¢onlcnl~l~prohlbilcdV, lthoLJll'~rlnt~lontron) thepub]]~hcr \,qr¢~1~n.lb[,~,~--:r.,,7.:~ r,.~...::~.:,, ,.:. .:::c~:. .:T: ,r ::r.[ :!.¢rtl,,n ".TI('R()III \It'OPIES A~afl.thJctroml'nv.¢r~d~, Microfilm.. ~1~ N hr.[ SI. Ann ArN~r. Mich 4,gl413 S~,I, IMMIN(I ~.~.ORI.D ~. hqcd in [h~" Ph? -~.a [£d..a:],,:: [r:Jc~ Prmk'd :n the I , ~, <.~llnmln._' \~.,,rid Jnd Jumor ~mm~cr. Fcbruar3 ['¢-)4 By John Oehser * Photos by Gene Bednarek

oo• eoe •eo oe o•~• eee o••eeee •eoo• ~•o oe eeoeeeeeo Allis on Wagne r: More Than OK

Allison Wagneris 16, a world re cordholder and one of the brightest,youngest and fastest-risingswimming stars in the United States.

llis on Wagner and Ke vin Thornton have this pattern, you see. Whenever Allis on A ~oes to an inte rna tiona l swimming meet, Thornton--her coach--sets times he'll call her. Wagner, a 16-year-old individua l medley specialist, gets her call from

Thornton at the set time and the two go ..... ~ - o:~~-~'~m over her split times from the day's swim. Such was the scenewhen Thornton called from his phone in Gainesville early la s t December.Allis on got the call while at the Short Course World Championshipsin Spain. Their conversation,as Thornton recalledit, went like this: Thornton: "How'd you do?" Wagner:. "We ll, OK." Thornton: "Wha t did you get?" Wagner. "2:07.7." Thornton: "Wha t did that get?" Wagner:. "Tha t got firs t." Thornton: "We ll, then it's the world record, right?" \ Wagner: "Ye a h, I guess. You think that's OK?" The conversation tells volumes about Wagner, one of the brightest, youngest and fa s te s t-ris ingswimming stars in the United States.

ooeeoeooeooeBeeeo •e*e eooeoeo •Be ooo •eoe oo• oeeoe ABOUT THE AUTHOR John Oehseris a sportswriterfor the Florida Times-Unionin Jacksonville,Fla.

• SWIMMINGWORLD AND JUNIOR SWIMMER FEBRUARY 1994 39 said. "S he was almost lobbying for it. "S he was saying things like , "We ll, I've only got it once or twice.' " Ye s , she got it. Unassuming, Unaffected. Hardly words associated with athletes who achievedizzying successat an early age. For Wagner, however, there was never really any other way. She began swimming competitively when she was 7 years old and living in Berlin, Germany, where her fa the r, Dave Wagner, was stationed with the Army. "We adopted a policy early on," Dave Wagner said. "We encourageour children to participate. We would not allow idle time. We didn't care what IVhe nWagner s~e'am at the WorldShort Course they selected. They needed to select Championshipsin Spain, shebroke the 200 Ltl world re cordb), nearlythree something." seconds--are cordthat hadlasted for nearly 12 years/ Dave and Barbara Wagner's oldest child is Scott, 23. He selected soccer. o**ooeoolooeoleoo*eueoeooo*ooeoeoo*oeeoeo**ooeooo.ooolaeooo.oeeleo Their youngest son, .Mark, 13, chose footba ll. Wagner set the world record--yes, Allis on choseswimming. the world record and yes, it's OK--in Wagner sits quietly in Thornton's "I tried other sports," she said. "I the 200 meter individua l medley (short office ins ide the University of Florida wasn't really very good at them. course) in Spain several days after she swimming fa cility. Swimming, I like d. 1 don't know why. 1 set the Ame rica n record in the 400 IM She is unassuming. No fla ir. No jus t like d it." with a time of 4:31.00. The 4:31 broke strut. One reason may have been this: the old world record, but she finis he d She looks every bit the role of a from the beginning, she was pretty second to Dai Guohong of China, whom teenage schoolgirl--which, of course, good. When you're 7, successdoesn't she beat in the 200 IM. she still is . hurt. "I was jus t really happy that I beat If you look at Wagner, it's hard to By the time she began swimming the Chinese girl," Wagner said. "I was ima gine a world-class athlete. If you talk in Germany in 1984. she had basic skills. really more happy that I won than about to her, it's even harder to ima gine . but little forma l training. the time, I think." "I don't think it's that big a deal," Ke vin McKe nna , now a coach at A year ago, fe w among swimming's she said, "I guess it's all right that I Kutztown University in Kutztown. elite knew about Allis on Wagner. She broke the record, but... " Penn., is a forme r swimmer for the wasn't in the top 25 in the world in the She stops and smiles an embar- University of Texas and the person l.Ms . She was among the top in her age rassedsmile. whom Dave Wagner calls the "frs t real group in the nation, but world records? A world record. coach Allis on ever had." McKe nna She says she doesn't know how it You think that's OK? joine d the Army after le a ving Texas, happened so fa s t. Her mother, Barbara Since her fa mily moved to and when he was commissioned by his Wagner, says, "S ome time s it's still hard Gainesville four years ago, Wagner has officer--Dave Wagner--to start a swim- to believe it's our daughter." swum for Thornton and Florida ming program, he hadn't coached many Ye t, it is . A world record, an Aqua tics , a developmentalprogram not- kids Allis on's age. Ame rica n record. And, the thing you so-loosely affiliated with the University It didn't take him long to figure out notice firs t about Wagner is while she's of Florida. there was something different about come so fa r, so fa s t, it doesn'teven seem Each month, the group produces a Allis on. True, there was some ability to be... well, importa nt. newsletter that is sent to parents, and there. She won racesand was one of the "S he 's jus t ve~- unaffected by any- each month, each age group has a swim- best in her age group. A lot of young thing," Thornton says. "The more glow mer of the month. swimmers have ability', but Allis on's was she gets, the le s s it affects her." "Whe n she broke the record, she different. "It's not like , 'Ha, ha. I'm the world was more inte re s te d in whether or not "He r ability came with her lis te n- record holder.' It's like , 'I'm the world we would pick her as swimmer of the ing and her attitude toward the sport of record holder, but am I going to swim month, as opposed to being a world or swimming," McKe nna said. "S he could fa s t tomorrow, too?' " Ame rica n record holder," Thornton change her stroke whenever she was

40 SWIMMING WORU) AND JUNIOR SWIMMER FEBRUARY 1994 asked to, too. At that age, it's really hard A thread weaving through Allis on's A deeper,clearer pattern was devel- in a lot of ways to coach some kids. A lot career is a notable absence of influ- oping. Thornton talks about how of them, they don't understand what ence-not inte re s t, influe nce ---of Dave Wagner is unaffected by success. She you're saying when you t~" to get them and Barbara Wagner. "Ba s ica lly," Dave knows little of her competition. When it to change something. With Allis on, it Wagner said with a la ugh, "we saw that came time to swim in Spain, where she was always imme dia te ." when parentsgot involve d, it wasn't pro- broke the world record, she couldn't tell Ada pta bility might be unusual in a ductive." Thornton who her competition was, jus t 7-year-old, but it sure doesn't guarantee The Wagners seldom travel to the "Chine s egirl." a world record waiting at .the end of nine meets. The fa mily economy has never You ask Wagner how it fe lt to break years. been drained traveling to live vicariously the world record, and her eyes answer in There was something else about through their daughter. When the world an inquis itive look. O&'iously, it was nice, Allis on that started to emerge in her record in the 200 IM fe ll in early but don't you understand?You don't. That's days in Berlin. We're talking work ethic, December,the Wagner fa mily found out not what this is all about. and McKe nna talks about an ethic, a third-hand--in a telephone call from To lis te n to her coaches--tolis te n drive, a desire not found in many ath- Thornton. to McKe nna , to Burkott and now to le te s , particularly ones who are 7. "The y try to stay out of the way Thornton--it's jus t about living up to A desire. A drive. And an almost and stay out of what coach is trying to the expectationsset in front of her that blind willingness to train and to be do," Allis on said. "The y don't put a lot day. If that day's expectation was a trained. of pressure on me. I hope they never world record, fine . "Whe n it was time for her to get becomethat way." "S he definitely needs the input out of the water, if I wanted to i could Dave Wagner said the philosophy from her coach," McKe nna said. "S he 's tell her to do the workout all over again, was simple. He and his wife never jus t out there. She's doing what the and she wouldn't have asked why," swam. They knew little about tech- coach tells her to do, and after the prod- McKe nna said. "In this day and age, it's nique, le s s about training. Besides, uct happens,she needs to know if that's pretty hard to get that. world records and winning weren't the respectable." "I'm currently starting a swim team point- Thornton agreed. with 60 swimmers. I have some very "All we wanted was for Allis on to "S he never thinks like , "I'm going attentive young swimmers, but with fe e l good about herself and be produc- to go and I'm going to set a world Allis on, it was different." tive at something," he said. record,' " he said. "We sit down and I A pattern had been established. "The greatestasset Allis on has is a say, 'I expect you to do this, this and this great set of supportive parents," Sid becauseyou've trained here, here and Still another pattern was develop- Burkott said. "If we had to write a book here.' •.'ng, too. Dave and Barbara Wagner on what we want from national caliber "He r responseis , 'Do you think I ins is te d their children participate in swimmers as fa r as parents, that is it-- can do that?' some kind of activity. Idle time means follow the Wagners." "I say, 'Yes, I do.' idle children. ~She says, 'OK. I will.' " That's one rule of the Wagner Burkott picked up on the patterns A world record? household. imme dia te ly. Now a coach at the OK. I will. Here's another: No meddling. University of Ma ryla nd-Ba ltimore "It s a trait that successfulpeople in "Allis on is good," Thornton said, County, he met Allis on when Dave any fa ce t of life have," Burkott said. "be ca us eher parentsallow her to be." Wagner was transferred back to the "Whe the r you're a la wye r or a doctor, Since she began swimming, particu- states. you have a vision, and I don't think la rly in recent years, her career has dic- They settled firs t in Baltimore, that's somethingyou teach somebody." tated the Wagners' life . When Dave where Allis on began swimming for Wagner retired from the military, the Burkott's club team and began to At the pool where McKe nna 's club fa mily le ft Baltimore and moved to emerge as one of the top swimmers in team trains in Kutztown is a sign--a Gainesviile--in part because of the the 11-12 age group in Ma ryla nd. poster-board,actually. On it are newspa- junior program there. "The re was always something spe- per clippings and pictures of Wagner, "The chemist~, was right with the cial about Allis on Wagner," Burkott said. tracing her career from novice to world fa mily, with the fa mily life ," McKe nna What seemed extraordinarily spe- champion. said. "The parentsmade sure of that. Their cial was this knack she had for her train- "S he doesn't know it exists," moves have been basedon coaching." ing. Not jus t hard work. Not jus t talent. McKe nna said. "S he 'd probably be Typical parents, right? Overbear- Lots of kids have talent. embarrassed." ing? Pressuring.You might figure their "You're talking about a taskmaster, McKe nna uses the poster as an daughter's career--particularly the and a young la dy who has a tremendous ins pira tion to his young swimmers, world records and Olympic dreams-- drive and will to succeed," Burkott said. many of whom are the age Allis on was were the most importa nt thing in their "S he wasn't the type of athlete that you when she began. At the bottom of the live s . You'd figure wrong. had to beg to come to practice." poster in la rge computer printout is a

SWIMMBG WORLDAND JUNIOIt SWIMMER FEBRUARY 1994 4 1 six-word slogan: "'S o, remember swimmers, anything is possible." HOW THEY TRAIN: A//iso z Wagner On Dec. 5, 1993, Wagner proved By Coach Ke vin Thornton, Florida Aqua tics Swim Team (FAST) that true. She had finis he d second in the 400 IM to Dai several days before, and though she set her firs t Ame rica n record, the voice Thornton heard at the other Allis on's group end of the telephonethat day was not a happy voice. swims 12 workouts per "'I think I was more focus e d in the I week during the school 200 IM because I concentratedon my year. The yardage is an own race," she said. "I think I wanted to win the gold more becauseI got the sil- importa nt part of the pro- ver in the 400." gram but the required Then, she called her coach and inte ns ity is never compro- wondered if it was OK. Don'tyou understand? It's not ~e'hatothers do. It's not how mised. Florida Aqua tics others are judge d. The)' don't know ~:'hat 1 has had, and continues to can do. My coach arm I kno~~ ~hat I can do. Allison Wagnerwith Coach Kevin Thonlton have, many great swim- "Tha t uniqueness can't get spoiled," Thornton said. "I think that mers who have set a very will allow her to continue to improve for high standard for workout maybe two or three more years. That .MORNING WORKO(?T purity, that unaffected way she is , that Long Course Me te rs pertbrmance. (Nov. 11, 1993) should allow for constantimprove me nt." It seems to be a big It is a fe w minutes before Wagner is 4x (4 x 50 free drill on :50 advantage for younger to come in for an inte rvie w. Thornton 4 x 50 back drill on :50 has spent the la s t half hour trying to 500 kick on 8:45, descend 1 through 4 swimmers to hear stories of 2x 100:50 back, 50 Free on 1:30) explain to the uninitiated what makes a such standouts as Tracv 16-year-old girl a world champion, what 3 x 1500 Cumberland Special on 21:20, descend 1-3 Caulkins, Tami Bruce, makes her care little about her competi- 500 free tors and everything about the task at 400 IM Allison did: Julia Gorman and Nicole hand. About training. About following 300 breast 1.20:12 Haislett. and the inte ns ity 200 back 2.19:28 ins tructions . 100 fly 3.18:47 with ~hich they trained in He shrugs. He hopes it has translat- order to achieve greatness. ed. He doubts it has. How could it? I 100 easy almost don't know how to say it, Our goal now is ~o try to because I have no reference for it," he 20 x 50 breast pull on 1:00 rise to that le ve l and con- said. TOTAL: 10,000 meters tinue the proud tradition of Not that there aren't expectations. Not that she doesn't strive to be better Florida Aqua tics . than the rest. Those are jus t part of the AFTERNOON WORKO['T Short Course Ya rds expectations. She remembers what (Nov. 18, 1993) Thornton told her before she le ft for Spain. 2x (5 x 100 drill on 1:30, 1 of each stroke, 1 IM "Right before I le ft, Ke vin yelled 16 x 25 kick on :25) out the door, "Come back with two 3x (300 intervals on 3:45 on 3:15 on 3:30 world records'--thatwas a goal, but my 200 by on 2:20 on 2:30 on 2:10 main goal for that meet was to get more 100 rounds on 1:05 on 1:10 on 1:15) inte rna tiona lexperience." She got a world record, not to men- 3,300 freestyle for time tion the experience.She smiles, and you Allison did 33:57 (the 1650s were 17:10/16:47) notice she still has braces. A world 2 x (6 x 50 breast drill on :55 record. Braces. She's 16, and the 1 x 150 breast on 2:15) future --World Championships, the Olympics, more world records--seemas TOTAL: 7,800 yards bright as her recent past. You think that's OK? •

42 SWIMMINGWORLD AND JUNIOR SWIMMER FEBRUARY 1994