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Home , Alex Lim, Anastasia Davydova, Brenton Rickard, Daichi Suzuki, Darren Mew, Davide Rummolo

IN – September-October 2003

CONTENTS Germantown Academy Aquatic Club 1969-2002 (Dick Shoulberg)...... 90

Barcelona – 2003 Swimming World Training – SPEED RACER (Teri Championships ...... 1 McKeever & Michael J. Stott) ...... 92 2003 World Georgia Swimming Middle Distance Program – Championships ...... 8 with a spotlight on ...... 96 An Armchair View of the World ASCTA, PO Box 824, Lavington Championships (Otto Sonnleitner) ...... 10 Mailing Address NSW 2641 Highlights of Swimming at Australian Deaf Email [email protected] Games...... 12 Web Site www.ascta.com Swimming in the Fastlane with a Disability Membership Phone: 02 6041 6077 (Paul Gockel)...... 14 Enquiries Fax: 02 6041 4282 Letters to the Editor ...... 14 ASCTA Insurance 1300 300 511 Hidden Factors in (Cecil Brokers Colwin)...... 15 Sports Medicine – Pool Temperatures (Jessica SWIMMING in AUSTRALIA is published six times annually. Seaton & James Acker) ...... 21 Copy Deadline Lane Rage – Keeping Peace in the Pool (Nan January-February 15th January March-April 15th March Kappeler)...... 24 th WSCA Newsletter...... 26 May-June 15 May July-August 15th July North Baltimore Aquatic Club: The Secret to September-October 15th September Success (Jeff Grace) ...... 26 th November-December 15 November 2002 State of the Sport Report ...... 30

My times aren’t improving as fast as I want – what Advertising Rates (inc. GST) should I do? (Jennifer Gibson)...... 37 The ULTIMATE Running Machine (Andrew Tilin)... 38 1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues A Report from the Play the Game Conference in $ $ $ (John Leonard)...... 44 Full Page 600 1,300 1,850 Let’s talk about Recruiting (John Leonard) ...... 48 ¾ Page 500 1,100 1,500 Sweetenham revolution targets Medals & Minds ½ Page 300 750 1,200 (Sue Mott) ...... 51 ¼ Page 200 500 900 Professionalising the Coaching of Swimming (John Banner 4cm x 1col 55 Leonard)...... 54 Playing Favourites (John Leonard) ...... 55 NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS What do Coaches really do for Athletes? (Jamie Drobny) ...... 55 All copy is subject to acceptance by the publisher. All Seasonal Training Design (Genadijus Sokolovas)56 advertisers must ensure that their advertisements A Desk Jockey’s Guide to Swimming Ocean comply strictly with the requirements of all Federal Races (Sherry Oshiver)...... 58 Legislation. The publisher reserves the right to reject Maggie Bowen 200 IM Progression & Training .60 copy without giving any reason or explanation. Education & Development Report (Wayne Lomas) ...... 61 COPYRIGHT ISSUE FROM THE PUBLISHER Policyholders the victims of Capital Shortfall (Jason Clout & Lisa Murray)...... 63 As more and more articles with invaluable technical LEARN TO SWIM...... 65 and research data have and will be published The WHY & HOW children learn at the Geelong through our Magazine for our Members to read and Aquatic Centre (Debbie Gill) ...... 65 use, it is timely to mention Copyright infringements. Teacher Training (Richard Cahalan)...... 69 Teaching Under 5’s to Swim (Lisa Milford)...... 71 The ASCTA Magazine (SWIMMING in AUSTRALIA) FINA Aquatics World ...... 76 Publisher strongly advises all concerned that any THE BEST PERFORMANCES – A review of the 2003 attempts to reprint articles or excerpts from contents National Championships in the five continents is prohibited without the written permission of the (Camillo Cametti) ...... 76 publisher and author. Any infringements of copyright New World Records (25m)...... 80 will be dealt with accordingly. The Power of Elegance – the Russian team is unbeaten since the 1998 FINA World Championships...... 80 Views expressed in articles are those of the A Pedagogue in Papua New Guinea (Jean-Louis authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Meuret)...... 82 the Editor or the Board of ASCTA. Croc scare in Cairns (Mark Davies) ...... 83 Portrait of a Grand Master (Tito Morales) ...... 86

SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA – September-October 2003

the 400m Freestyle. She then backed up to take her place in the Australian Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Team with Libby Lenton, and which qualified fastest. barcelona03 Defending champions Australia scraped into X FINA World Championships the Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Final by the skin of their teeth, qualifying eighth with 2001 silver Downloaded from Australian Swimming Website medallists from 2001, and fourth placegetters both shock eliminations. THORPE & HACKETT TO LEAD AUSSIE and set up the CHARGE th anticipated gold medal showdown by qualifying 20 July in 1st and 2nd spot for tonight’s final of the 400m The stage is set for a block busting start to Freestyle with effortless wins in the heats this the X FINA World Swimming Championships morning. Thorpe, looking as relaxed and with Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett comfortable in the water as ever, was the fastest spearheading 12 Telstra Dolphins into qualifier, clocking 3.47.44, to be almost a full individual events on the opening day at the second in front of Hackett, whose time of Palau Sant Jordi. 3.48.35 puts the pair side-by-side in the final. Defending champion Thorpe will attempt to Both swimmers swam well within themselves, become the first swimmer in world and seven seconds inside Thorpe’s world record, championship history to win three consecutive with the knowledge that they have very busy titles in the one event when he lines up against programs over the next eight days. Hackett in the 400m Freestyle. “I went into the race just trying to control Thorpe, the world record holder and Olympic things and get through to the final,” Thorpe said. champion, has defeated Hackett in the last two “I was delighted with my even splits and look World Championships in in 1998 and forward to the final.” Fukuoka in 2001. Alice Mills also looked strong in qualifying 5th Australians have won 24 individual world fastest for the semi finals of the 200m championships in the pool since the original Individual Medley, which will be contested “Superfish” Steve Holland won our maiden title tonight. Mills clocked 2.15.37 to comfortably in Belgrade in 1973. advance while compatriot missed Other Australians in action on Day 1 will be the semi finals. and Libby Lenton in the showed he is ready to defend 100m Butterfly; Elka Graham and Linda his 50m Butterfly world title by qualifying 2nd MacKenzie in the 400m Freestyle; Geoff Huegill fastest for tonight’s semi finals with and Matt Welsh in the 50m Butterfly, Leisel also looking strong in progressing in 12th place. Jones and Alice Mills in the 200m Individual Up and coming Butterflyer Jessicah Schipper Medley; and in made a solid start to her international career, the 100m as well as the men’s and by stopping the clock at 59.90 to go through the women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay. tonight’s semi finals of the 100m Butterfly in RICKARD’S AUSTRALIAN RECORD IN 11th place. BREASTSTROKE HEATS th THORPE RE WRITES HISTORY WITH 400 20 July FREESTYLE TREBLE rookie, Brenton Rickard, today 21st July broke ’ long-standing Australian It was a mixed day of results on Day 1 of the record in the heats of the 100m Breaststroke on X FINA World Swimming Championships Day 1 of the X FINA World Swimming highlighted by the performance of 20- Championships in Barcelona. year-old, Ian Thorpe who today added yet Rickard, an 18-year-old Monash University another accolade to his growing list of student, clocked a time of 1:01.37, to qualify achievements, becoming the first swimmer in fifth into tonight’s semi finals. His time took the history of the sport to record three 0.19 secs off Rogers’ Australian record of consecutive world championship victories in the 1.02.59, set at the 1993 Pan Pacs in Kobe, one event, the 400m Freestyle. . Five years ago it was a fresh-faced teenager In other highlights from the first session, by the name of Thorpe who won the hearts of a Elka Graham produced one of the gutsiest nation when he powered home in the final lap of swims of her career to swim a personal best the 1998 World Championships in Perth to time of 4.10.58, to qualify fifth into the final of record his first major international victory and

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begin an unforgettable change to world THORPE, JONES & WELSH WHEEL OUT swimming. Today at the Palau Sant Jordi THE BIG GUNS complex in Barcelona Thorpe continued his 21st July unbeaten dominance in the event that has Australia’s big guns, Ian Thorpe, Leisel Jones dated back to that memorable victory and again and Matt Welsh, stepped up to the plate in an it was his team mate and arch rival, Grant exciting heat session for the Telstra Dolphins on Hackett who pushed him all the way. Day 2 of the X FINA World Championships in The time didn’t seem to matter in this race of Barcelona this morning. tactics that will go down in history as a Jones bounced back from her Day 1 memorable and classy 400m Freestyle disappointment in the 200m IM to register the performance by Thorpe who dictated the pace fastest heat swim in the 100m Breaststroke, from the front and came home with a surging stopping the clock at 1.07.75 with teammate finish to grab the first gold of the going through in 3rd place after championships in a quality time of 3:42.58. clocking a personal best time of 1.08.48. The Australian teammate, Grant Hackett grabbed pair will lead the Aussie charge in tonight’s semi the second placing in a time of 3:45.17 finals with Jones the early favourite to snare admitting after the race that he did not feel at her first World Championship. his best but still raced strongly to relegate Next up was Thorpe and Grant Hackett, who outsider, Dragos Coman of Romania to bronze progressed with a minimum of fuss to the semi in 3:46.87. finals of the 200m Freestyle. Thorpe, fresh from The Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay was his record-breaking victory in the 400m not going to be an easy task for Australia with Freestyle last night, was the second fastest both Elka Graham and Alice Mills backing up qualifier with a time of 1.47.99, just behind his from previous races in the evening with the rival Pieter Van den Hoogenband, who three super powers of the sport the United registered a 1.47.21 in winning his semi final. States, and Australia fighting it out in Hackett eased his way through the heat front with America taking gold in 3:38.09 swim in 1.49.66 to go into tonight’s semi finals marginally ahead of Germany (3:38.83) and a in 6th place but the real battle will take place fast finishing Aussie young guns who put in a tomorrow night when the trio clash in the most valiant performance to take bronze in the event eagerly anticipated final of the Championships. in 3:38.83 with solid swims also by Lisbeth Forget about Thorpe v Phelps – it is the Lenton and Jodie Henry. Thorpe v Van den Hoogenband clash in the It was Australian, Geoff Huegill who looked 200m Freestyle which is causing the most stir sharp in the first Men’s 50m Butterfly Semi in Barcelona. Final with a classy performance of 23.61 to take Defending 100m World out the first preliminary ahead of German Champion Matt Welsh was arguably the most (23.75) and Great Britain’s, impressive this morning. He clocked 54.79 – his (23.76). fastest ever heat swim – to easily qualify in The 200m Individual Medley Semi Finals number one position for the semi finals. witnessed China’s Yafei Zhou (2:13.79) and Remarkably one of Welsh’s main threats, USA’s Hannah Scherba (2:14.17) set the pace in the , was disqualified for travelling too first qualifier but as seen previously the second far underwater. semi final was to be a touch faster with Olympic Australia’s other competitor in the 100m Champion, (2:13.63) looking Backstroke, , missed a place in the dominant before a fiery performance by semi finals after finishing 19th in 55.81 after Australian, Alice Mills, swam an amazing suffering breathing problems in the stifling Australian record of 2:13.69 in the race to Barcelona weather. nearly upset the Ukrainian favourite and will SKIPPY & ALICE LINE UP FOR now start in the final with a big shot at a TONIGHT’S FINALS st podium placing and if her improvement 21 July continues it could well be gold. American and Germany’s Brenton Rickard who set a new Australian Thomas Rupprath stand between Geoff Huegill record in the heats of 1:01.37 breaking the 10- and a successful defence of his 50m Butterfly year mark formerly held by Phil Rogers failed to title at the X FINA World Swimming repeat his performance in the semi finals to Championships on night two at the Palau Sant clock a respectable 1:01.77 to marginally miss Jordi tonight. the final. And while the experienced Huegill will be going into battle early on, Dolphins rookie Alice Mills will line up in her first individual final,

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after winning bronze in the 4x100m Freestyle Matt Welsh swam the race of his life from lane Relay last night. Mills, just 17, is the second eight to not only take the gold but strip 0.01 off fastest qualifier for the 200 IM after her brilliant teammate, Huegill’s world record to clock an Australian record breaking swim of 2:13.69 in amazing 23.43. last night’s semi-finals. The victory for the Backstroke specialist, who Huegill is the second fastest qualifier for the started his career as a late-blooming Butterflyer final behind Crocker, with Rupprath third and under coach Ian Pope, recorded his second win fellow Australian Matt Welsh also in tonight’s from the outside lanes in as many World final in lane eight. The 21-year-old Huegill won Championships after taking gold in 2001 in the his title in Fukuoka last year but will find the 100m Backstroke. The American, Crocker going tougher when he tries to defend his finished second in 23.62 with Russian Evgueni crown. Korachachinny rounding out the podium “It is going to be a tough final, that’s for sure, placing’s while Australian, Geoff Huegill (23.76) but if I do everything right, then I should not be finished fourth. too far away,” said Huegill. “I can’t afford to As the spectators and swimming enthusiasts make any mistakes because it is a quality field alike recovered from an almost surreal-like … one false move and someone will be there, performance by Welsh, the daydream act ready to pounce.” continued in the 100m Breaststroke Semi Mills will be placed right alongside Olympic Finals as Brisbane’s 17-year-old, Leisel Jones champion Yana Klochkova, with defending sliced 0.15 of a second off the World mark champion Maggie Bowen in lane eight. The previously held by South African, Penny Heyns, Shannon Rollason “pocket rocket” from to stop the clock gob smacked in disbelief, as Chandler, regarded as the hardest working the scoreboard read 1:06.37. swimmer on the Australian women’s team, It will a tough 24 hours for Jones who will could well be the surprise packet of the second have to refocus for her final tomorrow where night. she will come up against American, Amanda WELSH & JONES STRIKE WORLD Beard who took out the first preliminary in RECORD GLORY 1:07.57 along with a chasing pack that 22nd July includes, defending champion, China’s Xuejuan Team work is an amazing motivator and in Luo (1:07.76), German Sarah Poewe (1:07.88) what can only be described as an incredible and fellow Australian teammate, Brooke night in the pool on Day 2 for Australia Hanson (1:08.25). commenced in lucky lane eight when Melbourne Queensland continued to taste success when 26-year-old, Matt Welsh caused the biggest Alice Mills swum a gutsy performance in the upset of the championships when he took gold 200m Individual Medley to take silver. The in the final of the 50m Butterfly in a new world emotional 17-year-old Rochdale High School record time of 23.43. student was powered with passion after coming Not to be outdone, Leisel Jones who watched from seventh place at the final turn with a with excitement in the marshalling area as her devastating Freestyle leg to snare her first ever teammate grabbed the amazing victory came individual international podium placing in a out in her 100m Breaststroke Semi Final and time of 2:12.75, smashing the previous decided to set a world record of her own Commonwealth record held by Canadian, stripping 0.15 off the previous mark to stop the by 0.69 of a second. clock in a whirlwind time of 1:06.37. The Men’s 200m Freestyle Final is shaping It was a fairy tale five-minute period of up as one of the biggest showdowns of these swimming that will be long remembered but the Championships between Olympic title holder, evening was far from over for the Aussies as Pieter van den Hoogenband and defending Brisbane ‘Pocket Rocket’, Alice Mills continued World Champion, Ian Thorpe after both posted to amaze as she stormed home in the final of comfortable qualifiers in today’s semi finals. the 200m Individual Medley to take silver Thorpe had to contend with the bolting behind Olympic champion, Yana Klochkova and Slovakian in lane eight, Peter Mankoc in his set a new Commonwealth record in the process semi final who sprinted out in the first 150 of 2:12.75. metres before the ‘Thorpedo’ reeled him in with In detail, the final of the Men’s 50 metre a moderate final lap to post a time of 1:47.20 Butterfly was firmly focused on the dual with Mankoc second in 1:48.92. But it seems between the centre lanes between Australian, that the Dutch danger man, Pieter van den Geoff Huegill and American, Ian Crocker but Hoogenband has been lapping up his quiet what resulted will surely go down as one of the preparation and looks to be the one to beat after greatest upsets in world swimming history as his semi final.

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Overshadowed by the media hype hard in the first 50 metres but it wasn’t long surrounding Thorpe and American teenage star, before the quality came to the front as the who will clash later in the week, Dutchman, van den Hoogenband led Thorpe Hoogenband played with the field in his through the half way mark by 0.12 of a second. qualifier staying under world record pace for the What resulted in the second half of the race was first 100 metres before turning off the a powerhouse swim by Thorpe who blasted a afterburner to still qualify fastest for tomorrow’s shell-shocked van den Hoogenband out of the final in 1:46.32. Australian, Grant Hackett water in the third lap and brought in his swam a clever 1:47.72 to finish second behind signature final lap afterburner to defend his the Netherlands star, with the Aussie not world championship taking the win in a time of pushing himself too hard. 1:45.14. Another Australian showdown tomorrow will In the wash-up of the event it was an almost be in the 100m Backstroke Final where disappointing display by van den Hoogenband American, will look to snatch the (1:46.43) who really struggled in the final 25 world championship title from the inform Matt metres to only just touch out fast-finishing Welsh. In semi final action today, Peirsol looked Australian, Grant Hackett who grabbed a well- strong and in control with a comfortable deserved bronze in 1:46.85. championship record win in a time of 54.28 All eyes were on Australian 17-year-old, ahead of a backing up, Matt Welsh who ran Leisel Jones in the final of the Women’s 100m from his medal ceremony to the marshalling Breaststroke after setting a new world record in area to place equal second in the qualifier with the semi finals yesterday. But it was to be the an amazing swim by defending champion from China, Xuejuan Luo finalist, of Malaysia in lane eight with who stepped up to cause the upset of the day in both touching in 54.77. a time of 1:06.80 while American, Amanda AUSTRALIAN RECORD TO RICKARD IN Beard relegated Jones to bronze with a strong 50M BREASTSTROKE touch on the wall in a time of 1:07.42. 22nd July Jones rounded out the podium placings in Brenton Rickard continued the Australian 1:07.47, with her consistent Australian Swimming Team’s record run at the third day’s teammate Brooke Hanson a strong sixth in her heat session, breaking the Australian record in first major 100m Breaststroke Final. the 50m Breaststroke. Rickard clocked a time of The Men’s 100m Backstroke became the 28.13 to qualify in seventh position for tonight’s second major dual in the Barcelona pool today semi-finals and takes 0.13 off Mark Riley´s between favoured American, Aaron Peirsol and National record set in Sydney in March. defending champion Australian, Matt Welsh. It is the second Australian record to the Welsh was out off the blocks with a near-perfect Melbourne-based Queenslander, who’s mum first lap to be just ahead of Peirsol but the and dad, Mark and Collette, were cheering from American came home the stronger to snatch the the grandstand. victory in the closing stages and record the Rickard established a new National mark of second fastest time in history of 53.61 to be just 1.01.37 in the 100m Breaststroke heats, 0.01 outside the world record held by Lenny lowering Phil Rogers long-standing mark, set in Krayzelburg with Australian Matt Welsh 1993. finishing equal second in 53.92 with the Australia’s second competitor, set Russian, Vyatchanan. a new PB of 28.61, a strong sign for his 200m Australia was also in fine touch courtesy of a Breaststroke later in the week. great swim in the first 200m Butterfly Semi THORPE TOO GOOD FOR HOOGIE IN Final by 17-year-old Perth teenager, Travis FREESTYLE SHOWDOWN Nederpelt who clocked a huge personal best rd 23 July time of 1:57.28 to qualify for the final along with One of the most highly anticipated clashes of teammate, Justin Norris who recorded a solid the World Championships was always going to 1:57.31. be the men’s 200m Freestyle Final. Two of world It was Australian, Elka Graham who showed sport’s great rivals and friends, 2000 Olympic a level head in her 200m Freestyle Semi Final to Champion, Pieter van den Hoogenband of the come home strongly over the top of a host of Netherlands went head-to-head with Australia’s challengers and take out the first preliminary in own world record holder and defending a time of 1:59.37 after nothing separated the champion, Ian Thorpe. leaders with Solene Figues of taking The race had plenty of tension in the build second in 1:59.38 with China’s, Yu Yang third up but when they hit the water it was in 1:59.51. Slovakian, Peter Mankoc who led the race out

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AUSSIES PREPARE FOR 4x200M showed great composure to ambush his US FREESTYLE RELAY DEFENCE rival, Aaron Peirsol in the same fashion over the 23rd July latter stages of the race. Sprenger (1.48.28) sent Australia has qualified in lane five for World Champion and world record holder Ian tonight’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final as it Thorpe in with a slender lead, as the Aussies hit strives to defend its title at the X FINA World the lead for the first time. Swimming Championships in Barcelona. The Thorpe produced the second fastest relay Australian team of Antony Matkovich, Nicholas split in history (1.44.41) to comfortably dispose Sprenger, and of for a memorable Australian gold stopped the clock at 7.17.68 in this morning’s medal ahead of the with Germany heats to be second behind the USA going into finishing a surprising third. the final. The Aussies will be boosted by the HOOGIE, POPOV, THORPE LINE UP IN inclusion of 200m Freestyle world champion Ian 100M FREESTYLE Thorpe and bronze medallist Grant Hackett 24th July with the line up to be announced at a team The Men’s 100m Freestyle Final is shaping meeting this afternoon. Australia has had a up to be great three-way battle after current stranglehold over the event since 1998 and will Commonwealth and Pan Pacific champion, Ian be shooting for three straight world titles at the Thorpe set a new best in his semi of 48.71, Palau Saint Jordi Pool tonight. slicing 0.02 of a second off his previous fastest Other finals tonight will see Australian Elka mark, to swoop in over American, Graham shoot for gold in the 200m Freestyle. (48.78) with South African The 21-year-old will start the final in lane five (49.29) also impressive. An off-colour, Ashley with good friend, USA’s starting Callus (49.56) was unlucky to miss the final by the race as favourite. just 0.02. Travis Nederpelt and Justin Norris will also The battle will be on for the Women’s 200m be lining up in for the world title when they Butterfly Final after some interesting racing in contest the final of the 200m Butterfly. the semi finals today. Eva Risztov of Semi final action tonight will see Ian Thorpe was impressive stopping the clock in 2:08.88 and dive into the pool in the ahead of Italian, Francesca Segat (2:10.72) and 100m Freestyle, in the 50m a good showing by Australian, Backstroke, Jim Piper in the 200m Breaststroke (2:10.99) witnessed her make the final with as well as Felicity Galvez and Jessicah Schipper Brisbane’s, Jessicah Schipper just missing out in the 200m Butterfly. to take fifth place. AUSSIE YOUNG GUNS RALLY IN 4x200M SILVER LINING, COMMONWEALTH RELAY VICTORY RECORD FOR RELAY GIRLS 24th July 25th July Australia came into the 4x200m Freestyle In a highly anticipated event it was if the Relay Final under plenty of pressure after being Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay was over undefeated in the event on a world scene for five before it started as a pumped-up lead-off swim years, dating back to their debut victory at the by, American, Lindsay Benko sank the field in a 1998 World Championships in Perth. It was devastating performance to clock the fifth always going to be a tough task for Australia fastest time in the history and a time that would and it was soon made even harder in the of won her the individual event by over a opening leg by renowned American Butterfly second. It was to be the telling factor in the race specialist, Michael Phelps. in which the Americans ran out convincing The 18-year-old swam past Australia’s Grant winners in an exceptional time of 7:55.70, only Hackett, 1.47.19 to clock an incredible 4th marginally outside the longest standing world fastest time in history and a US record with a record in the women’s program held by East phenomenal performance to give the United Germany. States a slender ascendancy. The USA extended The Australian team of, Elka Graham, Linda in the second leg courtesy of who Mackenzie, Kirsten Thompson and Alice Mills looked to have opened up a three body length all swam superbly to set Australia up for the lead before an awesome back half swim by 23- silver medal in a new Commonwealth record year-old birthday boy, Craig Stevens. The time of 7:58.42 with China taking bronze in “Cronulla shark” blasted Dusing out of the pool 7:58.53. in the final 50 metres to cut the margin to a Spectators and swimmers alike were at a fingernail, with a time of 1.48.70. standstill as the Palau Sant Jordi witnessed The third leg belonged to Australian Relay Australian, Ian Thorpe face his toughest test of rookie, Brisbane’s , who the Championships in the 100m Freestyle

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against current Olympic Champion and World After a strong start Hackett built his race record holder, Pieter van den Hoogenband and constantly flirting under the World record splits two-time Olympic champion, Alexander Popov. before fading a touch over the final stages to At the half way mark it was as predicted with take a solid victory in a time of 7:43.82, the the Russian veteran, Popov leading American fourth fastest time in history. American teenage sprinter Jason Lezak and van den Hoogenband, up and comer, set a new US with Ian Thorpe eighth at the turn, but it was record, coming home strongly to clock a time of what happened next that amazed onlookers. 7:48.09 while Ukraine’s Igor Chervynsky A stunned Hoogenband touched for silver in (7:53.15) took the bronze. 48.68 while the ‘Thorpedo’ continued to amaze Phelps was back in the pool in the final event with a massive comeback over the second lap to of the night that was always going to be one of take bronze and his first major podium placing the most anticipated finals of the in this event on a world stage in 48.77. Jason championships, the Men’s 200m Individual Lezak faded to fourth in 48.94. Medley Final where the American world record It wasn’t long before Thorpe was in the pool holder came up against, Olympic champion, again in his newly adopted event the 200m Italian Massimilliano Rosolino, Trinidad and Individual Medley Semi Final where he raced Tobago’s outsider, and Australia’s from an uncharacteristic position lane eight. own, Ian Thorpe. But it was always going to be a tall order for the Men-s 200m Individual Medley Final – 20-year-old Australian in the preliminary, Phelps and Thorpe led out in the Butterfly leg where he came up against the world’s fastest before the American 18-year-old went into rising sporting star in 18-year-old, Michael overdrive blitzing away from the field in a Phelps and in the first showdown between the devastating Backstroke leg before continuing to pair it was the American who continued to extend his lead into the Breaststroke to have amaze onlookers with yet another astonishing what seemed an unimaginable margin on the swim, breaking his own world record in the field over the short distance, eventually tearing event to clock a time of 1:57.52. the field apart to demolish his own world record It was all good news for Australian women in by over one and a half seconds to clock an the 100m Freestyle after the semi finals with astonishing 1:56.04 for his second world mark both Lisbeth Lenton (54.92) and Jodie Henry of the evening. (54.78) both qualifying comfortably after Australian, Ian Thorpe swam a well over finishing second in their respective qualifiers. shadowed but brilliant fifth fastest time in Men’s 200m Backstroke Semi Finals history to take silver in a new Commonwealth witnessed Australian Matt Welsh face a tough record in a time of 1:59.66 – the first time he qualifying encounter with Croatian, Gordan has broken the two-minute barrier – with Kozulj setting a massive personal best in Olympic gold medallist Italian, Massi Rosolino 1:57.94 ahead of American, grabbing third in 1:59.71. (1:58.04) with the Australian champion Matt HENRY & JONES ADD AUSSIE SILVER Welsh third in 1:58.34. SUCCESS The Women’s 200m Breaststroke Semi Final 26th July was almost two races for Australian, Leisel The women’s 100m Freestyle Final was a Jones who flew out in the first 100m under high quality field as Australia looked to win world record pace before fading in the third lap their first ever medal at a World Championship to give American, the lead before in this event with Brisbane teenagers, Jodie Jones fought back again on the final lap to close Henry and Lisbeth Lenton with big hopes. the gap but it was Beard in 2:25.54 ahead of At the half way mark it was Finland’s, Hanna Jones in 2:26.56. Maria Seppala who led from Australian, Lisbeth HACKETT GRABS GOLD AS PHELPS Lenton but into the second lap it was Jodie PHENOMENAL Henry who was the big mover coming from 26th July seventh at the turn to power into a duel with In the absence of defending champion and Seppala for the gold over the final stages with world record holder, Ian Thorpe for the 800m the favourite just touching out Henry to become Freestyle, all eyes were firmly on Australian the first female from Finland ever to take gold at Olympic 1500m Freestyle champion, 23-year- a World Championships in 54.37. Henry took a old Gold Coaster, Grant Hackett who as fingernail silver in 54.39 with American, Jenny predicted would race the clock in a bid to break Thompson the bronze. Thorpe’s world record strangle hold on the event It was an incredible final in the Women’s set at the last World Championships in 200m Breaststroke with Australian, Leisel Fukuoka 2001. Jones sprinting out in the event to be well

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under the world record split at the half way HACKETT GRABS THIRD CONSECUTIVE mark. But it was to be looming American, 1500M TITLE Amanda Beard who seemed to time her run to 28th July perfection, powering over the top of a fading The eighth and final day of competition Jones to take the gold in an equalling world started horridly for Australia with the Men’s record time of 2:22.99. Jones held on for silver 4x100m Medley Relay Team failing to qualify for in a new Australian record time of 2:24.33 with today’s final after being disqualified in the China’s now equal world record holder, Hui Qi heats, but … forget the negatives … it was a taking bronze. sensational Australian outfit that fought back HANSON’S AUSTRALIAN RECORD IN 50M with some magnificent finals performances in BREASTSTROKE the pool highlighted by Grant Hackett’s gold in 26th July the 1500m Freestyle. Nunawading’s Brooke Hanson today Hackett grabbed a record third consecutive smashed the Australian record in the heats of title in the event while Matt Welsh and Brooke the 50m Breaststroke, clocking a time of 31.24 Hanson grabbed respective silver medals in the seconds to advance to the World 50m Backstroke and Breaststroke program and Championships semi-finals in Barcelona. Brisbane teenagers, Alice Mills and Lisbeth Hanson, 25, took 0.16 off Leisel Jones’ National Lenton rounded out the attack with silver and mark, established when she broke the 100m bronze in the 50m Freestyle event. world record earlier in the Championships. It was a record third consecutive 1500m BRONZED AUSSIES IN WOMEN’S Freestyle for the 23-year-old Hackett who MEDLEY RELAY continued his amazing unbeaten run in the 27th July event that dates back almost seven years, In what will be remembered as one of the dictating the pace from the front to swim the most evenly spread Relay Finals on record, the fourth fastest time in history in a time of four super powers of world swimming went 14:43.14. Ukraine’s, Chervynskyi grabbed silver head to head with Australia, led out well by in 15:01.04 with of the United States Giaan Rooney with a personal best 1.01.75 in taking bronze. the Backstroke. The finals program kick-started with a blast Redcliffe Leagues pair, Leisel Jones and in the Men’s 50m Backstroke where German Jessicah Schipper swam stunning Breaststroke pocket-rocket Thomas Rupprath, set a new and Butterfly legs to have the Aussies in fourth world record of 24.80, stripping 0.20 off the place going into the final Freestyle anchor previous mark held by, American Lenny before a memorable performance by Freestyler, Krazelburg. Australia’s own, Matt Welsh swam a Jodie Henry. The individual 100m silver sensational silver in a new Commonwealth medallist touched out Germany to take the hard record time of 25.01, the third fastest time in fought third placing in 4:01.37. history with South African, Gerhard Zandberg The Women’s 50m Breaststroke is shaping taking bronze in 25.07. Australian, Josh up as a good medal chance for Australia with Watson was also a finalist. both Brooke Hanson and Leisel Jones qualifying Silver continued to shine on pool deck for tomorrow night’s final with Hanson clocking courtesy of sprint Breaststroke specialist her second Australian record of the day in the Brooke Hanson who, after breaking the event to be the second fastest qualifier in a time Australian record twice earlier in the meet, of 31.11, making her the fourth fastest woman delivered a great final performance of 31.13 to in history. China’s, Xuejuan Luo is a clear take her maiden World Championships medal favourite after registering a new championship behind China’s, Xuejuan Luo (30.67) with record of 30.64 with Jones third quickest in Commonwealth champion, Zoe Baker (31.37) 31.23, with Great Britain’s world record holder rounding out the podium placegetters with Zoe Baker hovering in fourth. Australia’s Leisel Jones also a finalist. In other semi final events today both Josh The Women’s 50m Freestyle was a sleeping Watson and Matt Welsh will be in with medal giant for Australia after never medalling in the hopes in the 50m Backstroke after both event at Olympic or World Championship level qualified for the final as too with our Freestyle but the performances of Brisbane teenagers, sprinting hopes of Alice Mills and Lisbeth Alice Mills (25.07) and Lisbeth Lenton (25.08), Lenton in the 50m event in which Lenton who destroyed that statistic, as they swum (25.08) is second fastest qualifier behind Dutch brilliantly to take silver and bronze respectively Superstar, (24.75) and Mills is in the event behind the Olympic and world not far off the pace fourth fastest in a personal champion Inge de Bruijn (24.47). best of 25.14.

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With the confidence gained from the improved results in the 5km races, the Aussies are keen to take a further step and get a place on the medal dais. “We have been happy with the way things are going coming into the 10km races,” Dempsey said. “The guys swam well in the 5km race and that augers well for the 10km event. The barcelona03 confidence is high at the moment.” X FINA World Championships 17th July 2003 SALIBA & HUTCHINSON JUST MISS Downloaded from Australian Swimming Web Site MEDALS IN 10km

15th July 2003 AUSSIES BUOYED BY THIRD PLACE IN 5km TEAMS EVENT

Mark Saliba at the Men’s 25k Open Water event. Photo by Sport the Library/Jeff Crow Australian open water pair Mark Saliba and Trudee Hutchinson came within a whisker of claiming medals in the 10km race, both Josh Santacaterina and Grant Cleland during finishing 6th, at the Xth FINA World Swimming the 5km Open Water swim at the World Championships in Barcelona today. Swimming Championships in Barcelona In the Men’s 10km race, Saliba and fellow The Australian Open Water Swimming Team Sydneysider Grant Cleland led the field from the has been buoyed by news that they finished 6km-9km mark but were swamped by the third in the teams event in the 5km race at the chasing pack in the final 800m of the race. Xth FINA World Swimming Championships in Saliba’s 5th placing in a time of 1 hour 51 Barcelona on Sunday. minutes 12 seconds was just 14 seconds behind Josh Santacaterina, Grant Cleland, Trudee the winner, Russian Vladimir Diattchine, while Hutchinson and Chloe Abbott placed third Cleland finished a further 28 seconds back in behind the powerful Russian team (1st) and the 15th place. Italians (2nd), who have dominated world open It was a tremendous effort from the Aussie water swimming in recent years. pair, who made a pre-race pact to take it to the While there are no minor medals handed out powerful European competitors in the second for the teams sections, the result has given the half of the race, but their gallant effort fell just Telstra Dolphins a lift leading into tomorrow’s short of a place on the podium. 10km event. Saliba, who still has his preferred 25km race “The whole team has received a bit of a lift to come on Saturday, was happy with his finish, with the news that we finished 3rd in the 5km stating that he had given his all. teams event,” said Australian Open Water head “I felt good in the race and Grant and I coach John Dempsey. followed our race plan to perfection,” he said. “It is a shame that there is no medal but the “We didn’t want to let the other guys dominate kids know that they are now right up there with the race so we took it out hard after the halfway the best open water nations in the world and mark but they kept on our tails and then at the that is a big boost.” end they just had too much speed. I’m happy Backing up in the 10km race will be Cleland, with the 5th placing in the 10km race because it Hutchinson and Abbott and they will be joined means my 25km race is looking good.” by Mark Saliba, who will be plunging into the The Women’s race saw an equally close finish waters off Barcelona for the first time. with Hutchinson finishing in identical circumstances to Saliba, in 6th place, just 14

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seconds behind the winner, ’s Viola Valli, that he can close the gap on the leading while fellow Australian Chloe Abbott finished swimmers. 18th. “The signs are very good with Mark,” he said. Hutchinson’s effort was tremendous as she “He has been training well with his coach back battled constantly to stay in touch with the home, Alan Thompson, he has done the work leading pack and managed to hang on to the and he looked comfortable in the 10km race, tails of the leaders until the final 500m when which is not his favoured event. she dropped back to 6th place. “If the 10km race is any indication then “I’m happy with 6th,” Hutchinson said. “I was things are set up well for a good swim.” hoping for a higher finish but to finish 6th at the Saliba will be joined in the Men’s 25km event World Championships is great because I know by World Championships rookie Brendan that I couldn’t have done anything else. Capell, who at 18 years of age represents the “The race was hard the whole way. I was new breed of Australia’s open water swimmers. always fighting to stay with the leading pack Strong and willing to learn, Capell has because I knew I couldn’t lose touch. I knew impressed with his desire and maturity in the that if I fell back at all then I would have been lead up to the 25km race, which is his first and swimming on my own and it is very hard to get only race at the World Championships. back.” “Brendan has done everything right since we Hutchinson’s coach, John Dempsey was came into camp,” Towle said. “Mentally he has glowing in his praise. “I am so proud of her,” he been spot on and he has a great attitude said. “She gave it everything and gave herself a towards his swimming and learning about how chance to win. She has the ability to be up to handle himself at this level. This will be a there with the best girls and we just have to great learning experience for him.” come up with the race plans to compete at the The Women’s 25km event also gets underway next level. We have something to work on for tomorrow morning (Saturday) with an identical next time but it is good to know that she has feel about the Australian competitors as there is the ability to take the next step.” in the men’s race. 19th July 2003 Shelley Clark will lead the charge and is in a AUSSIES LOOKING TO GO THE similar mode to Saliba, striving for a place on DISTANCE IN BARCELONA the podium. The 21-year-old finished 9th in the 25km event in Fukuoka and will be looking to improve on that performance. Clark will also be joined by a World Championship rookie in 20-year-old Melissa Benson. Benson finished 2nd in the 25km race at the 2003 Australian Championships and, like Capell, will benefit greatly from her debut experience at international level. 20th July 2003 CAPELL SWIMS INTO SPOTLIGHT IN BARCELONA

Australian Open Water Swim Team at the World Swimming Championships in Barcelona Australia’s most experienced open water swimmer, Mark Saliba, dives into the water tomorrow morning for the 25km race at the Xth FINA World Swimming Championships in Barcelona primed for a shot at winning a medal, according to Australian Open Water coach Greg Towle. Saliba, who finished a gallant 6th in his least favoured 10km event on Wednesday, is competing at his 5th World Championships and Brendan Capell (AUS) during the 25km Open all signs point to an improvement on his best Water swim at the World Swimming finish at the World Championships. Championships in Barcelona That came in 2001 when he finished 5th in Australia today unearthed a potential open the 25km race in Fukuoka but Towle is hopeful water star with 18-year-old Brendan Capell

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finishing 12th in the 25km race at the Xth FINA AN ARMCHAIR VIEW OF THE World Swimming Championships in Barcelona. In only his second 25km race, the Brisbane BARCELONA WORLD teenager beat home a host of more experienced CHAMPIONSHIPS and better credentialed swimmers to stamp An opinion by Otto Sonnleitner himself as a potential World Championship medallist of the future. aving spent the last The performance of Capell has also given Height days of the World hope to the 14 rookies who will dive into the Championships getting up Palau Saint Jordi Pool tomorrow night when the at some unearthly hour Telstra Dolphins swim team starts the pool watching a roller coaster of competition. performances, I was Capell finished five minutes behind ’s prompted to write about my thoughts. Before I Yuri Kudinov after managing to stick with the am lambasted by my peers for any critiques lead pack for 18km of the gruelling course but that may appear in this article, let me point out his effort raised a lot of eyebrows amongst the this is just my opinion and, like it or not, I am elite open water swimmers. entitled to that. Capell made his international debut in Barcelona after completing his first 25km event From an Australian viewpoint it should be at the 2003 Australian Open Water said that we had some outstanding and some Championships in May. great performances. The great swims that will “I came over here (Barcelona) just excited to go down in the annals of swimming history were make my first Australian team and I was hoping those from Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett. I will to get some international competition under my go so far as to say that Grant’s 1500 swim at belt but to finish 12th and be competitive is a the end of eight days of racing and 6,200 metres great result for me,” Capell said. of competition was surely the standout from an “I felt pretty good during the race but the last few kilometres hurt. I managed to stick with the Aussie viewpoint. Surely Australian Swimming leaders for most of the way but when they took must begin now to lobby FINA to change the off at the 17km mark I couldn’t go with them. I program to allow the distance swimmers some tried but I couldn’t stay with them.” recovery from the 800 before going out to tackle Capell, who completed the course in 5 hours the 1500. FINA’s programming in this case was 7 minutes 38 seconds, was guided around the shameful. spectacular course, along the Barcelona coastline, by his handler and father Kyle, who Our Men’s 4x200 Team showed great was beaming with pride when his son crossed swimming by Grant and Ian and indeed the the finish line. youngster Nic Sprenger and the still improving “I am so proud of him,” he said, after racing Craig Stevens. Nic and Craig will continue to from his handlers’ boat to the finish line. “He improve and they will help that team get up has outdone himself and performed well above there at least close to or even better than the the expectations we had.” World Record. A couple of other 200 men need Capell’s teammate, Mark Saliba (5:09.41), to get back to their best. followed closely behind finishing 13th in his 5th World Championship 25km race. From a female viewpoint, the 200 IM by Alice The Aussie girls also did well with Shelley Mills was surely outstanding and deserved the Clark (5:46.38) burying the demons of last accolades of the Silver Medal. For a relatively year’s World Championships to finish 12th while inexperienced IM swimmer, young Alice showed debutante Melissa Benson (6:18.47) battled on the way with commitment and application. gamely to finish in place. “It wasn’t my best finish but that was The 400 Freestyle by Elka Graham was the certainly my best race at a World one glimmer of hope in Australian female Championship,” Clark said. “I was with the distance and middle distance swimming. While leaders for 22km and then I just ran out of on the subject of female middle/distance petrol. I tried hard to stay with them but the swimming, the penchant for underwater shots three leaders took off and the rest of the pack by the home broadcaster did offer an couldn’t go with them. opportunity to view the obvious subdued, if not “After the disappointment of last year’s race classical, 2-beat kicking by the medal winners. I’m stoked to have swum as well as I did.” 6-beat kickers with the naturally larger female thighs and an average of size 7 feet do not

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produce much in the value of leg propulsion in experiences and we will see more from this distance swimming. What about Thorpie? Well, young man. he has size 17 feet and his 6-beat kick really is not evident until the latter stages of his races. The 100 Backstroke saw Matt Welsh out Please keep in mind the most successful of maybe a tad too fast, only to be overhauled by Australian female middle distance swimmers in Aaron Peirsol. Brenton Rickard showed he will the last 25 years include , Julie get better by some pretty good swims in the 100 McDonald and , who were all 2- Breaststroke. We all know that Jim Piper can do beat or, at best, broken 2 to 4 beat kickers … in better and will get under the magic 2.10 mark other words … well and truly subdued kickers. in the not-too-distant future. Sub 2.00 for Stroke rates were in the area of 44 up to 54. Thorpie’s 200 IM was outstanding, considering he is a rookie in the event. Ian’s ability to self- The next breath of fresh air was served up by analyse will see him improve some seconds in our female sprinters. Alice Mills, Libby Lenton this event by . and Jodie Henry surely did a great deal to not only lift female sprinting in Australia, but also The above thumbnail sketches show we have by their cheery nature and enthusiastic a lot to look forward to in Athens. Our Relay acceptance of the deserved accolades, did a Teams will again get better, so look out the USA great deal to promote swimming in this country. and China. Having said all that, the question we Their smiles and indeed laughter in accepting must ask is … HOW DO WE REALLY LOOK? the congratulations of both Well, in some areas we look OK and if all goes and Nicole Livingston did a great deal for all of according to plan with , Petria us viewers at about 3.00 am. Thomas and Sara Ryan and they can get back to their best, a couple of our Relays get back to We must also acknowledge our 4x200 Team, World Record form and winning chances. led by Elka Graham, which showed promise of greater things to come with every team member Realistically, we are spending more on swimming sub 2.00 for their legs of the 4x200. resources than in the past and yet the , and Alice performances from some quarters are just not Mills look to be in line for a history-making there. The AIS would have to be the most swim in Athens. With two or three others disappointing for a number of years. chipping away at the 2.00 barrier, we look in Considering their vast resources, apart from great shape for the girls 4x200 in Athens. Craig Stevens and Linda Mackenzie in their respective Relays, their contribution to the Leisel Jones gave us a glimpse of what she Aussie medal tally was sadly missing. Perhaps it can really do with her World Record in the is time that the Sports Commission, together Semis of the 100 Breaststroke. She will get with the AIS, looks more closely at external better and her time will come. Work ethics like scholarships. Just awarding scholarships to hers are always rewarded. Giaan Rooney ensure that swimming funding is spent is just showed that she can still improve with her not doing the job. Some of that funding for excellent 100 Backstroke in the 4x100 would surely be better spent with the Relay. Our two female Butterflyers in young best home programs in Australia. Jessica Schipper and Felicity Galvez will benefit from the experience and will surely go home WOMEN’S MIDDLE/DISTANCE SWIMMING with a hunger for International prominence. Brooke Hanson showed that her World Cup Apart from Elka’s very promising 400 swim, travels of the last three years have been very the rest of our results were abysmal. For a worthwhile experiences. PB’s at 25 shows what country which at one time could boast four out hunger and work ethic can do. I have a feeling of the top five in 400, 800 and 1500, we were that the best is yet to come. pretty shabby. It would be too simplistic to say we are not doing enough work … although that Matt Welsh undoubtedly provided the may well be one of the problems. My gut feeling surprise of the meet from an Australian is that our problems are with the attempt by viewpoint by his 50 Butterfly win and World our best distance girls to utilise their legs too Record. A thought might be that Matt could much. 6-beat and even steady 4-beat kickers focus on the 100 Backstroke and the 100 have seldom been successful in the 400, 800 … Butterfly for Athens. Travis Nederpelt will have let alone 1500 for women. By nature, women’s learnt a great deal from his 200 Butterfly thighs are the largest muscles in their body but

W W W 11 X X X SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA – September-October 2003 with naturally small feet their use of faster leg HIGHLIGHTS OF SWIMMING kicks surely must be defying economy of movement. Some of the underwater shots from AT AUSTRALIAN DEAF Barcelona, together with some footage of Tracey Wickham, would have most of us making some GAMES Reproduced from Queensland Swimming changes to stroke rates and reducing kick to at “The Fast Lane” – 2003 Issue 3 least broken 4-beat or preferably classical 2- beat. The younger, slimmer girls … with smaller A two-day swim meet was held at the Sydney thighs … may, for some time, get away with Aquatic Centre on 12th and 13th April 2003, accelerated kicks … but as they get older they with 55 swimmers throughout Australia seem to hit plateaus. competing in the Games.

Congratulations to all swimmers who AEROBIC OR NOT?! participated. Many of them made new friends

and were inspired toward higher goals. In recent times there has been a groundswell A total of 49 records were broken in the pool in Australian swimmers to reduce the amount … 16 of them were Australian Records of work done in training. This inevitably leads to recognised by Australian Swimming Inc (ASI) for a reduction in Aerobic training. This has been S15 classification and the other 33 records were evident with some of our leading or older ADG Games Records. swimmers in that the back-end of their races 13-&-under events were introduced for the has been falling away. first time and attracted 16 swimmers from throughout Australia. I do recall some research done on German The youngest competitor was an 8-year-old Swimmers in the middle to late 80’s which girl, Megan Wilkinson (WA). showed that, while their 1500 times improved, An 11-year-old swimmer, Teneale Houghton so to did their 100 and 200 times. Conversely, (NSW), scooped the pool by winning all 13-&- when they reduced their Aerobic training and under girls’ events, with two Games Records. their 1500 times dropped off, so to did their 100 Rohan Moffat (VIC), a 13-year-old, dominated and 200 times. What we can glean from this is the 13-&-under boys’ events, with five Games NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF Records. GOOD STEADY AEROBIC WORK. The Masters (30-&-over) events saw a mixture of medal winners … Steven Boyland You have some doubts? (QLD), Rodney Adams (NSW), and Costa Well … ask Alexander Popov, Ian Tragotsalos (NSW) featured in the men’s events, Thorpe and Grant Hackett. while the women’s events were shared between Cindy-Lu Fitzpatrick OAM (NSW) and Suzanne

Christensen (NSW). They are testimony to the value of Aerobic work. The sceptics will of course say, “yes but AUSTRALIAN RECORDS (recognised by ASI) that’s Popov, Thorpe and Hackett”. My answer to Anthony Shing 15-y-o 50m Freestyle that will be that just maybe their great aerobic (QLD) Boys 100m Freestyle sessions over a period of years contributed to 50m Backstroke their successes. And by the way girls, the next 50m Butterfly time you see Tracey Wickham and Julie 100m Butterfly McDonald and Hayley Lewis, ask them about 200m IM Craig Morgan 14-y-o 50m Freestyle some of their training when they were at their (NSW) Boys 200m Freestyle best. 50m Backstroke 50m Butterfly Can we, as a Nation, get up with the USA in Wayne Farrell 17-y-o 50m Breaststroke the Medal count? I really believe we can but it (NSW) Boys 100m will not be with less work or by taking it easy … Breaststroke let alone having two and three month holidays 50m Butterfly Bryce Glover 16-y-o 50m Breaststroke without swimming. (VIC) Boys Kymberlee 14-y-o Girls 200m IM You have some doubts about this?! Frizell Well … ask Michael Phelps. (QLD) Aleshia Yet Foy 17-y-o Girls 200m IM (QLD)

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performances throughout the ADG by winning six silver medals and setting six Australian Age ADG GAMES RECORDS Records (most of the records were previously Teneale 13/u Girls 100m Freestyle held by Scott Prosser). Houghton 50m Backstroke (NSW) 100m Backstroke Female Swimmer of the Meet: 50m Butterfly Aleshia Yet Foy (QLD) 200m IM Rohan Moffat 13/u Boys 50m Freestyle Aleshia Yet Foy returned to the Sydney (VIC) 100m Freestyle Aquatic Centre after competing in the Telstra 50m Backstroke Australian Open Swimming Championships in 50m Breaststroke March. She scooped the pool by winning 10 gold 50m Butterfly medals in all Open individual events. She also 200m IM broke one Australian Age Record and one Craig Morgan Open Men’s 50m Backstroke Games Record. (NSW) 100m Backstroke Chezz 13/u Boys 100m Male Swimmer of the Meet: Mentesana Breaststroke (WA) Scott Prosser (VIC) Aleshia Yet Foy Open Women’s 50m Backstroke Scott Prosser showed his class by winning (QLD) six gold medals and set four Games Records. Scott Prosser Open Men’s 50m Freestyle Fresh from a break after participating in the (VIC) 100m Freestyle Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships, he 50m Butterfly managed to excel in the pool. He is an excellent 100m Butterfly role model for younger swimmers. Cindy Lu Masters 30/o 50m Butterfly Fitzpatrick OAM Women’s Youth Swimmer of the Meet: (NSW) Rodney Adams Masters 30/o 50m Freestyle Craig Morgan (NSW) (NSW) Men’s Craig Morgan from Central Western NSW, 14 Steven Boyland Masters 30/o 50m Backstroke years old, won a total of six medals for (QLD) Men’s 50m Butterfly individual events – two gold, one silver and Costa Masters 30/o 50m Breaststroke three bronze. He also claimed four Australian Tragotsalos Men’s Age Records and two Games Records. (NSW) NSW Team A – 4x50m Open Men’s Freestyle Relay Junior Swimmer of the Meet: Wayne Farrell, Craig Morgan, Matthew Keys, Craig Farrell Tie between Teneale Houghton (NSW) NSW Team A – 4x50m Open Men’s Medley Relay Craig Farrell, Wayne Farrell, Craig Morgan, Matthew Keys and Rohan Moffat (VIC) NSW Team A – 4x100m Open Men’s Freestyle Relay 11-year-old Teneale Houghton won a total of Wayne Farrell, Craig Farrell, Matthew Keys, Craig Morgan seven medals, comprising five gold, one silver NSW Team A – 4x100m Open Men’s Medley Relay and one bronze, and set four Games Records for Craig Morgan, Wayne Farrell, Craig Farrell, Matthew Keys 13/under girls’ events. Teneale also won a silver VIC Team – 4x50m 13/u Boy’s Freestyle Relay medal in the Open 100m Backstroke and a Dylan Beasley, Trent Beasley, Matthew Brozovich, Rohan bronze in the 200m Individual Medley. Moffat Rohan Moffat, 13 years old from Gippsland, NSW Team A – 4x50m 13/u Girls Medley Relay dominated in the boys’ 13/u events, winning Teneale Houghton, Vanessa Rushworth-Rossi, Felicity Sampson, Hannah Britton five gold medals and setting six Games Records. VIC/NSW Team – 4x50m 13/u Mixed Medley Relay Rohan demonstrated his all-rounder abilities Rohan Moffat, Trent Beasley (VIC), Dylan Beasley (VIC), and potential in the sport. Melanie Whiting (NSW) NSW Team A – 4x50m Open Women’s Freestyle Relay Masters Swimmer of the Meet: Teneale Houghton, Vanessa Rushworth-Rossi, Samantha Steven Boyland (QLD) Taylor, Lauren Clancy Former Deaflympian swimmer, Steven NSW Team A – 4x50m Open Women’s Medley Relay Boyland, produced good results in Masters Teneale Houghton, Vanessa Rushworth-Rossi, Samantha events, setting two Games Records and winning Taylor, Lauren Clancy two gold and one silver medals.

AWARD WINNERS EA Reynolds Cup – Points Score Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet: NSW 267 Anthony Shing (QLD) QLD 132 Anthony Shing, a 15-year-old swimmer from VIC 108 Sunshine Coast, displayed his versatility and WA 86 potential. He produced outstanding

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SWIMMING IN THE FASTLANE WITH A DISABILITY By Paul Gockel Development Officer, Swimmers with a Disability Letters to Queensland Swimming Association Reproduced from Queensland Swimming the Editor “The Fast Lane” – 2003 Issue 3

Some 40 swimmers with a disability contested the 2003 Queensland Sporting Wheelies and Disabled State Swimming Dear Michael, Championships. I wish to notify you that I will not be renewing my Level 1 Coaches Membership. The highlight of the day was another World I no longer have the time to coach, due to Record swim from Chantel Wolfenden work commitments. I will still be around (Bundaberg). Her performances during the day swimming, working as an Official and attending saw her come away with the Female Swimmer as a Parent – as time permits. of the Meet Award. I thank you for your help with informative letters over the years. The Male Swimmer of the Meet Award was Keep up the good work. taken away by Ricardo Moffatti (Ashgrove) in a Yours sincerely, tight finish. Maureen Phillips – ASCTA ID 1807 20 Smythes Road Congratulations to all swimmers who Delacombe Vic 3356 competed, and special thanks must be given to all volunteers and officials who helped make the day a success.

Sixteen Queensland swimmers with a disability nominated to compete at the 2003 Australian Open Swimming Championships in Sydney. The performances of our swimmers HEART RATE MONITOR against Australia’s best continue to improve, with many creditable performances and many of our swimmers competing in Finals for the first time.

Twenty-three coaches participated in the first revised ASI Level 1 Coaching Swimmers with a Disability Course and which was conducted by QSA. The Course, which was held in $363.00 (inc. GST) + conjunction with the Annual ASCTA Conference on the Gold Coast, now seems certain to be an $11 (P&H) annual event at this conference. Special thanks Package supplied includes… to John Armstrong (ASI), Wayne Lomas, X Swimming Pace Setter Monitor Brendan Keogh, Dr Brendan Burkett, Tim X Two electrodes – red and black Taylor, John Keppie and Jennie Schoof (Q- RAPID) for their valuable assistance and X One plastic container and foam insert contributions in helping get this Course up and X Operating Procedures running. PO Box 824, Lavington NSW 2641 Phone: (02) 6041 6077 A number of QSA Short Course and Long Fax: (02) 6041 4282 Course swim meets – incorporating events for E-mail: [email protected] or swimmers with a disability – will be on offer [email protected] during the coming months. Details of these Web Site: www.ascta.com events will be published as per usual.

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acceptance of shoulder-roll as a natural part of HIDDEN FACTORS in the stroke. For many years, Freestyle swimmers had Freestyle Swimming mistakenly been taught to swim with shoulders Story and illustrations by Cecil Colwin held flat. Two of the great pioneers of mid-20th Reproduced from Swimming Technique century swimming, Bob Kiphuth and David April-June 2003 Armbruster, were, in a sense, victims of their time when it came to theory on Freestyle body Hall of Fame coach Cecil Colwin has been position. involved in competitive swimming for more than Kiphuth insisted that there should be “no 60 years. He has long been known for his work dipping of the shoulders or rolling of the body”, on the technical aspects and history of as well as “no lunging of one shoulder ahead of swimming. the other”. He added that the arms should move in the shoulder joint, but the shoulder itself The mobility of the shoulder girdle, should be in a fixed position” (Kiphuth 1942, combined with the timing of the arms, p.72). plays an important role in rhythm and Armbruster said, “The scapulae should be momentum. held flat and the clavicles held as level as possible” (Armbruster 1942, p.52). t the higher levels of talent and skill, the It was not until the 1956 Olympics that Amain reason for the superiority of the crawl shoulder-rolling Australian swimmers proved stroke lies in the continuity of movement the method wrong by shattering all the existing produced by accurate timing of the arms – aided Freestyle World Records. Their coaches were by the mobility of the shoulder girdle. wise enough not to interfere with the natural The shoulder girdle can be likened to a shoulder roll that brought their large trunk simple but highly effective steering and muscles powerfully into the pull, especially as balancing mechanism complete with links and the body passed over its centre of mass. There struts. Used in counterbalance with the hands can be no denying that swimming with a flat and arms, the shoulder girdle plays an position of the shoulder girdle had probably important role in applying leverage. hindered progress more than any other Variations among individuals in shoulder mistaken notion in the history of the sport. structure, arm length, body shape, buoyancy, etc., will produce different pulling patterns in each individual. It is this interaction between arms and shoulders in applying leverage that is largely responsible for producing an ideal stroke pattern for each individual. Much attention has been given to understanding and developing arm-stroke propulsion but the key role played by the timing of the arms and the mobility of the shoulder girdle in maintaining RHYTHM and MOMENTUM needs to be considered. This article discusses the effects of the arm- action and the shoulder roll on these two HIDDEN fundamentals.

THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE SHOULDER GIRDLE

There is an inherent difficulty in explaining the performances of champions based solely upon differences in stroke technique because credit should also be given to improved training methods, personal aptitude and other factors. Australian 1956 Olympic champions convinced the Nevertheless, in the mid-20th century, a swimming world that rolling in Freestyle had come to radical improvement in World Freestyle Records stay. Shown here from top to bottom: Jon Hendricks, was at least partially attributable to the final and .

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It should be noted that neither did the Fig. 1 – Bones of the shoulder girdle Australian coaches prevent their swimmers from using an unorthodox reduced kick that preserved energy over the longer distances. Combined with their first organised use of interval training, the Australian swimmers captured all the Olympic Freestyle events and, in the process, convinced the swimming world that rolling in Freestyle had come to stay. Swimming with shoulder blades held flat not only restricts body roll and the arm recovery, but also limits the range of the arm stroke. For any movement of the shoulder joint to reach its end point, the scapula must be allowed to slide The bones of the shoulder, Sternal and acromial ends of and change its position to accommodate anterior the clavicle additional movement of the humerus. Although shoulder rolling was now accepted The medial end of the clavicle attaches to the world-wide, coaches still discouraged the trunk at the sternum (breastbone), and the tendency by swimmers to reach their shoulders lateral end of the clavicle articulates with the forward as their arms entered. They believed similar-shaped surface of the scapula spine. that “over-reaching” would distort body Although limited, the movement of the clavicle alignment. is equal to that of a fixed hinge. While the This instruction caused the arm entry of scapula slides over the thorax during the some swimmers to become restricted and “tight working phases of the arm stroke, the clavicle up front”, although swimmers such as Murray acts as a supporting strut or moving pivot to Rose were ahead of their time when they keep the upper arm away from the thorax. In naturally reached forward into the entry. doing so, it increases the range of upper-arm Contrary to what they were told, swimmers, movement and reduces the muscle energy attempting to increase stroke length with a long needed to keep the upper arm in alignment. slide at the entry, found they could do so The humerus (bone of the upper arm) is without unbalancing the stroke. connected to the trunk by the clavicle and the In recent years, some swimmers have scapula. Although a good deal of the arm discovered yet another important advantage to motion occurs at the shoulder (gleno-humeral) be derived by elevating the shoulder blade after joint, there is simultaneous motion between the the arm has entered – namely, that this action scapula and the thorax. There is a close has the effect of moving the body’s centre of connection between the humerus and the mass forward, thereby preserving the body’s shoulder girdle because any movement of the linear momentum. (See Fig.3) former is followed by those of the latter. As each arm enters, pulls and recovers, the continuous FUNCTION OF THE ARMS & SHOULDER movement of the shoulder girdle produces a GIRDLE natural roll of the body on its long axis. Much discussion has taken place in recent There are six muscles involved in the years on the path and posture of the arm fundamental movements of the shoulder girdle. during the pull, but little attention has been In front are the pectoralis minor, serratus devoted to the role (no pun intended) of the anterior and subclavian muscle. Muscles shoulder girdle and its compensating action to behind the shoulder girdle include the levator each phase of the . scapuli, rhomboids and trapezius. While For one thing, the shoulder girdle serves as a exercise is widely used to strengthen these base for the movement of the arms. The main muscles for swimming, an understanding of function of the shoulder girdle is to how the bones beneath the muscles function is counterbalance and facilitate movements in the also necessary. shoulder joint. The shoulder girdle is formed by There are four fundamental movements of the scapulae (shoulder blades) and clavicles the shoulder girdle … elevation, depression, (collar bones). The girdle is incomplete behind, abduction and adduction. Shoulder girdle the scapulae being connected to the trunk by movements are described relative to the muscles only. It is light and very mobile. (See direction in which the scapula moves. The Fig.1) movement of the scapula as it moves forward, downward, backward and inward toward the centre line of the body and then outward again

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as the arm moves into the over-water recovery, Fig. 3 – Scapula elevation preserves momentum are responsible for shoulder roll. The size, shape and structure of each individual’s shoulder girdle and gleno-humeral joint will affect the type of leverage and, consequently, the form and movement pattern, developed by each arm during the recovery and pulling phases of a stroke cycle. Many other factors are involved, but individual structure, as just mentioned, is probably the most important.

RANGE OF ARM MOTION The versatility of the arms in swimming is due to the shoulder being a tri-axial joint capable of multiple motions – flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation and external rotation. In fact, the shoulder joint has the greatest range of movement of any joint in Since the arm is attached to the collar bone, the body. As a result, the arm can move freely the raising of the recovery arm swings the in all directions and rotate around its own axis shoulder upward and inward toward the neck with a mobility that makes it possible to touch and head, while the lowering of the opposite any place on the trunk – and if the lower limbs arm as the arm enters the water shifts the are flexed, any point of the body except for its shoulder on that side downward and outward. own posterior surface. At the same time, the scapula (shoulder blade) In addition, the arms are linked through the on the side of the entry arm glides forward on chest barrel, from shoulder to shoulder, on the the wall of the thorax as the entry arm reaches yoke of the collarbones, much like an armature, forward. This elevation or sliding forward of the the metal framework on which a sculpture is scapula has the effect of moving the body’s moulded. In Freestyle, the arms act as a unit – centre of mass forward, an action that preserves a bracketed pair of correlated members. This the body’s forward momentum and initiates the connecting yoke facilitates the timing of one body’s roll to the opposite side. arm with the other and ensures continuous The timing of one arm with the other, while propulsion as the body-balance tilts from side swimming with arms overlapping in front of the to side in the natural rhythm of the stroke. (See body, allows the forward arm to ride forward Fig.2) under the surface before moving down into the stroke. Due to water resistance and variations in force application, fluctuations in the body’s velocity occur within a stroke cycle. The important point in arm-timing is to ensure continuity of movement – in other words, momentum. The degree of velocity fluctuation is an indication of stroke efficiency – the more uniform the body’s velocity through the water, the less energy wasted. Momentum affects the amount of power that the swimmer needs to maintain speed. Put in another way, when a stop-start action within a stroke cycle causes a loss of velocity, a greater amount of power is

Fig. 2 – The connecting yoke of the arms needed to overcome the inertia. Variations between mean and extreme MOMENTUM velocities are a useful means of measuring a The arms in raising and lowering tend to swimmer’s efficiency. By observing the entry shift in the shoulder pivot as they move. As one and exit points of a swimmer’s hand, measured arm recovers, the other arm is sliding forward against a poolside grid, it is possible to obtain a in front of the body to enter the water on an visual impression of a swimmer’s stroking imaginary line forward of the armpit. (see Fig.3). efficiency. If a swimmer’s hand were to exit the water at the same point where it entered, it would show that there had been no “slip” in the

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stroke. However, highly skilled swimmers exit be able to swim with a smooth, classic action. each hand ahead of the entry point, with the What is important is that the swimmer uses distance between exit point and entry point individual attributes to best effect (see Fig.4). indicating the extent to which they are able to prolong their forward momentum. This is also Fig. 4 – Variations in Timing an indication of the ability to swim with fewer strokes per lap. Skilled swimmers prolong their momentum by accurately timing their arm strokes and streamlining their body alignments throughout the changing sequence of the stroke. The more accurate a swimmer’s arm-timing, the more constant the momentum – ESPECIALLY IF IT 4A. The typical “right-angle” timing of the arms is INCREASES THE TIME THE AVERAGE NET shown. This is the most commonly-used type of FORCE CAN ACT UPON THE RESISTANCE OF timing. As one arm enters, the opposite arm is THE WATER. midway through the stroke.

RHYTHM & TIMING Rhythm, essentially, means timing. In the case of Freestyle and Backstroke, timing refers to coordinating one arm with the other. In the early days of Freestyle and Backstroke development, timing also referred to timing the legs with the arms, but it is generally agreed 4B. This illustration shows a timing in which the arms that the leg action in these two strokes should come through a preceding 45-degree angle before be subservient to the arms and not consciously the pulling arm reaches the right-angle position inter-timed. Only in Butterfly and Breaststroke shown in Fig.4A. This type of timing is more are the actions of the legs consciously timed commonly used by swimmers with natural buoyancy, with those of the arms. a strong leg action and a streamlined body build who In Freestyle, the term, RHYTHM, refers to slip through water easily. the timing of one arm with the other as well as the continuous balancing of the body position. However, in this description, for the sake of clarity, balance will be dealt with as a separate topic. The timing of the arms affects the proportion of power output and energy distribution between arms and legs. For best efficiency, 4C. In this type of timing, the “right-angle” position there must be a definite relationship between shown in Fig.4A is never reached in any phase of the the duration of the arm pull and the duration of timing. As one arm enters, the opposite arm is past the recovery. the midway point of the pull. This timing suits Deciding what timing of the arms a swimmer swimmers who use bilateral breathing (once every should use is a finer point of coaching. A coach three strokes) and a two-beat leg action. This type of should pay close attention to this aspect of timing is often accompanied by a rapid arm turnover. Freestyle because if the timing does not suit the swimmer, the application of power will be BALANCE adversely affected. Any action in any part of the swimming Variations in speed cause subtle differences stroke cannot be isolated, but must have in timing. A swimmer who uses RIGHT ANGLE immediate consequences elsewhere. (as shown in Fig.4A) timing , allows the entry arm The key to efficient Freestyle lies in to come through a preceding 45-degree angle maintaining body balance and stability (as shown in Fig.4B) when swimming at a slower throughout the stroke cycle. Broadly speaking, speed. balance refers to the ability to hold a desired Fig.4B The timing shown in will often produce position in the water with a minimum of effort. a smoother and more fluent-looking style than Efficient swimming is essentially a natural the timing shown in Fig.4A, while the timing in BALANCING ACT in which the arms and legs Fig.4C may result in a choppy action. But the maintain a continuous counterbalance appearance of a style is not always the most throughout the entire stroke. important guideline. Some swimmers will never

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DYNAMIC STABILITY THE TWO-PART BODY ROLL

In all the swimming strokes, the body Better streamlining and a natural flow of constantly changes its position in the water as water moving directly backward along the body the arms and legs counterbalance naturally to is enhanced by using a TWO-PART BODY maintain DYNAMIC STABILITY – much like a ROLL in which the shoulders roll first and then pilot adjusting the trim of a light aircraft in a a separate roll of the pelvic girdle follows in buffeting wind or a cyclist jiggling the handle quick succession. bars of a bicycle when riding over a cobbled path. Skilled performance requires an acute The first part of the roll (that of the shoulder sense of balance and a quick adjustment of the girdle) is initiated by the elevation (sliding body position whenever balance is disturbed. forward) of the shoulder blade and the extension of the entry arm. Dynamic stability starts with the counterbalancing sequences made possible by The second part of the roll follows quickly as the leverage developed by the arm-pull the hips are tipped to the side to which the combined with the compensating movements of upper body has rolled. The swimmer the shoulder girdle. It is the connecting yoke immediately feels less water resistance as the between the arms and shoulders that makes oncoming flow escapes from under the body and possible the timing of one arm with the other passes along the front surface of the hip bone and ensures counterbalance and continuous (iliac crest). propulsion as the body tilts from side to side in the natural rhythm of the stroke. BILATERAL SYMMETRY

In seeking the best leverage and The movements of swimming have been counterbalance for the shoulder roll, the arm referred to as being bilaterally symmetrical will follow a path that puts it in the most because the arms and the legs follow effective position for the task. In addition, water symmetrical paths in all four strokes. pressure on the hands provides counterbalance for all the other movements of the body that The head should be centred in the body’s occur during the stroke cycle – including those long axis at the entry of each hand. It is a of the torso, hips and legs. common fault for a swimmer to start turning the head for the inward breath BEFORE the BODY ROLL & STREAMLINING forward hand has entered the water.

The body roll has been described as an This fundamental fault often has the effect of action in which the entire body rotates on its not only placing the body off balance, but also long axis. results in the hand making ineffective initial contact with the water at this critical stage of A theory exists that streamlining would be the stroke. enhanced if the shoulder girdle and the pelvic girdle were to rotate simultaneously in the same REMEMBER… plane during the roll. However, keeping the Enter the hand shoulder and hips in the same plane as Then turn the head to breathe previously mentioned has two major drawbacks. The question arises, what should a coach do In the first instance, such a posture would to correct a perceived imbalance in a swimmer’s result in rigidity and tension in the spinal stroke? Sometimes the answer may well be … column muscles that produce pelvic rotation, as ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! well as the other muscles that would assist this unnatural posture. Part of the art of coaching is knowing what to correct and what to leave alone. The swimmer’s Secondly, rotating the entire body as a unit timing and balance in the water are very would not only inhibit the shoulder girdle’s personal aspects, even though the swimmer natural movement in providing counterbalance may be unaware of them and any attempted to the arm action, but would cause retarding correction may upset a swimmer’s natural transverse flow of water around the body. rhythm.

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OVERLAPPING & ROTARY STROKES Watching Popov swim has the same effect on me as listening to a Mozart concerto, while Ian In these two sets of Freestyle drawings, the Thorpe, the other great Freestyle maestro of our two swimmers look different although they are age, has a change-gear type of stroke that is obeying the same fundamentals. phasic in execution and jazz-like in its composition. Fig. 5B Fig. 5A Rotary Stroke At speed, however, when meeting a Overlapping Stroke challenge, as in Thorpe’s classic race with Grant Hackett in the 800m Freestyle in Fukuoka 2001, both swimmers switched to a rotary stroke in the epic closing stages, with more noticeable continuity of movement.

Many of today’s swimmers make this switch from overlapping to rotary action when greater speed is needed.

At high speed, a phasic stroke, in which a swimmer WORKS THE GEARS, is more energy- consuming than keeping the hands moving continuously in a smooth WHEEL-LIKE fashion.

The smooth continuity of the rotary arm stroke maintains momentum, although, in some individuals, it may produce a certain OVER- SPILL of energy, due to its loosely controlled total movement.

In the overlapping stroke, it seems to me that the swimmer tries to obtain more pressure on the water by feeling for grip on the entire palm of the hand, whereas a swimmer performing the rotary stroke seems to deflect the water backward by merely feeling for pressure just behind the finger tips of each hand. The emphasis is on deflection rather than traction.

The overlapping stroke has two hand speeds The front overlapping stroke shown here is in operation – the forward hand moving slower commonly used in modern swimming, especially than the accelerating opposite hand. Compare over middle and long distances. The overlapping this action with the rotary stroke, which is action allows the forward arm to slide gradually characterised by smooth continuity. into the stroke as the swimmer preserves energy AS WELL AS the momentum being developed View these two sets of drawings to see if you by the opposite arm, which is now well into the can detect the fundamentals of RHYTHM and powerful phase of its pull. MOMENTUM present in BOTH techniques – especially the momentum-preserving forward The other style shown here has been called a slide of the shoulder as the arm enters. rotary stroke because the arms rotate continuously at almost the same speed. The Finally, remember that there are as many rotary action is the main feature of the stroke crawl techniques as there are swimmers, so and it was brought to a high point of try to observe the ESSENTIALS rather than the development by Alexander Popov, the all-time personal characteristics of the great swimmers maestro of Freestyle technique, who, unlike the of the day. swimmer shown here, uses a pronounced high elbow recovery.

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FORWARD REACH

Fig.6 Forward reach initiates body roll and moves Sports Medicine centre of mass forward – an action that preserves momentum. POOL TEMPERATURES Finding a happy medium for everyone By Jessica Seaton & James Acker Reproduced from SWIM – July/August 2003

It was a no-win situation for Bob, the pool manager, Every day, he listened to patrons whining about the pool water temperature – but the problem was that some people thought it was too cool, others thought it was too warm, while still others thought it was just right. Every day at noon, Bob was paid a visit from Jenny, who was skinnier than Popeye’s girlfriend, Olive Oyle. Blue-lipped, covered in goose bumps and shivering, 6A (Front View) shows the effect of forward reach in Jenny would say “C-c-c-could you starting body roll. p-p-p-lease make it w-w-w- warmer?”

Then there was Happy, the lap swimmer, who was preparing to attempt an English Channel crossing. Harry emerged from the locker room after his swim, fully dressed, red- faced, with beads of perspiration on his upper 6B (Side View) shows how forward reach shifts body lip. On his way out the door, with a cross look balance over the forward arm as it starts its pull. Note on his face, Harry would always mutter the effect of the recovery arm during this transitionary something under his breath about the pool phase of the stroke. being “too damn hot”.

Like many pool managers, Bob probably concluded that no pool temperature would make EVERYONE happy. Even among a group of swimmers doing the same workout in the same pool at the same time, some swimmers will find the water too warm while others find it just right. Generally, leisure swimmers want warmer water, while fitness and competitive swimmers want cooler water.

6C (Overhead View) – an exercise illustrating the A few general principles and many individual effect of scapula elevation in moving the body’s factors play a role in determining optimal pool centre of mass forward. This exercise shows how a temperature, but there are two important swimmer (top) deliberately comes up short of the wall concepts… and preserves momentum by elevating the scapula (bottom). • The first concept – core temperature – is the temperature of the deeper tissues in the body. Core temperature is generally maintained at 37 + 1 C (98.6 + 1.8 F).

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The human body can survive a 10 C (18 F) half right. The cooling effect results from the drop in core temperature, but only a 5 C (9 F) evaporation of the perspiration – not the gain. However, fatigue sets in when the core wetness itself. This is considered the body’s temperature reaches 38 to 40 C (100.4 to major defence against the heat. In humid 104 F). The body functions optimally at a environments, the perspiration does not modestly increased core temperature. evaporate well and the body is not cooled as efficiently. If the air is 90 F and the humidity is • The second concept is that heat is a form 80%, the body perceives the heat as 113 F, and of energy and is transferred from a may suffer heat stroke. In the water, we do not warmer object to a cooler one. While both benefit from the cooling effects of evaporation internal and external factors promote heat because, essentially, we are swimming in 100% gain and heat loss, our bodies try to humidity and there is no evaporation. However, maintain a net heat balance and keep the we still perspire and lose fluids through the core temperature constant. skin and airways.

Trained athletes are better able to handle If the water temperature is below 77 F, lean higher core temperatures than untrained swimmers (who are not acclimatised to cold individuals. Both trained and untrained water) start shivering. This causes them to use athletes can acclimatise to warmer up more oxygen, so they are not as fast and temperatures after approximately six weeks, efficient as they would be in warmer water. In primarily via an increase in the body’s blood cold water, wearing the wetsuit helps one stay volume, a more rapid perspiration response and warm because the wetsuit keeps a “warmed” more efficient muscular activity. group of water molecules next to the skin. Without the wetsuit, the “warmed” molecules A swimmer standing on the deck with an are constantly being replaced by fresh “cold” ambient air temperature of 80 F will find the air molecules. Simply wearing (or not wearing) a comfortable. If the swimmer then jumps into swimming cap can substantially influence how 80 degree water, the water will feel cool. This is swimmers are affected by the water temperature because the swimmer’s body temperature is 97; because the body loses 8.5% of its heat through the water is 80 and a very good conductor, so the scalp. Wearing a cap in cool water can help the swimmer is losing heat to the water. Water swimmers stay warm, and not wearing a cap in absorbs 1,000 times more heat than air. warm water aids heat loss.

Level of exertion is a major factor in whether There is a consensus that water above 84- water feels warm or cold. A person who gets into 86 F (many would disagree with 86 F) is too cool water and just sits there will feel cold. warm for longer-distance training and extended Swimming at a leisurely pace will not raise the workouts. Although conduction and convection core temperature as much as swimming at a cool the swimmer, the swimmer’s core hard pace. Swimming a fast crawl, an athlete temperature rises by 1 F approximately every 10 burns approximately 9-13 kcal/minute, which, minutes. The swimmer starts to feel over- in turn, could increase the core temperature by heated, fatigue sets in and the heart rate 0.5 to 0.9 F every five to seven minutes. This increases. The heart has to work harder to get tends to offset the cooling action of the water. oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and then to shunt blood to the skin to cool the body. The Body size affects how water is perceived. A overheated swimmer loses fluids to smaller body, such as that of a child or a small perspiration. This decreases the blood volume female, has relatively more surface area for the and forces the heart to have to work harder. At size than a larger body. With more surface area, some point, the heart is overworked and cannot more heat is lost to the water through get enough oxygen to the muscles, so the conduction. Conversely, body fat helps insulate swimmer has to slow down considerably. In the body from colder water. A heavy-set person addition, research on exercise has indicated will not get as cold as a smaller, thinner person. that the brain may have a built-in protective However, if the water is warm and both mechanism against over-heating that enhances swimmers are exerting themselves equally, the feelings of fatigue and reduced strength that person with the higher percentage of body fat occur when the core body temperature becomes will be far more uncomfortable. too warm.

Most people think that perspiration is what If a swimmer has no choice but to swim in cools us off when it is hot outside. That is only water that is too warm, it is important to drink

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plenty of fluids and not to swim too hard until • Maximum temperature for children’s swimming one is acclimatised to the water, which could lessons and leisure pools: 84.2 F (29 C) take several weeks. In some indoor facilities, it • Maximum temperature for babies, young is possible to open doors to let in cooler air, but children, disabled and handicapped people: some facilities won’t allow it. Opening doors 86.0 F (30 C) may also have the opposite effect if cool air Jessica Seaton, D.C., is the chair of the blows on a thermostat, because the furnace USMS Sports Medicine Committee. She is a may stay on, heating the air more. Older chiropractic orthopaedist in private practice. She athletes need to be especially conscientious has been swimming with West Hollywood about drinking plenty of fluids, as they often Aquatics for over 12 years. have a diminished thirst drive. James Acker, Ph.D. (marine science) is a contractor scientist at Goddard Space Flight After reading all about pool temperature and Centre in Maryland. He has been a Masters its physiological effects on the body, Bob swimmer since 1981 with the St. Petersburg pondered his dilemma. The pool patrons were Masters, Reston Masters and Maryland Masters. not satisfied when he told them, “That’s just the His experiences with warm-water swimming in way it is”. Bob wanted everyone to be happy but Florida fostered a continuing interest in the he had to compromise. With so many different relationship between water temperature and types of programs in his community pool, the swimming performance. water temperature could not be maintained too high or too low. COACHING SWIMMING Eventually, Bob decided to communicate with his patrons and educate them about the SUCCESSFULLY decision to maintain the pool temperature at Second Edition 84 F. He posted a notice on the bulletin board, By Dick Hannula which also offered suggestions to those who felt it was tool cool or too hot. Jenny tried swimming some days with a neoprene wetsuit, which was great practice for her triathlons. Harry tried bringing a water bottle with ice water, which helped him stay hydrated during longer swims. He also got the idea to use warm liquids when swimming in cold water, which ultimately helped him complete a successful English Channel swim. In the long run, there was less complaining and the pool became a happier place for everyone. POOL TEMPERATURE RECOMMENDATIONS Make your swimming program the best with the help of the sport’s essential coaching reference. Coaching Swimming USMS 2003 Rule Book Successfully covers a full range of topics that determine 107.6 Water temperature between 78 and 80 degrees who excels in the pool. Fahrenheit shall be maintained for competition. Author, Dick Hannula, brings more than 50 years of (Predicated upon facility availability, LMSCs may waive coaching experience, knowledge, and achievement – strict compliance with these requirements when including coaching 323 consecutive Meets without a loss – sanctioning local competition. Mandatory requirement to this special book. for national championship meets and international $40 (inc GST) + $11 P&H competition.) USA Swimming Rules & Regulations 2003 103.7.1 Water temperature between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit shall be maintained for competition. (Mandatory requirement for all competition.) “The Swimming Pool Operators & Owners Resources Pages” lists the following recommendations… PO Box 824, Lavington NSW 2641 • Maximum temperature for swimming, diving, Phone: (02) 6041 6077 fitness swimming and training: 80.6 F (27 C) Fax: (02) 6041 4282 • Maximum temperature for recreational, adult E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] teaching and conventional main pools: 82.4 F Web Site: www.ascta.com (28 C)

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teammates had never seen me so mad,” Sullivan recalls. Clausen remained speechless and it was over in a matter of minutes before the incident attracted attention outside of the lane. Even though the two still swim together, Sullivan said he has never received an apology. New Masters Member Tracy Grilli, 46, says she is not at all surprised at hearing of problems in the pool, both at organised and open lap swim times. Right before a key meeting, she decided to jump in for a few extra yards at the local YMCA. Keeping Peace in the Pool After conferring with the one other swimmer in By Nan Kappeler the lane, the two agreed to do laps in a counter Reproduced from SWIM – July/August 2003 clockwise pattern. “Then, out of the blue, someone from the next lane grabbed the drag shirt I was wearing To avoid temper flare-ups and to keep peace and pulled me back. When I surfaced, he in the pool during workout, everyone should screamed at me to change directions. So I swore work together and not engage in turf wars. back at him. Then I sank down and swam Even with different goals and abilities, as underwater to the other side of the pool and got well as a wide variety of personalities, we out. He just thought he was king of the pool,” should all be able to get along. says the mother of two. Thinking back about the incident, Grilli says, It was barely daybreak on the campus of “Sometimes situations happen and we don’t Irvine High School in Southern California, yet have control. If we’re stressed and rubbed the the sun could already be seen above the silver wrong way, we snap.” bleachers at the east end of the Olympic-size Not Common, But… pool. At half past six, the Masters swimmers University of California Irvine Head Masters had just started the main set, when tempers Coach Lucy Johnson points out that while flared in Lane 2. conflicts in the pool are not common, whenever On deck was NOVA Coach Eric Gramlow, there are a variety of personalities and abilities who had instructed the group to do a set of or a large group during a team practice, there is 200s. According to team member Dan Sullivan, the increased likelihood of a disagreement. Jeff Clausen opted to swim last in the lane of “There are always those little grumblings,” four swimmers. But during each repeat, Johnson says, “but the most common Clausen would swim up to the person in front, complaints are about tailing too close to the touch his toes, and then pass on the left. person in front, people not understanding the “It was the final straw,” explains Sullivan, a set and equipment usage, such as fins or 42-year-old former Drury University scholarship paddles.” swimmer and 10-year veteran Masters Member. Even though most incidents end without Having shared the same lane with Clausen confrontation and are harmless, often it takes for the past eight years, Sullivan said this was the coach’s intervention to tell the involved not the first time he had become annoyed with parties to settle down and keep moving. Then Clausen for not following the workout. It was there are times when people do get hot-headed not unusual for Clausen to decrease the interval because of moods or stress, and want to fight. the coach had given the group in the middle of “I call it testosterone,” Johnson says. the set without consulting the rest of the lane. Although most conflicts occur with the males in But after a disappointing performance at the the faster lanes because of egos, altercations past weekend’s meet, Sullivan was feeling can also happen in the slower lanes, where particularly stressed. After trying to be polite for people don’t always understand the clock and years and giving him gentle hints to move to a intervals. Tempers usually escalate when different lane if the interval was too slow, somebody has a come-back to the accusation. Sullivan lost his cool. Johnson recalls a rare out-of-hand situation “I blew up. I raised my voice, got in his face that occurred when one group was finishing a and told him he was being inconsiderate by long course practice, while a second group was passing people. If he wanted to stay in this lane, eagerly waiting to change the lane lines for a he needed to follow the coach’s workout. “My short course practice.

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While a Masters swimmer was still cooling down from workout, the next team of swimmers had been given the OK to enter the pool. SWIMMING Moments later, a 6-6 student-athlete dove in, just narrowly missing the swimmer. A heated exchange of words ensued on deck FASTEST between the swimmer and the student’s coach. By Ernest W. Maglischo The athlete came up from behind and punched THE ESSENTIAL REFERENCE ON the Masters Member in the face. The police were THE ESSENTIAL REFERENCE ON summoned to the deck. TECHNIQUE, TRAINING, AND PROGRAM To keep peace in the pool, Johnson stresses DESIGN that everybody should work together and not engage in turf wars. During workouts, regardless of goals or levels, swimmers should be grouped in lanes according to speed. To avoid confusing the rest of the lane, she emphasises that everyone understand when to start each interval during a set.

Communication is Key

C.J. Lockman-Hall, Coach of the Montgomery Ancient Mariners Masters in Bethesda, Md., holds a Master’s Degree in Sports Psychology. She feels communication, as in a relationship, is the key to getting along in $95 (inc. GST) + $12.50 P&H the pool. Over 750 pages … Swimming Fastest is the Lockman-Hall suggests that if a person is definitive reference on stroke technique and training doing Freestyle during a Backstroke set, to methods. Put science to work for you in the pool to adjust the order before starting. If someone has swim stronger and faster than ever! Swimming Fastest is a fully revised and updated version of knee problems and can’t do the Breaststroke, Swimming Faster, widely considered by coaches and discuss the change then – not after being swimmers as one of the best books ever written on annoyed for five years. competitive swimming.

“If there is something bothering you, clear In addition to explaining what swimmers should do, the air before you explode. Nip it in the bud Maglischo explains why techniques and training are before getting steamy,” she says. to be executed a certain way.

Instead of letting someone tail you too Accompanying the text are more than 500 closely, Lockman-Hall advises asking the photographs and illustrations – including photos of person to please give you more space before world-class swimmers demonstrating picture-perfect pushing off or simply suggesting he or she go form. ahead of you. If the interval is too slow, suggest they move to another lane.

“People listen better when they’re not attacked,” she adds. “Most are here to enjoy the workout. Even with different goals, we can all get along.” PO Box 824, Lavington NSW 2641 Nan Kappeler, a freelance writer and co- Phone: (02) 6041 6077 owner of ProActive Exercise and Rehabilitation, Fax: (02) 6041 4282 swam collegiately for the University of Maryland. E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Currently, she is a Masters swimmer at the Web Site: www.ascta.com University of California, Irvine.

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WSCA NEWSLETTER WORLD SWIMMING COACHES ASSOCIATION Murray Stephens is the current owner and founder of the club.

In 1968 Murray and Tim Pierce formed the club after training athletes at a local Y, which became too restricting. Since that time NBAC has been a coach-run club that has had a swimmer at every Olympic Trials since ’68. 1st Floor, 461 Olive Street, Albury NSW 2640 From the beginning, Murray has run the team Phone: (02) 6041 6077 – Fax: (02) 6041 4282 and developed a program that not many can be Email: [email protected] compared to. He also serves on both the American Swimming Coaches Board of Reproduced from ASCA Newsletter Directors and on the Board of Directors for Volume 2002 Issue 10 United States Swimming. BUILDING A CULTURE OF SUCCESS When you walk into the Meadowbrook facility (NBAC’s main training facility) you know you The Secret to Success… are walking into a special environment. The Simplicity, Hard Work & Expectation lobby is plastered with articles about swimmers, By Jeff Grace young and old, and information about NBAC. Walk on the deck of the indoor pool and you will be awestruck at the six huge pictures hanging From June 9th through the 16th I had the opportunity to spend time with the staff and on the deck wall of all of the NBAC’s Olympians. swimmers of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club Where the coaches set up for practice, you will based in Baltimore County, Maryland. I had find a bulletin board with different qualifying three goals when arriving in Baltimore… standards, pictures and great inspirational 1. To be able to define the main aspect of how quotes such as “When you are interested in Murray Stephens and The North Baltimore something, you do it only when it is convenient. Aquatic Club have been able to create an When you are committed to something, you environment that has consistently produced accept no excuses – only results.” This quote successful athletes at an international level. signifies to me the environment that Murray has 2. To learn how Murray Stephens ran his been able to build since 1968 … ACCEPT NO business and how that may be applied to EXCUSES – ONLY RESULTS. Canadian Swimming. Murray feels that the environment has been 3. To see – first hand – how has built through patience and he is continually developed a high achieving group of young looking for a better way. “Taking 10 or 15 years athletes. and working every day to find a better way to do INTRODUCTION what you do.” Murray admits that he has been How many teams in the world can state the lucky throughout the years but that the following accomplishments? definition of luck is setting up circumstances in our situations where things will inevitably fall • 6 World Records together. • 6 USA Olympic Team Members After starting the club in 1968, they had to • 5 Olympic Gold Medals convince athletes and parents in the community • 2 USA Swimming Coaches of the Year that they could compete with a club (KCO), • 120 USA Swimming National Age Group which had dominated swimming in the Records community for years. After two years of being in The North Baltimore Aquatic Club has existence, they went to a local meet and beat achieved all of it – and more. KCO in team points – something that had not The NBAC (North Baltimore Aquatic Club) is been done in 15 years. This was the start of located in Baltimore County, Hartford County building momentum. The attitude was there and York, PA. The club is 200 plus competitive that NBAC could produce good swimmers but swimmers with six full-time coaches working that if you wanted to be great … you went to out of their different facilities. KCO. Once they had age groupers going to Nationals and scoring, people started to realise,

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“I don’t have to leave to be great”. Then, in their own variations from there. The way that 1984, when Therese Andrews won a gold medal Murray engages himself with his staff once in LA in the 100 Backstroke, the ball was really again is something that has obviously helped rolling. build the culture that is present. He is NBAC is very fortunate that their top extremely proud of his staff and talks about swimmers, such as Theresa, would come back their history and what they are currently doing. and talk to the upcoming athletes. Because of The support that he gives his staff is both easily this, becoming Olympians for everyone started seen and inspirational. to really seem like no big deal. They began to A great example of how Murray has realise the work ethic they must have and what developed his staff is Michael Brooks, who is they would have to do if they wanted to be at the coach of the York, PA satellite program. that level. Michael is at a pool that is 45 minutes away in One of the things Murray feels that they have a very low-income area. Michael’s program done inadvertently, that has helped their differs in many respects – especially since he program build a successful culture, has been must draw from a much different population that they have not encouraged college kids to base than the rest of the program. Even though come back and train. “People would fault us for this is true, you can definitely see how NBAC’s not having those kids back. They weren’t willing basic philosophy has stayed in place. Instead of to train. They wanted to come back and lift walking into the pool and seeing pictures of weights and swim warm-up … we are just a little Olympians, you walk in and see the walls bit more hard-core than that.” This is what plastered with quotes, great sets swimmers Murray saw from the majority of the college have done and a blow-up of Doc Counsilman’s athletes. “When you are building a program, too comfort zone charts. Michael has developed the many people tend to morph on to the weakest same pride and aspirations of excellence in his link. What’s the easiest way to get there? own way. Murray has helped him foster that Basically, we try to communicate that there is no process by giving him goals with the athletes easy way. We are now to the point where, after and helping him to see a more efficient process freshman year, the serious swimmers come back by sticking to fundamentals with both his age in the summer for real training and think that groupers and senior athletes. college is nowhere near as tough.” GETTING ATHLETES TO THE NEXT MAINTAINING AN ATTITUDE OF LEVEL EXCELLENCE Murray first really started to realise how Building a culture is one thing, but being active of a process he was going to have to take able to maintain it for as many years as NBAC with swimmers if he wanted them to go from has is something that not many people have being good national level swimmers to great been able to accomplish. Murray is very international level swimmers after 1984. Julia analytical by nature and you can see that Gorman was in the same training group as especially in the way he describes what he feels . A TV crew was filming her NBAC has done to maintain their culture. watching Theresa’s race in when Murray felt that there were very few she won Gold. When they interviewed Julia she circumstances where he was getting his best said, “Now you really begin to think it’s swimmers from his own age group program. possible”. Murray felt … “That really gave me a Kids were doing well when they were young and picture that these kids really have to be they somehow developed the attitude that “I am comfortable with what they’re trying to do and at NBAC, I am good now, I am automatically where they might go or they won’t be able to do going to be good when I am sixteen”. The feeling it. I had won that battle with Theresa but was that athletes were not willing enough to thought, like many coaches, well I showed them I focus and make the changes they were going to could do it, now all my swimmers will have to make to compete at the next level. automatically believe. Well, guess what?” Because the athletes were not willing to take Murray feels that swimmers must develop charge intellectually, they were not getting the two main things if they are to be successful … kids from their own program. they are imagination and an ability to improve In the past, the age group coaches in the and develop stroke capacities once they have program were hired and were left to do what been very successful. The first is having the they thought was right. Murray has now belief in their hearts that they can achieve their changed his way of dealing with his age group dreams. Not only being able to believe that they coaches. Essentially, they are engaged in all of will achieve those dreams but being able to the training protocols. These protocols are set incrementally actualise the work it takes while and the coaches are then encouraged to have maintaining the distance of the vision. Being

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able to not only see the light at the end of the When a coach is taking swimmers from one tunnel – but being able to see and realise the level to the next they must decide how they will steps that will get them there. sell the athlete on this process. At NBAC they Once the swimmers have developed a belief believe this on a daily basis in practice that it is in their dreams they must be willing to make not something that you can do by sitting down changes, especially once they have been and talking about or by sending in a successful. “This is one of the hardest things for psychologist. “When they can do something like my age groupers to do when they are 1st through 1:04 from a push with five seconds rest, there is 4th in the country in their age group at 9-14 years the first half of your race. To me, that is how you old and all of a sudden someone says you are do it. Get them to experientially find the pieces taking way too many strokes a lap – now do and begin to understand how they all come this.” Murray went on to tell me about how he together. You don’t just promise and talk about and had to go through this process how good things are or do psychic focusing or when he first started coaching her when she say good things to yourself. You say good stuff to was thirteen. She was first in the nation in the yourself, which you need to do, by saying I did 50 and 100 Breaststrokes when she was 12 but that now I am going to do this or I made myself couldn’t do three 50s in a row in practice. The do that or I know how it feels, I can do it again.” first thing Murray noticed was that her arm pull A simple concept of expecting a lot and was extremely strong but her kick was only half developing a belief through hard work – it is the power. So, so improve her body position and North Baltimore way. kick, they started to de-emphasise her arm pull. TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS She was happy to do it but it definitely was not Structure… The business Murray runs is easy. She went through the pains of really vast with a combination of the club swimming getting it in practice but not being able to ever and a business running various pools. He owns apply it in race. Murray became frustrated and Meadowbrook (outdoor 10-lane 50-metre, thought that she may end up being an athlete indoor 6-lane 50-metre and fitness facility), who was able to do it in practice but would which currently NBAC does not use but rents to never put it together in a race when it counted. the Lancaster Aquatic Club. Murray also leases The next season Anita continued to persevere in The Knight Diver, a 6-lane 25-yard indoor pool practice and got better and better and finally in Hartford County, where they have rights to developed the confidence she needed to perform 150 lane hours, and rents Loyola Blakefield in the strong changes in important races. Towson, Maryland and Crispus Attucks Murray really emphasised that, as a coach to Community Center in York, Pennsylvania. help swimmers with the above processes, you In the facilities that Murray owns and need to make sure that every day you are able operates, he runs many different programs – to walk out of the pool saying to yourself and from swimming lessons, stroke clinics, masters the swimmers that they are going to be faster in programs and party activities. Since Murray has the long run because of something we did expanded his business to Marnire Point, Golden today. He stressed, of course, this will not Meadows and Knight Diver they have had a few happen with every athlete every day but that years of losses. Two years ago they were at you should be able to walk away from practice about a quarter of a million in losses, last year and say, “Wow, the Breaststrokers are going they were at about 50,000 in losses and this faster today because of that pull set”. Or, “Suzie, year he predicts that all of the pool will be in the Johnny and Sally have done something today black. During the time period of those losses, that will make them better swimmers, either that the Meadowbrook facility has helped finance the they held their paces or kicked better at the end other pools. or pushed off the walls better”. He lets the The Building Process… Murray bought athletes know that when he sees it but is very the Meadowbrook facility in 1987 for $300,000. careful in his wording, letting the athletes know At the time it was purchased, there was an that it will happen. He stresses that you must outdoor 50-metre pool and outdoor fitness make sure that you reinforce these skills and facilities such as tennis, volleyball and come back to them and do them even better to basketball courts. Over the next three years increase the swimmers’ confidence. Practicality Murray invested in the range of $600,000 and of what you do was stressed … “Every day you built the 6-lane 50-metre indoor pool and should be trying to say to yourself, not just we fitness facilities. When asked how he was able did hard kicking, what did somebody do, and to do this, Murray answered with “I had to risk what we did in practice that will actually lead to a lot, put up everything, a second mortgage on a better race. If not, what the heck are you my house. The only way to really make things doing?” work is to go 100% and don’t hold back”. The

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majority of the profit at Meadowbrook is made Murray has a high expectation for all of those from their membership fees (8-month winter who work for him and they live up to it – which $500; 4-month summer $500) with about 10% makes for a great business. coming from the club, 10-15% from lessons and Daily Operations… The top group at 5% from sales of food and equipment. The NBAC pays between $1600-1800 to swim with concept for building his business is simple. “If the club. The team has gone to a policy of no you are willing to put 10 or 15 years into mandatory fund raising in the last two years, something and every day of your life work although throughout their history they have towards finding a way to make that thing better, experimented with many different programs … you will be able to solve problems and build from pizza sales to working at the ballpark. The alliances and build relationships with people. club now raises funds through the swim meets Then, over time, you gradually have a series of they hold every year. In the region in which supporting feet, that help make the thing work NBAC competes there has been a meet and develop a certain expectation as to what you structure for years that has built tradition of are there for and how and why you do it. It is local meets. When speaking about the done over time – year in and year out.” When development of this structure Murray states, building the overall business, Murray was “We developed a schedule in the area where patient and let things grow in time – taking teams that want to run meets – as long as they every penny he could spare and putting it into don’t blow it – have the rights to run that meet repairs and improvements to such things as year in and year out at that same time slot. We locker rooms and better food services. As things developed property meets as a way to develop a improved, gradually the reputation improved certain amount of income”. NBAC makes an every year. They found that this method was incredible amount of money from their meets more effective than taking out loans and wowing and surrounding operations such as food sales people in one year. They began to win the battle and advertising in their heat sheets. At their by selling people on their facility each year by Christmas invitational this year they made improving each year and having their current $15,000 from the ad sales in their heat sheets members do their advertising for them. Those alone. relationships and supporting feet have helped The operation of Meadowbrook, as previously the business prosper both in business mentioned, has helped finance the other pools relationships with the community and their which Murray is currently running. In this next reputation. One of the things Murray is most year he has predicted that all of the programs proud of is the membership at Meadowbrook. At are self-sustaining. It is easy to see how least once every session Murray would call me Meadowbrook can be successful … it is located over and tell who one of the members was … in a wealthy community and offers a great whether it be the Police Commissioner of number of services for its members, but how Baltimore or a Professional Baseball Player. has the business at the other pools been able to Murray has many stories about the members – take off? In Hartford, Murray has had to deal what they have accomplished and who they with a higher rent than some of the other pools were. This is an understated part of business at and therefore it runs a lot of different programs times that a lot of people forget about. Murray is such as party activities and stroke development extremely interested and involved with his programs, so that the pool is able to be customers … therefore, in return they are profitable. In York, the area surrounding the extremely interested in his business. These pool is very low income (average $20,000- relationships have fostered programs that are $25,000/year) and has been a challenge. They helping diversity the business at Meadowbrook have overcome this through NBAC’s philosophy to include keys like triathlon and a strong of hard work. Doing simple things such as mail- connection with the hospitals in the outs, running stroke camps at lower rates and community. make contacts in the community. The program To bring the other pools on board, Murray is run by Michael Brooks who deserves a lot of gives a simple answer that is a constant theme credit for building an environment of excellence … hard work! Sounds simple! It is. He works in a community which is relatively poor and has from 9am to 9pm on a regular basis – he visits never supported a year-round competitive club. each facility at least once a week and coaches a CONCLUSION group of 11-12 year olds. This is just an Murray’s philosophy is … keep things simple example of one of the schedules that someone and work hard over the long-term and success involved with Murray’s business holds. The will come. He has proven that this philosophy coaching and pool staff is some of the most works by creating one of the most successful dedicated, hardest working people in swimming. swim clubs and aquatic businesses in the

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world. He has been able to build a culture As part of the original planning process for within an age group club that has produced this quadrennial, we re-affirmed our incredible success over the last 34 years – commitment to the three core objectives that continually helping athletes go from being top have become our mantra … BUILD, PROMOTE age groupers to being champions at an and ACHIEVE. And now, as we approach the international level. mid-point of the 2004 quadrennial, it is an I would like to thank all the people who made my trip appropriate time to take stock of the progress possible – CSCA, Swim Alberta, The University of we are making toward the fulfilment of these Swim Club, Murray Stephens and the entire objectives. NBCA staff. Build the Base… USA Swimming membership has grown steadily over the past 2002 STATE OF THE SPORT 10 years. However, our rate of growth has REPORT begun to flatten and we must begin giving more in-depth consideration to the reasons for this to Editor’s Note: The following are excerpts from the STATE OF determine of any actions should be taken in SPORT REPORT given by USA-S Executive Director Chuck response to this trend. Retention is also a Wielgus in Dallas at the USA-S Convention. Due to length, we concern. Every year, about 30% of our have included only those sections we deemed of special importance to America’s Coaches. The full text can be accessed individual athlete members do not renew. Much via the USA-s website. of this can be attributed to the normal dropout Presented to USA Swimming House of Delegates of kids who lose interest in an activity once it no Dallas, Texas – September 14, 2002 longer becomes fun or when they seek other Note: This report was delivered verbally and was outlets for their interests. Still, as long as we accompanied by many visual aids, including believe that “building the base” is one of our videos, charts, artist renderings and core objectives then growth and retention will photographs. This document provides only the be the measurements for progress and success. text for the report. Listed below are the year-end numbers of our I. INTRODUCTION individual members and clubs for the past 10 The general state of affairs for USA years. Swimming is good … in fact, very good! The Year Members Clubs commitment from our athletes, coaches, 1991 212,059 2,435 officials, volunteers and staff toward the 1992 226,381 2,453 1993 246,334 2,571 fulfilment of our mission is the envy of the U.S. 1994 250,934 2,645 Olympic family of sports. We remain universally 1995 251,298 2,739 committed to our three core objectives, which 1996 260,941 2,759 1997 277,226 2,807 serve as the touchstones for our four-year 1998 281,150 2,894 business plan. Naturally, there are 1999 280,414 2,878 disappointments, obstacles and challenges that 2000 286,307 2,873 concern us but we are well prepared to continue 2001 296,119 2,897 2002 290,017 2,833 advancing our mission and tackle the hurdles USA Swimming continues to improve its on the road ahead. service and support to member clubs. Included My report to you this year will focus on the among these efforts are the following highlights progress we are making toward our three core from the current year. objectives of BUILD, PROMOTE and ACHIEVE. I Club Excellence Program… 54 clubs will also report to you bluntly about the have qualified to receive benefits from the new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Club Excellence Program. Among other benefits, II. MEETING OUR CORE OBJECTIVES those clubs that have qualified at the Gold and At the outset of this Olympic quadrennial, we Silver levels are now eligible for grants ranging developed a four-year business plan for our from $3,000 to $15,000. We are increasing the organisation. This business plan – Game Plan overall budget for this new club benefit program 2004 – outlines our four-year programming and from $250,000 in 2002 to $400,000 in 2003. financial strategy. We review the plan each year This is a significant new initiative and one that and make adjustments that tighten our we believe will encourage more clubs to seek alignment to our core objectives and force us excellence in all areas of their business through the discipline of establishing priorities. operations and performance. Having priorities that align back against our Facilities Summit… we recognise that one core objectives keeps us focused and ensures of the major contributing factors to membership that our programs, services, resources and growth is pool time and space. This is why we funds are most effectively deployed. are proposing that at least 25% of the revenues from the proposed dues increase be used to

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increase resources to help member clubs gain hope that we can expand this service to reach greater access to existing facilities, upgrade more clubs, more often. existing facilities, fund feasibility studies for Summer League Swimming… we ran a clubs, and foster the development and series of pilot projects this summer in Colorado, construction of new facilities. In an effort to Georgia and Vermont to determine if we could jump-start this initiative, we organised and held better connect USA Swimming with summer a workshop with many of the industry’s top league swimmers. Led by our Sport aquatic facility contractors and operators to Development Coordinators, we held pre-season brainstorm on what USA Swimming could do to coaching clinics, distributed resource materials encourage more facility usage, enhancements for coaches and goodies for athletes, promoted and new construction. The group established the opportunity to subscribe to Splash the outline for a handbook that USA Swimming Magazine, and had a presence at the season- intends to produce that will seek to provide ending championship meet. On the positive comprehensive information about aquatic side, these pilot efforts raised the profile of USA facility construction and operation. Should the Swimming in the selected area. However, to dues proposal pass, I envision involving some of date we have not seen significant subscription these same individuals as members of the task sales. We also found that these pilot projects force who will be charged with the responsibility were labour intensive for us and, given the of coming up with the long-term strategy for incredibly high number of summer league how USA Swimming can best reinvest those programs around the country; this would be an funds generated for this purpose (estimated at inefficient way to reach the broader masses. We $1,000,000 per year). will continue to seek ways to find the key to the On-Line Meet Entry System… the on-line puzzle that will unlock the connection between entry system that we piloted last year took a USA Swimming and the approximately 2.5 hug leap forward this year, with 77% of our million summer league swimmers. teams entering via the on-line system for the Tool Boxes & Resource Materials… National Championships in Fort Lauderdale. approximately 50% of all member clubs now The system continues to receive rave reviews have a USA Swimming Toolbox. Given that each from our coaches because it makes the entry toolbox is loaded with free resource materials, it process so much easier for clubs. Additionally, remains disappointing that more clubs do not the national times database has continued to take the simple step of filling out a one-page progress. As an example, there were fewer than questionnaire that we require before sending 50 unproven times for both the Spring and them the kit. We will continue to make the Summer National Championship meets (an toolboxes available to those clubs that do not unheard of number). Again, this is a service have them yet and we will also continue to that has made the lives of coaches much easier. provide supplemental materials to those clubs Our goal is to ultimately have 100% of entries that already have the toolboxes. done on-line and we encourage those clubs who Welcome Kits… we piloted a welcome kit have yet to embrace this system to plan on project with seven LSCs and 12,000 individual doing so next year. members this year. The kit included a welcome Sport Development Coordinators… so letter signed by and Lindsay far this year, three of our Coordinators have Benko, USA Swimming fact sheet, temporary visited more than 200 clubs and 30 LSCs on body tattoos, sponsor coupons, logo stickers their home turf. As evidenced from the feedback and an evaluation form. The feedback was I receive from coaches and others, this effort is incredible – both in terms of the amount we proving to be making a real impact in helping to received and the enthusiasm expressed for the break down communication barriers between welcome kit effort … people loved it! Though the national office and those working and this effort is not inexpensive, we believe this is a serving the sport in the field. The great way to enhance the recognition and the communication works in two directions … the relationship for USA Swimming with its Coordinators are taking information about USA individual members and we have budgeted to do Swimming programs and services directly to this for all new members in 2003. This effort clubs and LSCs … and they are bringing back should be especially meaningful for the to the national office information that helps us approximately 90,000 new members who will to better understand what is happening in the join USA Swimming next year. field. When communication barriers come Looking Ahead… as we look to the future, down, better understanding and trust can be our commitment to “build the base” must take built. This is one of the most important on a higher importance within the entire USA initiatives we have undertaken and it is my Swimming family. We all need to embrace an

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enthusiasm for steady growth! While some other we can make a distinction between our youth activities – such as skateboarding and organisational members and “swimming extreme sports – are growing by leaps and customers” and by broadening our customer bounds, I believe our strategy for growth should base we can put ourselves in a position to bring be more planned and less susceptible to the even greater benefits back to USA Swimming peaks and valleys of current tastes and fads. I and its members. believe our approach to membership growth Promote the Sport… I have presented should be built around two major principles, what I believe to be a significant challenge to focus on clubs ... broaden our customer base. our Business Development staff team. And that Focus on clubs… the time has come to challenge is to … be exceptionally creative – be state loudly and clearly that USA Swimming the best NGB marketing team in the Olympic must provide more and better services to its movement – and to identify the most effective member clubs. As already noted in this report, promotional channels to benefit our sport. I can we are continuing to expand and seek new ways also tell you that we are making real progress to provide better service and support to our but our Business Development will tell you that clubs, but I do not yet think we have put it all “We are just getting started!” together in a complete package. Our Our plan is to take the available tools we programming efforts have been a series of “one- have – direct mail, events, Splash Magazine and offs” that collectively have produced a fairly other publications, promotions, sponsors, impressive array of services. However, the time television and our web site – and maximise the has come to take a longer and more awareness and attention we can garner from comprehensive view of our relationship to all these resources. We are incorporating the member clubs. We must take into account the National Team athletes into the plan but we are fact that not every club is in business to also working to leverage the power of a broader produce Olympic championships and we must association with all swimming-related activities. recognise and provide opportunities for these Let me tell you about some of the new and clubs as well as for those clubs that do exciting things that are happening. regularly produce elite-level athletes. Our clubs Charity & Cause Related Marketing… are the primary business units of our sport and from time to time we are asked by National they are the place where member services are Team athletes, clubs and others to participate delivered on a daily basis to individual athlete in various charitable causes. It is always members. I intend to lead our staff team and difficult to say no to a request to help others but challenge our Board and LSCs to adopt a as these requests have increased we have commitment that places a focus on clubs as searched for a strategic direction for how to best being among our most important strategic approach our relationship with other non-profit directions for the future. organisations and charitable causes. After Broaden our Customer Base… we much consideration, we have decided to should seek to position USA Swimming as the establish our own charitable initiative so that “core organisation for swimming in America”. we can now channel all future opportunities The statistics are startling. For every individual and requests into a program that seeks to help athlete member of USA Swimming, there are 10 swimming relating activities. Henceforth, we will other young people swimming on summer develop all charitable associations under the league, recreation centre, YMCA and school umbrella name of “H2O Swim” … which will teams who are not our members. Additionally, stand for Helping Others 2 Swim. We launched every year there are literally millions of children our first H2O Swim program in conjunction who take swimming lesson. There are tens of with the announcement of our new sponsorship thousands of competitive master’s swimmers with V-8 Splash and raised $280,000 for a and countless other adults who swim for water safety program that will be held next fitness. Research shows that more than 93 April. Hopefully, this will be the first of many million Americans aged six and older swam this new associations and initiatives that will be past year. Even more impressive is that 76% of administered under the banner of H2O Swim … these 93 million swam more than 25 times a Program of USA Swimming. during the year. We want to explore ways to Instructional Videos… we have recently connect to this broader universe of swimmers. piloted a new instructional video project, titled Accomplishing this would significantly re- Swim Fast…Tips and Techniques from USA position USA Swimming with the general public, Swimming’s Star Athletes and Top Coaches. The potential corporate partners and the media. first video was on the Butterfly, featuring This does not mean we need to be considering Michael Phelps and his coach, Bob Bowman. all these groups as possible members. Rather, The video is now being marketed to the

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swimming community and you hopefully have individual promotional sponsorships. And this seen the advertisement in Splash Magazine. It is past summer we finalised a supplemental deal our intention to have this be the first of many with this great company to be the title sponsor instructional videos in which we feature our top for our new signature event property – the athletes and their coaches. Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool. The event Public Service Announcement (PSA) will be held April 6, 2003 in Indianapolis, with Video… we have produced a new public service the NBC broadcast set for the following weekend announcement that debuted this summer on (April 12 & 13). We are promoting the event as if the Nickelodeon Network with the airing of it was a heavyweight prize-fight and we expect Splash TV. This PSA has also run on the recent to have an enthusiastic sell-out crowd. Last ESPN broadcasts of our Summer National year, I spoke of the importance for us to create Championships. We are extremely pleased that our own signature event for swimming and I the member response has been very positive could not be more pleased or proud that we about the video and the image and message it have created an event with a great corporate conveys. partner that will feature the greatest rivalry in Splash Magazine… with the largest Olympic sports today … the U.S. versus circulation of any swimming magazine on the Australia in swimming! And of course, we planet – continues to set the standard for NGB continue to be most appreciative of our ongoing publications. We challenge ourselves to sponsorship relationships with Speedo (23 maintain the highest publishing standards, years), Conoco-Phillips (30 years) and General both in terms of editorial content and graphics, Motors. and we have aggressively worked to expand the Television… in the 10 years prior to 1997, magazine’s appeal to a broader reach of our USA Swimming had no events on network membership. This is among the most valued television, except for the Olympic Trials and benefits that we provide to our members and I coverage. Since 1997, in am confident we can continue to deliver a addition to the Olympic Trials and Olympic product that is graphically pleasing, timely in Games coverage, we have televised 15 USA its content, informative and entertaining. In Swimming events. Our broadcast partners have addition to providing all member households included NBC, ESPN and the Outdoor Life with a copy of Splash Magazine, we currently Network. Additionally, we have launched Splash have about 2,000 paid subscribers who are not TV, which is USA Swimming’s own lifestyle members. programming television property. We broadcast Sponsorship… all around us we hear the 13 episodes of Splash TV last year on the moans of others as they struggle to secure and Outdoor Life Network. This year, in a major retain corporate sponsors in what is an programming and promotional move, we have extremely competitive and difficult marketplace. repackaged and repositioned Splash TV, which Despite the many obstacles, we are having is now broadcast on Nickelodeon and significant success in both finding new Nickelodeon Games and Sports. Five original sponsors and expanding the involvement of programs have been created, featuring National existing partners. Recently, we have announced Team athletes, water activities, water safety and that V-8 Splash (a juice product of the other water sports. We knew we were hitting the Campbell’s Soup Company) has joined USA mark when the second episode of this year’s Swimming as an Official Sponsor. We have just Splash TV had the highest rating during the finalised a deal with Swiss Timing-Omega to be two-hour Games & Sports block on Nickelodeon our official timing and scoring sponsor through in the 6-11 and 12-14 age group demographics. 2006. Omega is already a sponsor of the These ratings put Splash TV ahead of International Olympic Committee and FINA. Nickelodeon powerhouse SpongeBob This new relationships kick off at our World SquarePants and Rocketpower. Taken together, Cup event this November in New York. We are the combined efforts to broadcast our major in the midst of a four-year sponsorship with events on NBC and ESPN and to establish a Mutual of Omaha and hopefully you have seen lifestyle programming and promotional the advertisements supporting their relationship with Nickelodeon have given USA sponsorship of USA Swimming that have Swimming a legitimate place in the television regularly run in Sports Illustrated Magazine. marketplace. What you may not know is that Mutual of Ultimate Technique Clinics… this past Omaha is also piloting a number of local year our athletes have made 150 appearances programs in collaboration with member clubs as speakers and clinicians at various camp around the country. They have also signed programs. These appearances have resulted several USA Swimming athletes to major from a licensing arrangement we have made

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with Ultimate Technique Clinics as well as from Swimming roared back. Here is the final medal our own efforts to create a speakers bureau for count for the U.S. and Australia. athletes. At $1,000 per appearance, this activity Gold Silver Bronze Total Medals has generated an additional $150,000 in direct USA 21 16 15 52 Australia 11 14 3 28 support for our top athletes. This medal count only tells part of the story. Website… the USA Swimming website U.S. swimmers won virtually every close race serves as both our daily newspaper and with the Aussies. We are also seeing the informational archive. The number of unique emergence of many younger athletes, led by visitors has grown steadily from one year to the Natalie Coughlin and Michael Phelps. The next. As an example of how usage has grown, in Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool meet next August of 2002 more than 150,000 unique April will be a great re-match. The Aussies will visitors came to the site compared to 18,000 in be coming straight off their World August of 1997. Maintaining the website is a Championship Team Trials and will be in peak constant challenge. We are planning some condition. design and navigational enhancements for 2003 Also noteworthy are the four Long Course to make the site more user-friendly and we will World Record performances by USA Swimming continue to look for ways to have this be the athletes this year. One record fell at the Spring best website within the Olympic family. National Championships, two fella t the 25th Anniversary… in 2003, USA Summer National Championship meet, and a Swimming will celebrate its 25-year new 400 Medley Relay record was set by our anniversary. We will use this as an opportunity men at the Pan Pacific Championships. Here to recognise and promote 25 years of steady are the new names in the Long Course record growth and service to American swimming. To book. acknowledge this milestone, we will introduce Athletes Event Time and use a special 25th Anniversary logo Natalie Coughlin 100m Backstroke 59.58 throughout the year. Everyone associated with Michael Phelps 400m IM 4.11.09 USA Swimming should be proud of this Aaron Peirsol 200m Backstroke 1.55.15 Men’s Medley Team 400m IM 3.33.48 occasion and share in celebrating our 25 years Athlete Support… I am not aware of of service to swimming. We have again another Olympic sport whose NGB provides the challenged our Business Development Division level of direct cash support to its elite athletes to seek opportunities for us to celebrate this that USA Swimming does. In addition to the occasion and to integrate the anniversary logo direct payments that we currently make to throughout all our printed materials and media athletes, many of these same athletes are properties in the coming year. receiving significant supplemental payments Achieve sustained success in from our corporate sponsors. The combined International Competition… the run to direct support to our athletes from USA Athens and the 2004 Olympic Games is now Swimming, the USOC and our sponsors is now well underway. In Sydney, we had the optimum in excess of $2,000,000 per year. This is a environment for success. In Athens, the significant funding level and I believe it is circumstances will be more difficult and we will appropriate that we attempt to better be faced with many logistical obstacles. We will understand exactly how these funds are work diligently to overcome these obstacles, assisting our elite athletes. I am asking our while our top athletes and their coaches ready Athlete Executive Committee representatives to themselves to be at their best when their best work with our National Team Director to will be needed. conduct an evaluation of our athlete support Athletic Performances… the recent Pan program and to submit their findings and Pacific Swimming Championships can be recommendations to me by the end of 2003 so viewed as the launching pad for the run to the that we can take this information into account 2004 Olympic Games. The results from this as we develop our business and financial plan meet, when integrated with the results from the for the next Olympic quadrennial. European Championships sets up the initial Coach Incentive & Reward Program… pecking order for Athens. We sent a very good at the start of this quad, we launched a new team to this event, as did the Australians and reward program for coaches. This program the other participating nations. At the last Pan provides direct cash payments to coaches of Pac Meet (in 1999), the team battle between the athletes who win medals at year’s most U.S. and Australia came down to the last event. important international competition. $300,000 Not so this time, after a strong opening night has been budgeted for the program this year performance by Ian Thorpe & Co, USA and the awards will be made based on athlete performances at the Pan Pacific Swimming

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Championships … 32 coaches have qualified for dues. Complete information about the proposal, awards this year. Of these individuals, 21 are including a written document that has club coaches and 11 are college coaches. The addressed the most frequently asked questions payments will range from a high of $40,700 to a about the proposal, has been published on the low of $1,800. The average payment will be USA Swimming web site and hard copies have $9,400 per coach. We conducted an evaluation been made available to all convention delegates. of this program last year and the response I believe the adoption of this proposal is critical solidly reinforced our belief that this program to ensuring the continued growth of USA provides a real incentive to help keep coaches Swimming. I also believe the passage of this enthusiastic about coaching and focused on proposal will help ensure the long-term long-term international performance. financial health of our organisation. Above all, National Team Technical Support… I the passage of this proposal will provide the could not be more pleased with the way in resources that will fund additional services and which our sports science and sports medicine support to our club system … and supporting programs have evolved over the past two years. our club system is the key to the future of our When we made the decision to merge all our sport. The proposal sets a strategic direction for science resources into one department and have how new funds will be used and it establishes it be a coach-led and elite-athlete-focused the process by which specific programs and support unit for National Team athletes and services will be determined. Rather than have a coaches, there were many who questioned the staff team in Colorado Springs determine wisdom of this move. I believe that the work specific program needs, we are proposing that a being done by and his team has two-step process be followed … first, agree on more than justified our decision and I am the strategic direction and establish a revenue absolutely convinced that we are providing more base to fund new programs – and second, then and better support services for the National work with task forces comprised of athletes, Team than anyone else in the world. coaches, volunteers and staff to determine the 2003 Events… the road to Athens for most specific programs and services that can best of our top athletes officially began with the align against the strategic direction. I think this Summer National Championship meet, which is a reasonable and responsible approach. If our served as the selection meet for all teams that strategic direction is wrong, that’s a different will represent USA Swimming in international story, but I wholeheartedly believe that the competition in 2003. Three separate full teams direction is right, the dues increase reasonable, of athletes and coaches will represent the U.S. and the ability of the task forces to develop next summer at the World Championships, Pan meaningful impact programs and services will American Games and World University Games. help ensure the long-term growth and health of As we did in 1999, we are providing the swimming in America. broadest number of American athletes with the High School Swimming… in some states opportunity to prepare for one major around the country there are issues that bring international meet in the pre-Olympic year. high school swimming programs into conflict Additionally, the World Championship Team will with USA Swimming club programs. While this represent USA Swimming in The Mutual of concerns us, I do not yet see how we can effect Omaha Duel in the Pool meet against the change from the national office. Rather, I believe Australian National Team. our Local Swim Committees (LSCs) must 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials… plans attempt to work collaboratively with the for the Olympic Trials – to be held in Long appropriate state high school athletic Beach, California – are well underway. We are association to address the issues on a state-by- in regular communication with the host state, case-by-case basis. In states where there organisers in Long Beach and we are very are issues, this ought to become a high priority pleased with the progress. We have two goals for for advocacy work by our LSCs on behalf of the this event … to conduct a technically flawless athletes and the sport. competition for the athletes … and to put on a National Swim Centre & National spectacular show! I am confident that both of Training Centres… during the past few these goals will be accomplished. For more months, we have generated discussion around information about the Olympic Trials, visit the the concept of establishing a National Swim new web site: www.longbeach2004.com. Center. Floating this concept has led to III. FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES & discussions with seven groups in various sites CHALLENGES around the country. At the very least, we have Dues Proposal… much has been written succeeded in having at least seven communities and said about the proposal to increase member start giving serious consideration to the

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potential of constructing a major new aquatic obstacles than to hope and wait for the actions facility. As these discussions are continuing to of others. evolve, so too has the initial concept evolved. IV. CLOSE Rather than thinking about establishing a This is a sombre week in American history. single National Swim Center, we are now As long as we conduct our annual convention at considering the potential for fostering this same time every year, the tragedies of relationships that might result in the September 11 will resonate among us. However, construction of multiple National Training we can seek and find some peace and joy Centers. This is all very much in the amongst ourselves and within our extended conceptualisation stage but I think it is swimming family. Like any healthy family we important to report to you that these are constantly growing and evolving. We discussions, while still extremely preliminary in experience highs and lows – we struggle to nature, are going on. overcome challenges and obstacles – and we Title IX… while functioning in a support seize opportunities and celebrate victories. role, USA Swimming remains very concerned Above all, we must keep our eyes fixed on the about the loss of intercollegiate men’s future, stay healthy and keep growing, and swimming programs. We have underwritten the strive for excellence in everything we do. We cost of producing and distributing a pamphlet should not be content or complacent … rather titled “Save Our Sport”, which is intended to be we should continue to find new and better ways an information and survival guide for college to serve our members and our sport. I am swim coaches. We have also been extremely personally fully committed to our core objectives active in encouraging the U.S. Olympic of BUILD, PROMOTE and ACHIEVE and I can Committee to take an advocacy leadership role only hope that each of you embrace these on behalf of all affected Olympic sports. concepts with the same amount of enthusiasm. Frankly, we are disappointed that USOC leaders In closing, I would be grossly remiss if I did are not responding more enthusiastically and not thank each and every one of you who has aggressively to our pleadings, and we will served USA Swimming as a volunteer. Service is continue to stress the importance of the role the the backbone of our organisation and your work USOC can play in effecting and influencing as local, regional and national volunteers helps change that will better preserve and protect to ensure that ours will always be a healthy, Olympic sports programs at the intercollegiate family-oriented sport that provides young level. athletes with the opportunity to reach their full U.S. Olympic Committee Relations… potential – both as athletes and as productive we desperately seek to have a collaborative and adults in our greater society. highly productive working partnership with the I would like to especially thank those USOC. We greatly value the funding support members of the Board of Directors whose terms that we currently receive. We also place a high are expiring … you have been wonderfully value on the access that athletes and teams supportive. And on a personal note, I wish to have to use the Olympic Training Center and thank Dale Neuburger for his caring, mature, the support services we receive from the thoughtful and wise leadership. Dale now joins International Games Preparation and the ranks of an impressive list of past International Relations Departments. We presidents and our organisation is truly better remain hopeful that both our Sport Partnership off today and better prepared for tomorrow for and joint marketing relationships with the his leadership. Dale now joins Carol Zaleski, USOC will be expanded. We look to the USOC to Bill Maxson, Ross Wales and Sandy Baldwin as be the major sponsor for our National Team a small group of very special people to whom program but funding has yet to measure up to USA Swimming will always be indebted. And the expectations we had at the start of the finally, I wish to say THANK YOU to each quad. We attribute this to leadership changes at member of our staff team in Colorado Springs. the USOC and the difficulties being faced There is no finder group of individuals working throughout the sports sponsorship in the U.S. Olympic family. And I especially marketplace. We will certainly continue to be wish to thank Dennis Pursley, Jim Harvey, Mike positive and proactive in our efforts to develop Unger, Rod Davis and Kathy Parker, who are our USOC relationship but I think it is also my inner circle and senior leadership team. reasonable for us to strive for as much These are special people, each in their own way independence and self-sufficiency as possible. and I am so proud to be associated with them. These are uncertain times and it is much better The future of USA Swimming is very bright. for USA Swimming to aggressively seek We know where we are going and we know how solutions to the current challenges and to get there. We are fully committed to the

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mission and we have the discipline and individual path for each of us. We are all unique perseverance to execute the strategies that will and must find out what works for us to achieve keep our organisation strong and healthy. We success. Let’s look at each of the Performance will stumble on occasion but nobody will get Factors in a little more detail to help back up and on track faster. As I do every year, understand these concepts… I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to Technique… It has been researched and have the best job in the world and I pledge to proven that technique is best taught and give my best every day in service to USA learned between the ages of 8-12 years of age. Swimming. Training (endurance) should then be introduced Thank you. beginning at 10 or 11 years of age. Do you have good technique? Reproduced from ASCA Newsletter Are you committed to making stroke changes? Volume 2002 Issue 12 Do you concentrate on stroke work within practices and make the most of this time to learn MY TIMES AREN’T IMPROVING AS and conquer new skills? FAST AS I WANT Some athletes are born (or blessed) with a natural feel for the water. These swimmers WHAT SHOULD I DO? seem to just glide through the water and their By Jennifer Gibson, Ft. Wayne Aquatics strokes seem to develop easier. But, EVERYONE needs to focus on stroke work. The younger the There are so many possible answers/reasons swimmer, the more time and emphasis that or combination of, as to why a swimmer’s times needs to be spent on stroke development. As an are not dropping. (Or dropping fast enough to age grouper progresses, he needs to be able to satisfy the swimmer.) To answer this question, focus on stroke refinement. Many athletes let’s think about the following… short-change themselves in this area. Do you, the swimmer, have set goals? Within the FWA program, I am confident in Are the goals realistic? saying that everyone does some sort of stroke Are they written down somewhere? work every workout session. It then depends on Have you followed your goals and done what the athlete chooses to do with this time. A everything that you possibly can to make these swimmer should have goals which include goals a reality? stroke improvement/refinement. No one has Have you communicated the goals to your ever suffered from too much stroke work! WITH coach? TECHNIQUE, COMES SPEED. What feedback did the coach give you? Attendance & Consistency… Attendance Without the goal, what are you working and the consistency of that attendance toward? Know what you are going to do and throughout the ENTIRE season should also be how to go about doing it before the season included in the goal-setting process. As the old begins. Goal setting is a little scary at first – saying goes, “the more you put into something, mainly because we are somewhat afraid to fail. the more you get in return”, and “the more you The more you practice setting goals, the more give, the more you get”. Many swimmers do a comfortable and confident you will become. great job when they are at practice but they are Remember, be specific – short-term=daily, not at practice enough. Do you start the season when everyone else weekly; mid-season and long-term goals (end-of- does, or do you start a few weeks late? season). Remember that it will become Do you take Saturdays off so that you end up necessary to re-evaluate and reset those goals being out of the water two entire days in a row? periodically. Do you do several different sport/activities that YOU MUST SEE YOURSELF DOING IT prevent you from consistently being at the BEFORE YOU CAN DO IT. optimal number of workouts week-to-week? Common Performance Factors for Swimmers- How much time do you take off between seasons Athletes of all ages… compared to others who are swimming well? • Technique Following is a basic outline for the number of • Attendance/Consistency practices based on age (with abilities and • Natural Talent experience kept in mind)… Ages (years) Times Weekly • Mental Preparation 6-9 2-3 • Health Status 9-10 3-4 These are common factors but every 10-11 4-5 11-13 5-6 swimmer’s approach to dealing with these is 13 & over 6-6+ unique. The quest to success is a very

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Natural Talent… can work in your favour, software? Did that high-frequency neuro- or it can work against you. This, however, is up mechanical stimulator actually strengthen our to the individual swimmer. (Sometimes, in legs? younger swimmers, the parent can play a big Browne and Johnson are among the half- role here also.) Sometimes when people are dozen runners on a Nike team dubbed the “blessed” with natural ability, they either do not Oregon Project, a stealth experiment headed by learn a very valuable lesson, or it takes them onetime marathon star Alberto Salazar to create longer. The lesson is learning to work for what a radically better runner. Over the last eight we receive. Good old-fashioned work ethic! months, they’ve lived in a five-bedroom Portland Young people can want a lot in return for not bungalow, training pretty much like other top- doing (or giving) very much to get the reward – tier racers. They run about 105 miles a week, whatever the reward may be. In this case, it sleep 10 hours a night, and wolf down pasta by would be to improve your swimming times. the bowl. But the rest of their regimen is highly Most coaches would have to agree the athletes unusual – a multimillion-dollar lab project that who are easiest to work with are those who have relies on up-to-the-minute, sometimes untested, a great work ethic and will give of themselves at scientific theory and technological gizmos. every practice. (Of course, this discipline For starters, there’s the house itself. becomes more important as we progress and Research shows that sleeping at high altitude mature.) Many times the athlete who has increases the production of oxygen-carrying red started out his swimming career with many blood cells, which, when combined with intense, successes without having to “try”, can often low-elevation workouts, dramatically improves times face a harder road ahead when others athletic performance. Of course, it’s logistically physically develop and have been willing to put tricky to live high and train low – unless Nike forth great effort in order to improve. Many makes you a special mock-altitude house. parents of young and successful swimmers Which is exactly what happened. Molecular (athletes) can find themselves being caught up filters inside the house remove oxygen, creating in the whirlwind of excitement of having a the thin air found at 12,000 feet. Runners eat, young AND successful athlete. When the other sleep, watch TV, and play videogames at what teammates, etc., begin to catch these athletes, their bodies think is high elevation. Meanwhile, they can have a very hard time understanding they train at Portland’s sea level. that physically the difference are beginning to Then there’s the laptop loaded with some even out as children go into and through $35,000 worth of Russian software. By puberty. analysing heart rate patterns, the software aims to take the guesswork out of training. Plug Reproduced from ASCA Newsletter electrodes into the auxiliary box, wire up the Volume 2003 Issue 1 runner’s chest, and four minutes later there’s The ULTIMATE Running an onscreen message suggesting just how intensely to work out that day. If the runner Machine adds an electrode to his forehead, in 15 more Inside a Soviet-style training camp, corporate minutes the system assesses overall health by scientists are re-engineering neuro-mechanics, blood checking the condition of his liver, kidneys, and chemistry, and brain waves. Welcome to the Oregon central nervous system. Johnson, for one, is a Project, where Nike is rebuilding the US Marathon big believer in the software. “It knows when I’m Team one high tech step at a time. ready to go” he says. By Andrew Tilin Other high tech tools available to the Oregon Wired Issue 10-08; August 2002 team include a vibrating platform to increase leg power and a hyperbaric (high-pressure oxygen) It’s a Saturday morning in Central Park, chamber to repair muscle tears. The company’s and 44 elite runners nervously stretch, retie goal in all this is clear: use technology to their shoelaces, and jog in place before the start counter the increasing domination of African of the USA Men’s 8K Championships. Most of runners, many of whom were born and train at the invited athletes are mulling over typical pre- altitude. race concerns … Did I log enough miles? Am I “The rest of the world has gotten faster, and psyched to push my body? Should I hit the Americans have gotten slower” says Salazar. Porta Potty? “Our methods have gone awry”. But two runners, Dan Browne and Chad No one doubts that. The question is whether Johnson, have more on their minds … Was Salazar’s unstinting embrace of technology is there enough oxygen in our hermetically sealed the solution. He’s the first to admit that it’s a house? How reliable is the Russian brain wave quixotic gamble – nobody has ever accumulated

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so much machinery in the name of making with Nike as both a sponsored athlete and an marathoners faster. Which is why this obscure employee (working mostly in sports marketing). Central Park race (who has ever heard of an Over the years, Salazar and Clarke had 8k?) is significant. The April contest represents discussed the faltering US running scene. When the first serious test of the science behind the they met last summer, Salazar suggested a Oregon Project. marathon-training approach that relies on Stripping down to their skimpy blue singlets obscure technology. Clarke, who has a and black shorts, Johnson and Browne shake doctorate in biomechanics, figured the the last kinks out of their legs. They inch unorthodox plan might succeed where standard toward the start line. The gun sounds and they regimens have failed. lunge forward, arrowing through the park at a Then Salazar went looking for runners with 4.5-minute-mile pace. the right stuff … a willingness to live together, The record books tell the humiliating truth. experiment with unusual training methods, and From 1983 through 2001, US distance runners build on their already freakish genetic gift for won a mere 4% of Olympic and World running fast. Each Oregon Project athlete has Championship gold medals. In the marathon, posted plenty of impressive race results showing only one American appears on the list of the potential for a 10k (6.2 miles) time under 28:30 race’s 50 fastest times. That runner, Khalid – sufficient speed for getting to world-class Khannouchi, first appeared on the list as a times around 2:08 in the marathon. Moroccan in 1999, when he set the world Back in Central Park, the lead runners are record. This April, Khannouchi – now a US reaching Cat Hill, the race’s 3.5-mile mark. citizen – broke his own record with a time of Johnson has fallen back, but Browne shares 2:05:38 in Boston. the lead with two others. Into the last mile, the It wasn’t always like this for American three are still bunched. Finally, with 400 metres marathoners. In the ‘70s, the US fielded some of left, Tim Broe, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, the best long-distance runners in the world. inches ahead to beat Browne by three seconds Frank Shorter won marathon gold at the 1972 and win with a time of 22:26. Browne, however, Olympics and a silver at the 1976 games. Bill tops his personal 8k record by more than 30 Rodgers won both the Boston and New York seconds. Salazar is encouraged yet remains City marathons four times. cautious. But two decades of lacklustre results have “There are lots of great ideas out there, great frustrated American running enthusiasts. Nike coaches and athletes, on other American teams. vice president Tom Clarke, a veteran of 35 But for whatever reason, they don’t win,” he marathons, got particularly angry watching a says. “We’re trying to train smarter.” train of foreigners dominate the 2001 Boston The search for novel ways to win dates back Marathon. As head of the corporation’s new to the Roman era. Gladiators ate strychnine as ventures, Clarke found a way to channel that a Punic War pick-me-up, although excessive anger. He decided to create a US enclave amounts proved deadly. In the 19th century, dedicated to the marathon. He knew such a European cyclists explored the effectiveness of program could resuscitate American racing – heroin and cocaine. And Charlie Paddock, the and, not so incidentally, would make great 100-metre-dash champion in the 1920 business sense for a company that began by Olympics, swore by a sports drink of sherry and selling running shoes. Just think if Nike could raw egg. By World War II, primitive physiology create a Michael Jordan or a Tiger Woods for labs across the United States, , and the running world. Or … more realistically … a Russia demonstrated the benefits of aerobic . The exercise and weight lifting. champion, who is sponsored by Nike, has given Still, sports and science were hardly a big boost to its new line of cycling apparel – overlapping fields. That changed after two proving that the company can squeeze profits unrelated developments in the months before out of swooshed athletes in less-heralded the 1968 Olympics. First, the International sports. Olympic Committee introduced drug testing for “If we could come in with another wave of athletes. The decision to test suggested that champions,” concedes Clarke, “it’d be exciting illicit chemicals were in fact effective in for anything even related to running as a improving performance – and it triggered an business.” underground scientific movement of renegades Clarke sold the idea to Nike chair Phil determined to stay one step ahead of the drug Knight. Then he set out to find two things: a enforcers. Around the same time, American Jim coach and some athletes. He approached Ryun set a world record in the mile, clocking Salazar, who had a longstanding relationship 3:51.1. Ryun’s achievement suggested the

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wisdom of his training methods, which relied on alone when Salazar made the offer. Dave Davis the untested scientific notion that running in was completely broke and about to start rarefied air helps an athlete absorb oxygen and landscaping for cash. Now Nike pays them an then convert it to energy. A believer, Ryun did undisclosed stipend so they can train full-time. his pre-race conditioning at high altitude. For Karl Keska, signing on with the Oregon Today’s endurance athletes follow in the wake of Project was an easy decision. the trail blazed by Ryun; they pack their “I’d like to do well in an Olympic marathon,” aerodynamic bike helmets, wrist altimeters, and he says. “As frightening as it sometimes sounds, nutritional supplements into duffels and this seems like a very natural and normal migrate to high-elevation burgs like environment for helping me reach my goal.” Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Durango, There’s nothing natural or normal about a Colorado. sea-level house that simulates 12,000 feet. The Shortly after Ryun’s record-setting run, idea for the altitude house is based on research Salazar, who was born in Cuba and raised in done in 1997 by Benjamin Levine and James Boston, started jogging in the footsteps of his Stray-Gundersen. Their 39-person study proved older brother, Ricardo. Soon everyone was the benefits of the live high, train low theory. chasing Alberto. In high school, he trained with They found that runners who bedded down in marathon legend Bill Rodgers. He became a the mountain town of Deer Valley, Utah, and track star in the late 1970’s at the University of went to train in – some 4,000 Oregon. Following a disappointing sixth place vertical feet lower – posted improvements in finish in one NCAA championship, he put a sign their 5k times that were unmatched by athletes on his bedroom wall with the mantra will never sleeping and training at either high or low be broken again. Salazar still occasionally lost – altitudes. By breathing rarefied air, the live he once received last rites from a race-going high, train low subjects benefited from boosted Priest after his body temperature reached 108 oxygen-carrying capacity and improved oxygen degrees – but he usually won big. From 1980 to delivery to the muscles. Exercising in oxygen- 1984, he took the New York Marathon three rich air, the subjects could reach peak training times, the Boston Marathon once, and made intensities. Live high, train low offers the best of two Olympic teams. And he did it all without two ambient worlds … sleep your way to better regard for science. physiology, and redline your muscles into “I had a blood-and-guts mentality. I didn’t condition during workouts. think I needed sports drinks or water,” says Salazar met with Levine and Stray- Salazar. Gundersen in Dallas in 1998 to get advice When a bad case of bronchitis triggered the about his asthma. He quickly became a convert onset of asthma in the mid-1980’s, Salazar to the live high, train low method. The Oregon experimented with innovative training Project house has been outfitted with a few equipment. He slept in a primitive hypobaric airtight light fixtures and about $110,000 worth (low-oxygen) chamber to simulate living at of nascent, air-thinning technology. In three altitude and a hyperbaric chamber to saturate bedrooms and a common room, electrical his sore muscles with healing 02. Yet nothing pumps draw air through molecular sieves. The helped him overcome the effects of losing 40% sieves trap unwanted oxygen, which gets of his lung function, and Salazar stopped flushed back outside, while carbon dioxide competing in 1994. His enthusiasm for sports filters, various sensors, and wall-mounted science, however, never waned. Salazar turned keypads work to maintain the rooms’ air two sons into all-state football and soccer mixtures. Outside the altitude house lie the players by mixing them protein potions and endless running trails of Portland’s Forest Park, making them sprint with parachutes on their but inside, behind sealed windows, is the air backs. usually found somewhere above snow-capped Late last year, with the project approved, Mount Hood. Salazar rented a 3,000-square-foot house in “We’ve got to recalibrate in here,” says northwest Portland and started recruiting top- Salazar over the din of two thigh-high pumps in flight runners interested in becoming the rec room. It’s a Thursday morning, the marathoners. For the athletes, the call from runners are out for a 10-miler, and Salazar has Salazar was like winning the lottery: Join a been summoned to the house because the group of talented training partners; live in a system alarm went off. “The athletes didn’t rent-free, high tech house; score plenty of Nike change a filter when they should have,” he says, swag; and have the whole thing overseen by a studying the digital display on the altitude- marathon legend turned coach. Mike Donnelly system keypad. “At least there are no headaches was working part-time at a bank and running or nosebleeds to report.”

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Not yet, anyway. But Salazar and the recommendations will be made public early next coaches of other live high, train low athletes, year. including Lance Armstrong and 2001 world “The argument for altitude rooms is that they mountain-bike champion Alison Dunlap, admit make up for those athletes that can’t live high. they’re just guessing about the proper air What they don’t take into account is that people thinness. As early adopters, they have no one to living high don’t get the benefits of training low,” consult. Their best guide, the 1997 study, says the agency’s senior managing director, lasted only a month. Larry Bowers. “There’s nothing that says sport is Dunlap slept in her altitude room for weeks fair. But where do you draw the line?” before the 2000 Summer Olympics, and her Salazar’s confident that the Anti-Doping hematocrit – the ratio of red blood cells to total Agency will ultimately approve the altitude blood volume – successfully jumped 21%. But house. He says it’s no different from other legal she blames living high for her inability to scientific advances like heart rate monitors and recover from hard workouts and shake a bad sports drinks. chest infection. Undeterred, Salazar has In the meantime, the common goal of programmed the Oregon Project’s systems at striding ever faster has bonded the athletes. 12,000 feet based on recommendations of Even Salazar’s request that the runners spend Colorado Altitude Training, the Boulder-based 12 hours of each day in the house – specifically, manufacturer of the house’s equipment. the three bedrooms and rec room outfitted with “We think the sweet spot is somewhere air-thinning equipment – has not dampened between 8,000 and 13,200 feet,” says CAT spirits. There’s always an action flick on president Larry Kutt. television, and Keska and Johnson spend hours The athletes felt the elevation as soon as they playing Halo matches on an Xbox. (Their moved in. Johnson had a hard time catching enthusiasm is contagious … they plan to his breath after rearranging his bedroom. Keska network several units to expand the competition couldn’t sleep and plodded through his to the other housemates.) Saturday night comes workouts. Then someone noticed that the rec and they’re hanging together looking out at the room controls were mistakenly set to 14,000 Willamette River through sealed windows and feet, staggering most of the runners as if they plastic liners. were approaching the Himalayas. Two days before a 3,000-metre race at the “It could turn out that what’s good for one guy University of Washington, Salazar wants to is bad for another,” says Salazar, futzing with a check Chad Johnson’s condition. He could start handheld sensor to verify the rec room’s oxygen by asking Johnson how he feels, maybe factor content. “We’ll need to find out if somebody in the colour of his urine or the rate of his should sleep at 9,000, not 12,000. Or if most of pulse. Instead, Salazar tells the lanky runner to the runners should go four weeks at altitude, lie face up on the living room floor, next to a then three weeks off. There are endless laptop wired to a box that’s sprouting scenarios.” Electrodes. Salazar and Nike won’t wait for the sport “Chad just had one of the best workouts he’s science community to provide answers. Nike run in the last week and a half,” says Salazar, exercise physiologist Loren Myhre regularly attaching the conductors to Johnson’s bare takes blood samples from each runner to chest. “I bet he’s ready to run great.” monitor differences in the counts of their “I think I’m running pretty good,” affirms oxygen-toting red cells; the first of what could Johnson. be years’ worth of lab samples were submitted They wait for the OmegaWave Sports before the New York City 8k. When Myhre has Technology System to blip to life. In four enough data, the Oregon Project findings could minutes, the electrodes will read heart rate provide a live high, train low road map for every variability – the small dips and rises in heart willing athlete. rate that indicate health, illness, or exhaustion. That promise could, thanks to the drug cops, Then algorithms will crunch the data to assess go unrealised. In February, the United States Johnson’s condition. (A lengthier procedure Anti-Doping Agency, the governing body charts slow-moving omega brain waves, which responsible for fighting drugs in Olympic sports, reflect the state of a subject’s hormonal and hired a think tank to establish nervous systems. The brain wave test provides recommendations on where acceptable further guidance as to whether the runner performance-enhancement practices end and should rest or push the envelope.) cheating begins. One key consideration … the A small graph appears on the screen. “That’s ethics of the altitude house. Preliminary what we want,” says Salazar, pointing to a loose cluster of dots. “When there’s too little variation,

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the heart is tense and tired.” Indeed, the “These guys are so dedicated and OmegaWave reports in its robot-like language … determined”, he says. “Maybe they will tell me, ‘I this system ready for individual loads of max don’t feel great’. Well, you know, how not great quantity and intensity. do you feel?” Developed by Russian scientists and Salazar finds the OmegaWave valuable computer programmers during the 80’s and because it replaces the need to regularly poke a 90’s, the OmegaWave system has won a subject for blood or run him to exhaustion in a following. The Oxford rowing team, underdogs lab. He says that the system will eventually win last March against Cambridge in their annual over all the Oregon Project runners, especially head-to-head race on the Thames River, used as they bend under the strain of increasingly the OmegaWave to guide their training, and hard workouts. Salazar forgives the system an won. The NFL’s Miami Dolphins also recently occasional miscalculation, because he believes bought a system. Stanford’s rowing team, the the OmegaWave reliably indicates trends. “Is it NBA’s Phoenix Suns, and a couple of perfect? I don’t think anything’s perfect,” says professional baseball teams have all examined Salazar, pulling the Omega Wave electrodes off but passed on the technology. Johnson’s chest. “But it gives valuable What stopped them? There’s the expense ... information.” and also the lack of scientific evidence. A few days later at the University of Neurologists have never heard of the “omega Washington, Johnson runs a personal best 7:55 waves” the system supposedly charts. for the 3k. That 4:15-per-mile pace earns him Cardiologists agree that changes in heart rate second place. can indicate physiological abnormalities, but Salazar is up-front about his willingness to correlating that information with a training plan try almost anything in the name of improving remains sketchy. “It’s smarmy of them to be performance. To some, his training methods marketing something that has little to no reek of desperation. But he figures that publication,” says Robert Schoene, an exercise embracing unorthodox – and as-yet unproven – physiologist and pulmonologist at the University technologies may in the end give his athletes an of Washington. edge. So why not try? “As you improve, you have The OmegaWave boosters say Western less room for improvement,” he says, sitting with researchers are close-minded. They insist that Browne and Johnson on a couch in the altitude Russian and American scientific literature house. “That’s when you really start adding supports the underlying theories behind the things. You don’t leave any stone unturned.” software; the system simply ties those theories Which explains why Salazar and the project together in a logical package. The Russians members are clustered in the living room, insist that the Omega Wave can stand up to the watching a laptop that shows a split screen of rigors of clinical testing. Browne and Johnson running their individual The debate over the system plays out in the track workouts. DartTrainer, the $3,000 ranks of the altitude house. Johnson uses the software coaching package, slices up video into Omega Wave system nearly every day and 30 frames per second. Designed to help athletes doesn’t mind surrendering his intuition. “I from gymnasts to skaters to baseball players started believing in it when I was really tired. I’d polish their techniques, the software made a check myself, and the system would say I was splash during the tired,” he says, propping himself onto his telecasts, when DartTrainer generated cool elbows. instant replays by superimposing images of Keska’s not so sure. He backed out of one skiers competing side by side against their intense workout on the OmegaWave’s peers. What helps down-hillers – Salazar figures recommendation. “But another time it said I was – could help distance runners. absolutely screwed, and I had a tremendous “See how you toe out?” Salazar tells Browne, workout,” he says. “I take what it says with a clicking frame by frame through video to expose grain of salt.” The first time Browne was tested, a slight flaring of the runner’s right foot. “We the system missed by 15% his rate of maximum want to bring that in.” Browne nods, adding, oxygen consumption, a key figure in assessing “I’m bringing my hands too high.” an endurance athlete’s abilities. So he’s sticking Working with the DartTrainer is risky, since with his own impulses. changing even one aspect of a runner’s style Salazar, however, hates to rely on a runner’s might trigger injuries or breakdowns in form. word for his own condition. The coach knows “But you don’t have a chance to compete against the obsessive-compulsive instinct to overtrain – the very best unless you run like them,” says and the perils of it, too. His tenure as a top Salazar. He expects DartTrainer to help lower marathoner lasted just two years. each runner’s 5k time by about. 10 seconds –

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roughly 1%. And that, in a nutshell, captures Salazar’s Perhaps the most curious device in Salazar’s I’ll-try-anything enthusiasm. Not everyone in tech arsenal, a vibrating platform, was set up in the running community shares it. “I’m sure the living room back when the athletes moved there’s lots of equipment out there that I don’t in. The neuro-mechanical stimulator, called even know about. I just use the things that I Nemes, looks like a mutant bathroom scale with understand,” says Joe Vigil, who coached 19 a telescoping handlebar for support. To WORK national-champion collegiate cross-country OUT on the machine, athletes stand on the teams and currently trains six Olympic-calibre motorised platform for several 1-minute runners. “I don’t have time to mess around.” intervals while it agitates just 4mm up and Even those willing to entertain the Oregon down – an imperceptible movement unless Project’s scientific potential believe that the you’re along for the weird, leg-tingling ride. technology’s biggest effect could’ be Studies published in periodicals like the psychological. “Whether or not you think it works European Journal of Applied Physiology report or it actually does work, if your competition is that athletes who incorporate vibration training thinking the same, then it all plays into an into their regimens make significant power advantage,” says Olympic medallist Frank gains. The Nemes, which is used by Austrian Shorter, an early subscriber to the benefits of skiing star Hermann Maier, increases the living at altitude. “When 1 was running, my amount of electricity running from the brain to motto was ‘I’ll never deny a good rumour about the muscles and recruits greater strength by me.’“ firing up usually dormant muscle fibres. The A couple of months into the program, brain also learns to dispatch more electricity in however, the runners began to question subsequent physical efforts. “It seems to be Salazar’s fanatical enthusiasm for dabbling. reprogramming the brain or rewiring the nervous They staged a mutiny of sorts, dragging the system. We don’t exactly know yet,” says Henk Nemes platform into the garage to gather dust Kraaijenhof, a Dutch track coach who works and persuading Salazar to cancel the Pilates with Nemes inventor and former Italian track sessions. team physiologist Carmelo Bosco. Kraaijenhof “We run 10 miles in the morning, 5 miles in and others have evidence that Nemes workouts the afternoon, and the altitude rooms don’t allow help, with elite athletes improving their vertical us to recover so quickly. That doesn’t leave a lot leaps – a measure of lower-body power – by up of energy to frivolously waste on whatever else,” to 5 inches. says Browne. “We can only do so much in a Salazar figures improved jumping ability day.” could lead to a longer running stride, which Salazar acknowledges that he’s pushing the could produce big payoffs. A 1% gain in standard training program into unfamiliar distance covered per second saves a competitive territory. So he’s lightening up. He’s postponed runner about 80 seconds in a marathon. “It’s all regular use of the DartTrainer software until the physics,” he says. end of the gruelling summer racing season; One machine that Salazar hasn’t yet set up that’s also when he’ll insist on Nemes training is his old hyperbaric chamber. When inflated, and on consistent visits to the hyperbaric the couch-sized, pressurised tube seals around chamber. He hopes that by fall his athletes will a supine athlete. By compressing air by 30% … be so much faster that they’ll accept any device akin to being submerged in 10 feet of water … he introduces. “I don’t want to force things on the chamber allows the body to become highly the runners. If they improve a lot, then they’ll saturated with oxygen, accelerating recovery say, gee, yeah, let’s take another look at the from muscle tears, sprains, and bruises. Or so vibration platform,” says the coach. “They’ve got the theory goes. to believe in what they’re doing.” Since much larger hyperbaric chambers aid For Salazar the route to the 2004 Olympic in the regeneration of tissue for burn victims Games is clear. This summer, his runners will and plastic surgery patients, athletes from NFL compete in track events and short road races. linebacker Bill Romanowski to boxer Evander By spring 2003, he wants them putting together Holyfield believe smaller, lower-pressure a string of six sub-4:30 miles, finishing a 10k in chambers deliver similar benefits, along with 27:40. “That’s what other 2: 08 marathoners can better sleep and miraculous recoveries from run,” he says. Then he’ll prescribe the longer serious injuries. However, there’s no science to workouts needed to win a 26.2-mile race that back up the claims. “You read the promotional fall. literature, and it tells you the chambers do If an Oregon Project runner delivers an everything,” says Salazar. “Hey, they certainly impressive performance in his first marathon – won’t hurt you.” Salazar won in his debut – all eyes will fall on

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him at the Athens Olympics. And if a team “It was the best competition of my life. I went runner medals in , the Nike project will after those guys,” says Browne. “I was in a be lauded as genius. The last win by an world-class race. And I ran on a world-class American marathoner in the Olympics was level.” Shorter’s victory 30 years ago, which kicked off a national running boom. Reproduced from American Swimming Magazine There is the destination and then there is the 2003 Issue 1 journey. Blood tests in the spring suggested A Report from the that the altitude house was working – both “PLAY THE GAME” Donnelly and Johnson showed big spikes in their hematocrit levels. But then Donnelly and Conference in Copenhagen Keska began experiencing shortness of breath By John Leonard (Nov 11-14, 2002) and abnormally high heart rates, so Salazar lowered the elevation in their bedroom to 7,000 “In Salt Lake City, 1202 samples were taken feet. Donnelly aggravated an Achilles tendon from athletes for EPO Testing. 72 samples were injury, requiring surgery that would put him analysed. The capacity of the lab to handle tests out of competition for most of the summer. One was 500 samples. I leave it to you to find out stride forward, two strides back. why.” But Salazar won’t stray from his innovate-or- Bo Berglund, Sweden, Director of the bust training formula. Karolinska Hospital Department of Medicine “The plan remains doing, whatever is and one of the foremost physiologists in the necessary to create winners. We’ll think out of world. Member of the IOC Anti-Doping the box, not just for the sake of being different Committee. but to find what really works,” says the coach. “I “The WADA has sent independent observers know this is the way to go.” to all the major competitions (lists all, including Early last May, Salazar had another SLC) since its inception in 1999 and they have all opportunity to show the track world that reported back on the successful anti-doping technology can help push American runners to procedures being followed.” the fore. On a cool, still Palo Alto night at Mr Craig Reedie, Chairman of Finance, ’s Cardinal Invitational WADA, representing , head of 10,000-metre race, Dan Browne took off against WADA. Mr Reedie is an employee of WADA and a field of Kenyans and African-born Meb also a member of the IOC. Keflezighi, who holds the American record at the “Mr Reedie, in SLC, 1202 samples were taken distance. for EPO testing. 72 tests were performed, the lab The Kenyans and Keflezighi immediately had the capacity for 500 tests, according to what bolted to the front, and Browne fell to the rear we heard from Mr Bo Berglund earlier in the of a pack for the first 5 kilometres. Then he week. What is the role of the WADA observers if made his move, passing rivals until, on the last this has not been reported?” lap, Browne powered by three more athletes and Mr John Leonard (formerly naïve American closed fast on a fourth. Salazar, standing on the quasi journalist), in a formal question in front of track’s perimeter, only looked calm. “I was 250 reporters. jumping up and down inside,” he says. Kenyan “Then please tell me, kind sir, how we can Albert Chepkurui won, followed closely by accept WADA’s proclamation of itself as the Keflezighi. Kenya’s Luke Kipkosgei crossed the watchdog of anti-doping?” JL line third – only a hair ahead of Browne, who “Well, we just are, if we don’t do it who will?” finished in 27:47.04, shattering his old best by (Reedie) half a minute. Who, indeed? The shell game continues. On a great day, an elite 10,000-metre runner Headlines around the world in direct news competing in a pressure-packed international releases from WADA proclaimed that over 1200 competition can maybe take a double-digit EPO samples had been taken. Not one reporter chunk out of his time. Reducing one’s mark by picked up on the fact that they had to ASK to 30 seconds, however, borders on the unnatural ascertain that only 72 were actually tested. Of – and perhaps Browne’s feat was exactly that. those 72, 3 were positive, including one His red blood cell count, measured before medallist. (Three medallists if you toss out the travelling to the Bay Area, was 11% higher than two that were overruled on “procedural it was the day he joined the team. While Browne grounds”.) 3 of 72, OK, let’s give in and say one can’t quantify how much the altitude house of 72. contributed to his performance, he knows one What if they had carried out actual tests on thing: He didn’t run like this before the project. all 1202?

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Well, let’s round the 72 up to 100 as we “play Are Dick Pound (IOC Member) and Craig this game”, and multiply the results of the 100 Reedie (IOC Member) truly interested in freeing by 12, to equal the number of samples the world of Doping, or are these two simply available. 3 positives of 72, which means we’d profiting from two very well paid jobs as average 36 positives over the 1202 tests, maybe consolation prizes for coming in third in the big a bit MORE. derby to succeed Mr Samaranch? Are they there Of those 36, one-third would be medallists, as placeholders with “apparent freedom” only to or 12 medals handed out to cheaters in the be “held in waiting” for a future when a political Olympic Games … and WADA reports that all is resurgence is possible and their good work with well. WADA will once again make them candidates? The same old shell game Or are they really just that bad at their jobs? Tell the public a clever story … “we collected Really just so used to performing PR exercises samples from 1202 athletes in the endurance that they can’t stop? sports”. The same old shell game Assume that no one will be smart enough to The Play the Game Conference, in its third ask how many were tested … which no one was. incarnation (first 1997, second 2000, third PR bonanza … but the cheating continues 2002) is a coalition of journalists, mostly unabated and WADA reaps the PR bonanza of investigative reporters, and scientists. They having “caught” an Olympic medallist, thereby invite the organisational figures, from all the confirming their “watchdog status”. relevant bodies to address them, then question Send out some utterly charming people like them and share information among themselves Mr Reedie to defend you to journalists. But as well. This year, 57 nations were represented make sure they are people EXACTLY like Mr by over 270 individuals. In addition to Reedie (the Finance Director), who can always tremendous and important information learned say, “gee, sorry, that’s not my department” when formally at the conference, private the tough questions come up. conversations with individuals ranging from The same old shell game Andrew Jennings to representatives of Novo- There is more … much more Nordisk, which manufactures Growth Hormone Ask the charming Mr Reedie if WADA has for the medical market, were extremely formed the investigative unit comprised of productive. In addition, I made informal “police sources, athletes, coaches, scientists contacts with many of the world’s most qualified and others” that Mr Pound announced last April investigative reporters. My thanks to John 12 in a press conference in at WADA Hoberman, University of Texas, and Andrew headquarters, and he will tell you. “Urn, uh, Jennings, Daily Mail, London, for persuading well, not quite yet”. Ask him why it takes more me to attend. than eight months to do so, when the list of In the remainder of this report, I will present people WADA needs is immediately obvious to the names and credentials of the speakers I all, and you get the answer, “I’ll look into that listened to, and the salient points garnered from and get back to you; we certainly could include each. Some are “small issues,” some are large. such a thing under our Research Department”. All are worthwhile. Like the ASCA clinic, there No, he was not making a bad joke. He was are tracks taking place at the same time, so I serious. Ask him what their Research could not attend all sessions. Like the ASCA Department has been researching and he says clinic, a lot of what you learn is done in the “Urn, well, nothing quite yet, we’ve only just halls, with informal conversations. Some of that gotten people hired”. Three years after formation is blockbuster stuff which people are not willing and 18 months after locating its headquarters? to share on an official basis, so I present it here, “Well, we’ve been very busy.” Ask why so little at the end, without attribution. These should be has actually been accomplished and he says (in treated as “rumours.” Like many rumours, a joking manner), “Well, if only you Americans probably some are true as stated, some are would pay your bill, we could do more.” overstated, some understated, and some are The same old shell game inaccurate. Totally and completely unacceptable. And we Thanks for taking the time to read this far, are left with the same questions we have had for and for those who have more pressing business decades. to attend to, the summary of what I learned at Is WADA (the IOC) stupid? Is WADA (the IOC) Play the Game is simple … “The Same old Shell inept? Game” continues. Does WADA (the IOC) actually want to catch I wondered about the Title of the Conference cheats, or do they only want to give the ... “Play the Game.” On the last night there was appearance of catching cheats??? a gala, and at the gala, an

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entertainer/comedian who sang his last song at 13. Costs of the EPO test are about $100 per the piano. He was inventive and clever. The test. refrain of his last song was as follows. We have GERHARD TREUTLEIN heard the philosophy before, but perhaps now, Member, German Anti-Doping Unit its meaning expands. “No matter what the 1. West Germans were doped in the 80’s also. question, no matter what the need, there is only Just by individual doctors, not state one answer, just one answer, Play the Game!” sponsored. The cheats will continue. Those who wish to 2. The East German cheating was perfect, not beat their heads against the wall to stop them one ever caught. will continue to do so. But in the end there is 3. 4700 professional coaches in the East were just one answer, Play the Game! paid 250 million dollars a year. 1000 Prepare clean. Compete clean. Play the medical doctors were paid 100 million a Game! Sometimes the clean athlete will win, year, 5000 admin personnel were paid 200 but always the clean athlete will Play... the... million a year. Game. Don’t give it over to those who cheat, for 4. Admitted that NO ONE is tracking these they do not ... play the game. 10,700 personnel and where they have Now, some summaries of key talks. moved to after E. Germany disbanded (in DR. BO BERGLUND – Sweden response to public questions from JL). 1. It is possible to manipulate haemoglobin Agreed it was an absolute need, since these levels to make an EPO test come out under people have the ability to move the the limits allowed. information. 2. The above takes 20 minutes to have a 10% 5. Up until two weeks ago, the same guy who effect. ran dirty E. German wrestling was still in 3. Methods include … lie with head lower than charge of united German wrestling. legs ... drink any neutral fluid for approx. 20 6. Doping was given in nutrition in some minutes ... exercise in the AM prior to the cases, which may be why Kristen Otto can test for 20 Minutes. All three together can say “I was not doped.” (Just reporting what result in about an 18% lowering of Haemo, he said...) to below legal limits. It will “reassume 7. Insulin was used to build muscle in the previous levels within two hours, if EPO is 1980’s and all the way to the end. Opium in the system.” was given to “lighten the mental load of 4. None of the artificial oxygen carriers like training.” Hemopure, were tested for in SLC, even 8. Philosophically, the East had no one in the though they were on the banned list. role of a traditional western coach, who has 5. Need to test 3x in the last two weeks to overall responsibility for the health and make sure athletes are not using EPO. success of the athlete and the state wanted 6. Variations in Haemoglobin level can occur it that way (deliberate). by gender, by race and by training venues 9. EPO was first tested with E. Germany (altitude). athletes with success in the 70’s. 7. Many athletes in SLC avoided the EPO tests ANNE MARIE KAPPELGAARD by arriving post Feb. 7, when the tests Medical Director of Novo Nordisk Company which concluded, (as publicised earlier!) manufactures Human Growth Hormone (#1 producer 8. Blood vials were destroyed in some in the world) instances. Accident or intentional? Not 1. Insulin is their main product. clear. 2. HGH is secondary product. 9. Far too many tests on non-elite athletes out 3. IGF #1 – there only exist 3500 patients in of political correctness. need of it in the whole world. But they 10. Altitude houses can change Haemoglobin produce enough for 10 times that levels. population. She does not know why! ! ! ! 11. All blood tests must be tested with the same (uh-huh) set of equipment; small variations in 4. It costs 100 million USA dollars per product equipment exist. run. No small change. 12. In genetic manipulation, the ONLY 5. HGH acts on bone strength, muscle strength impediment right now is that legitimate and connective tissue as well as reducing scientists can turn ON the EPO gene, but fat. can’t figure out how to turn it OFF, which 6. Pulsing hormone. Peaks are at night (why can result in death ... but readily admit if kids need more sleep in teenagehood) and at you don’t care if you kill a few people, you around 8 AM. could do it NOW. 7. There are 60 million legitimate cases of

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deficient GH kids in the world. A product 9. Maybe in 10 years, we will have medically that has a very legitimate use. supervised use of drugs. 8. “We do our best to match production to RICHARD McLAREN – Member of the CAS demand in most markets, but in some 1. CAS simply “applies” the rules of the IF’s. cases, it is not economical to turn off the 2. Relationship between IOC and the machines during a 100 million dollar run. International Federations is a “stand-off” Financially better to stockpile” (which leads one ... the IOC lays responsibility at the feet to theft and the black market). of the IF’s, except for the 17 days of the 9. Effective use of HGH must be medically Olympic Games. Keeps the IOC out of a lot monitored and adjusted, genders are of trouble. different, individuals are different, etc. For 3. If it is a “national test” then national rules athletic use, the amounts must be exact. apply. If the test is an international test, Sophisticated use for athletics. Not the same then the rules of the IF apply. for body-builders, who just take as much as IVAN WADDINGTON they can, who cares? (England) M.D. – Sport Historian 10. The “dirty doctors” come to the legitimate 1. Sports medicine learning institutions more medical conferences on the cutting edge and and more emphasise the enhancement of learn all they can. The industry can’t keep performance and not simply the them out. Why is WADA not also there at maintenance of good health. everyone? (Taking notes and NAMES! ! ! JL) 2. Sports Med Doctors have become one of the HANS S. SKASET – Norway leading developers of Performance Norwegian Sports and PE University Enhancing Drugs. Has been thrown off three IOC and skiing 3. Dr. John Ziegler of the USA was the team commissions because he is the guy who asks the physician for the USA Wrestling team in the hard questions ... a dedicated whistle-blower, 50’s. He pioneered the use of the first especially on the Norwegian CC skiers. anabolic steroids in sport (Dianabol). 1. “Physical burdens in some sports are so German Army used them in the military in severe as to demand drug use to tolerate the the 40’s. work.” PETER RISSER 2. Too many competitions is a key area of Sweden representative of the Drug Free Consortium stress. testing agency used by WADA 3. The IOC and IF’s have declared War on 1. 500 doping control officers worldwide. Doping, they just haven’t done what it takes 2. Highly trained and capable. to catch anyone significant. 3. IDTM works for the consortium as a 4. Decreased performance level will not sell to “provider.” a media driven by demand for records. 4. A larger number of tests are assigned to Faithful public values spectacle more than it men since they test positively more often. does ethics and values. Performance likely (That’s what he said. The logic goes right by to prevail over everything else (no one cares me!) about doping except those who care about 5. It takes two minutes to change your urine. ethics and values). That’s why true unannounced tests are the 5. European “right to work laws” add a terrible only way to go. (He demonstrated four strain on the system of athletic judiciary. methods to switch urine in less than two 6. Juxtaposition – “Elite sports is about pain minutes). tolerance, risk taking and excellent success 6. Expense of unannounced tests, because of and money.” People say, “Ethics is a travel issues, is enormous. preoccupation of losers and academics.” 7. One hour notice is far too long. No phone 7. “The aim of doping-free sport is an illusion calls allowed. that cannot be achieved. The issue is how 8. They are aware of the issue raised by Bryan much doping can be tolerated.” Jones and requestioned by JL at the Play 8. “Anti-doping cannot succeed if winning is the Game Conference about Testers the only way to have success. An agency becoming too familiar and friendly with (WADA) that accepts to eradicate doping individual rich athletes. They are concerned, without independence, power to sanction, but it is a financial issue of how far you can and without power to fund itself, willingly afford to move testers around to get sacrifices itself to a lost cause. But such a samples. sacrifice is for a time a major contribution to 9. He will reiterate to his entire organisation maintain internal peace, business as usual, the importance of not allowing relationships and praise from external partners.” to form between athletes and testers.

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Over 40 other presentations were given. I it will either remain in place, or be history. In concentrated on attending all the doping issues. either case, it is clearly not going to be the end OTHER RUMOURS of the issue, or the end of people caring about Heard and unconfirmed, from sources unwilling to be it. identified. So our intent at the ASCA is to open a debate 1. If proper testing had been done in SLC, over in print, hopefully that might last a year or 60 medals would have been won by others. more, to “air” every side of the discussion in a 2. Moslem athletes do not have an aversion to formal way for our professional colleagues. Our using drugs to cheat, as well (supposition intent is to be thought-provoking, and to alert has been otherwise. ) many professional coaches to the variety of 3. WADA continues to be a show a PR exercise. ways that recruiting is thought of by fellow 4. Only 22 of 198 nations have internal anti- coaches. doping agencies and seven of these are To experienced coaches, not much of this is highly suspect. More likely to be in place to likely to be “new” information. The same AID doping than stop it. problems, issues and concerns have existed for 5. Italy has an astronomical amount of doping decades. Resolution is improbable. Our goal “product” going through the country and should be to reach an equilibrium that we can culture has shifted to its acceptance. Use in all live with comfortably as individuals engaged school children is incredibly high, exceeding in the same profession. 50% of school age athletes. It is “cool”. We’ll begin the process thusly: in this paper, 6. General acceptance that without an I am going to put forward what I believe to be a investigation unit run by WADA from true moderate, thoughtful, “middle-of-the-road” police professionals aided by sports position on recruiting as an issue. In the personnel, the cheaters can only continue to following article, Murray Stephens, owner of lead. North Baltimore Aquatic Club, and Coach 7. Many journalists are starting to say “if the Representative to the Board of USA Swimming, public does not care enough to stop will present a counter-view. attending the spectacle that sport has Then we’ll invite you, our audience, and become ... why should anyone care about professional peers, to provide us with your doping.” The NBA and NFL were regularly views and we’ll publish them and continue to mentioned. Baseball, surprisingly, was publish them, for as long as they appear to be hardly mentioned. non-repetitive and contributing to the dialogue. That’s all the news that’s fit to print. Again, our aim is to openly discuss every Not much of it good news. aspect of the controversy, and eventually to reach a form of temporary balance, where The following articles were downloaded from the professional coaches can agree to work within ASCA Online Website (August 2003) parameters that are comfortable for most. LET’S TALK ABOUT RECRUITING So let’s begin with my personal opinions on By John Leonard the topic, not to be mistaken for an ASCA Board of Directors point of view (there exists no such At the summer nationals in College Park thing). Maryland, one of the topics on the deck was a I’ll start with a simple set of definitions. proposal initiated by Coach Murray Stephens Recruiting is the solicitation of an athlete of and Mr. Mike Saltzstein of San Diego, that any age, by the representatives of another USA- would eliminate the existing and long standing S club, to join their club. Its recruiting any time prohibition against recruiting amongst and the solicitation is individually addressed, or between USA-S clubs. addressed solely towards the individuals of one Emotions run strong as soon as the topic of team. recruiting comes up. One of the most immediate In contrast, general advertising is club findings a person reaches when looking into the information that is made available the “general issue of recruiting, is that there is a vast array public”. Examples of general advertising would of experiences and observations, situations and be newspaper ads, newspaper articles “Club difficulties, that people want to relate to others XYZ is holding open tryouts at the ABC pool on on this topic. Sept. 1, 2, 3, 2003”. Information distributed in Solutions are not easy to come by. As I write a mailing to an entire zip code is general this in mid-August, the legislation is in place to advertising. Materials sent home in church eliminate the recruiting prohibition. By the time bulletins is general advertising. Appearances on this is published, we will have gone through the local TV or radio by a club representative is legislative process at the USA-S convention and “general advertising”. The touchstone of general

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advertising is, who is the target audience? If the topic is where the college swimmer will train in target audience is members of another club, it’s the summer. On the occasions when this recruiting. If the target audience is the whole happens, there can be resentment from club membership of an elementary school, its coaches about the college coach “recruiting” for general advertising. his summer team, when that mayor may not be In my view, Recruiting between clubs is bad. the case. In my view, general advertising is good. General My view of this situation is that it is too advertising results in an increase in total tough, with too many variables, for anyone to numbers of people who can benefit from our tackle. Swimmers get recruited to college. I great sport. Recruiting simply “displaces” or doubt we will ever find a way to be comfortable “churns” existing USA-S members to another with the choices that young people, their club club. coaches and their college coaches make for There is no benefit to the sport of swimming summer training. Each individual needs to find through recruiting. There is great benefit to our their own way on this topic. Some college sport from effective general advertising. coaches generally send their athletes home, as a Then there are colleges. Colleges recruit reward to the club coach, as a “change of pace” swimmers. We surely want them to recruit for the athlete, or because they don’t wish to swimmers. We love those college scholarships run a summer program. Other coaches may that are so important to the future and the choose to keep their athlete with them at present health of American elite swimming. college, for equally valid reasons. The best way Unfortunately, on a regular basis, recruiting an for both college and club coach to operate, is to athlete to a coach’s college team also results in communicate regularly, openly and with the recruiting them to the same coach’s club team. best interests of the athlete in mind. Sometimes Hence, undeterred recruiting between USA-S two very reasonable people can reach two totally clubs, under the radar because the college different views of the “best interest” of the scholarship and college swimming experience individual athlete. are confusing issues in this situation. Almost In my view, we have to remove what happens every club coach would like the swimmers that in the college situation from the discussion of they have sent on to ABC University to come the negative aspects of “recruiting”, I am sure home in the summer. They provide great my friend Murray will offer a contrasting point leadership (potentially) great program of view. continuity, and not least, provide an I believe that Recruiting, as I have defined it opportunity for the club coach to enjoy the earlier, should continue to be banned from USA fruits of what might have been 10 years of Swimming as it relates to one club recruiting developmental labour. Nice to have that college from another. Recruiting has always gone on. sprinter you developed, anchor your 400 Medley So has lying. Neither is “right”. Both are morally Relay at the “big meet”. Unfortunately, it’s hard wrong. Coaches should strive to grow their to keep ‘em down on the farm once they’ve been clubs from within, by attracting new athletes to the big city. Coming back to their age group from their Learn-to-Swim program or from swim team, where rules are strict, you don’t have programs outside the USA-S system, like a many peers still swimming and the training is summer team. They should attract athletes by likely different from what you have now clear, honest descriptions of what they can experienced in college, is not for everyone. The provide or seek to provide, to an individual. sad truth is, there is frequently not a lot of Recruiting right now is largely limited to truth told either between coaches or between clandestine efforts by parents, other athletes, or coaches and athletes in this situation. The coaches, to lure those athletes who they see as college coach may flat out feel that his summer having “potential” (read “fast”) to their program. program is more productive for the athlete than Very few organizations now focus on recruiting the athlete going home for the summer. The the “ordinary” or “novice” swimmer from one club coach may feel very similarly. The athlete club to another. Coaches, who recruit, do so may not really want to go home and spend his with the motivation of improving the competitive summer back in the house with his parents’ nature of their team. Very few club coaches rules, and want to stay in the college actually recruit. Most abide by the idea that environment of more freedom. Rather than say what goes around, comes around and they don’t that, the swimmer may tell the club coach that wish to see their own hard work with an athlete, the college coach “insists” that he or she stay disrespected by another club coach working to their and train, or that they “have to” go to recruit that athlete. Its simple professional summer school. Fact is, a lot of self-serving half respect for the work it takes to progress a truths get told in multiple directions when the novice swimmer to an advanced age grouper or

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senior swimmer. panel of experienced career club coaches. They IF, the legislation removing the prohibition should be empowered to hear “recruiting cases”, on recruiting is successful, I believe the just as the National Board of Review might do. coaching landscape will change dramatically. Appeal should be ONLY to the Board of Once it is “OK” to recruit, the target will become Directors of USA Swimming and the costs of an the “ordinary swimmer”. This because of the appeal should be materially substantial. most base of motives ... money. If monthly fees Penalties for recruiting should be simple, are $50 a month at Club A, that represents clear, and escalating with every incidence. An $600 a year or, if you recruit 10 swimmers, example might be a simple letter to “cease and $6,000.00 more a year. It will add up fast. desist” to the Head Coach and Club Coaches may well succumb to simple financial Management in the first incidence. In the pressure and “have to” recruit in order to second “conviction”, the Head Coach could be survive financially. Now we have to evaluate suspended from coaching at swim meets for how one appeals to the ordinary swim parent from a month to multiple months. Later, if the who has a novice swimmer. “Cheaper, easier, behaviour continues, the coach can be more fun!” rings the bell. Novice families who suspended from USA-S. have not been in the sport long enough to know If we don’t have penalties, we don’t have a better, are highly susceptible to the appeal of rule. Only coaches should be involved in the “cheaper, easier, more fun”, especially if the “recruiting panel” because they can best make “performance promises” are the same. Will the judgments about recruiting. Peer pressure, Peer knowledgeable consumer parent succumb to evaluation and Peer punishment can work. this appeal? Not those who are concerned about General advertising is desirable for our sport. having their child in a high performance Recruiting between and among USA-S clubs is environment. Now ask yourself how many of not. Let’s support the former and retain and your novices parents are primarily concerned enhance the existing ban on recruiting. If we about their child being in a high performance don’t, most of us will lose the ability to coach. environment and you will immediately Over to Coach Murray Stephens for his understand the scope of the problem we face. views. Let’s Talk About Recruiting: or let’s have To the ordinary parent of the ordinary swimmer, a way to control human behaviour “cheaper, easier, more fun” will play like a Recent experiences at the USA Swimming symphony. And the whole sport will suffer. Board of Directors meetings demonstrate the Not done yet. Let’s look at the coaches. folly of demanding oversight by the national Instead of spending their time, energy and effort body of the sport over what is essentially a local actually coaching athletes, the coach will be issue. John Leonard in his editorial uses words “forced” to spend time both “defending their such as prohibition and punishment. If memory turf” with the targets of another coaches serves correctly, Prohibition is a failed policy of recruiting efforts, and doing their own recruiting the 1930’s that teaches us that humans are with other teams novice parents. You can’t both going to interact overtly or covertly as they coach and recruit. Guess which one will suffer? choose. Sadly, most of us are susceptible to some 1/1/99 Remember that date. This is the date degree, to the “grass is greener across the that USA Swimming adopted into the rulebook street” syndrome. Until you have been in the the current language of section 304.3.13 sport awhile, you don’t know that there is no making recruiting a violation of the Code of magic fairy dust, no shortcuts, no easy way. Conduct. Since that time USA Swimming has Good swimming takes years of effort, sacrifice attempted to mediate and judge a number of and hard work. Those who chose to sell disputes that revolve around recruiting between “cheaper, easier, more fun” will find a ready USA member clubs. As an aside, a brief reading audience. By the time they learn better, it will of the fifteen violations listed in 304 reminds us be, in many cases, too late for a good swimming that almost all of the violations of the code are experience. also considered criminal offences in American Retaining the existing anti-recruiting society. However, we would be hard pressed to verbiage, minus those words relating to “general generate a visit from the gendarmes because advertising” (which we should want to Johnny’s mother suggested to Mrs. Jones that ENCOURAGE, not discourage) will not “stop” her son might swim more successfully at XYZ recruiting. But it will “keep the lid on it” if we swim club. Put simply, USA Swimming has not commit to enforcing the existing rule. nor will it ever be able to assuage the anger and How should we enforce it? The National disappointment of the coach whose efforts seem Board of Review is overburdened with for naught because their star swimmer has left “recruiting cases”. We should create a small to swim at another club. To date, the rulings of

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the USA Board and its assigned panels have sign their children up for the “cheaper, easier, been ill received by the litigants. In reality, more fun” program because they have been decisions have not come down on the side of filled with misconceptions and distortions those accusing the other side of recruiting. We promulgated by those whose existence depends may know it when we see it, but proving it is on misinformation. In recreation team, summer another matter. club, and lesson venues idle talk and gossip as ASCA and John are understandably upset at well as outright slander occur. Once young the legislation to remove 304.3.13 from the USA swimmers have joined the most novice group of Code of Conduct. 304.3.13 is an ASCA driven an USA club, other clubs are prohibited from part of the Code of Conduct first generated by any communication with them (except for ASCA and lobbied into reality for USA “general advertising”). Locally I know of a club Swimming at the 1998 convention. Mike with 200 registered swimmers who entered less Saltzstein and I speak for a number (but not all) then one fourth of them in any meets all of Board and staff members who see the need to season. The fact of the matter is that young remove the burden of the recruiting oversight parents know virtually nothing about USA from USA Swimming’s shoulders. If a Local Swimming and the recruiting rules restrict the Swimming Committee (LSC) wishes to create a educational process. Compounding the provincial code for this and enforce it within problem, coaches are free to instruct their their boundaries, they should be allowed to do parents on the ills of swimming at the other so. I would caution that local Boards of Review clubs or even to question other team’s parents have failed in this regard so far for the same on the propriety of swimming distance, using reasons that USA Swimming’s Board has failed. paddles, or lifting weights. They are not Again, I reiterate: this section is not enforceable recruiting! How does a team answer the at the National level. assertions that are out in the marketplace? Having presented above the simple Ah, the marketplace. We live in a world of uncomplicated reason for the legislative item’s constant solicitation. Daily we must choose existence, I am willing to address the fears that between products and services. Recent Federal John and others have raised. Implicit in the legislation rightly allows Americans to place argument above is existence of 20 years of USA their names on a “do not call” list in order to Swimming history before we had the prohibition prohibit unsolicited home phone sales calls. of 304.3.13. Should we go further back and Spam emails, as mentioned above, are another examine the process by which Santa Clara issue. Certainly swimming occupies a tiny slice obtained the services of Brian Job from Ohio, of the daily life of our culture. Sometimes called from Oregon, or a country club sport, swimming restricts itself from Sacramento? Do we not suspect that in no to little pockets of knowledge and presents case some swimmer, parent, or coach smiled or barriers to new information. Inner city teams, complimented or provided information prior to local recreation teams, high schools, Y teams their calling for information? Certainly, in some and of course, USA Swim teams surround their cases, parents of potential great swimmers participants in a wall of self serving information. initiate contacts on their own, but by and large Only colleges, as John outlined, get to recruit at the process is usually a sloppy one in which will from USA teams. One national level club information and contacts develop over time. coach was recently heard to humorously opine USA Swimming functioned well for its twenty that clubs should begin to encourage college years before 304.3.13 was created and will be swimmers to turn pro and go back to club the same if it is eliminated. What will happen is swimming. Would that be ok within section that valuable resources (time and money) will be 304.3.13? used for more productive ends. In either case, In summary, are we seeing the forest for the recruiting will continue be a reality of the trees? Are we really “controlling” the problem? swimming scene. Are people not capable of making judgments on I’m sure that my colleagues in the coaching their own? Do they not do this already? Free profession will catalogue the methods whereby USA Swimming clubs to build, to promote, and talented swimmers are targeted by club and to succeed. college coaches alike for “special attention and compliments” on the deck at meets and at “SWEETENHAM REVOLUTION TARGETS camps. All of this is as common a part of the MEDALS & MINDS” landscape as spam in daily emails. Astute By Sue Mott – 02/08/2003 swimmers and parents learn to delete it just as quickly. My concern is more for the novice William F. Sweetenham is a boulder of a man swimmer that John mentions. Often parents who has transformed a British sport. Small and

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round, quoting inspiration in a dangerously “a bully-boy” by those who mistake goals for soft-spoken Australian accent, he has taken obstacles. “I hate it,” he said. “It’s not true. In British Swimming by the scruff of its my time here I’ve never had a real head-to-head chlorinated neck and shaken into it new life, a row with any swimmer.” What about the new philosophy and new success. coaches? “Ah,” he said, pausing. “I’ve certainly After the Olympics in Sydney (not a single had differences of opinion with coaches. But medal to be seen) the sport best resembled a what you have to understand is that changing drowned rat. Sweetenham was head-hunted in the old philosophies of British swimming was one of the finest administrative moves made by like stopping a runaway train going at 200 mph British sport (and, God knows, there are few of in the wrong direction.” There was bound to be those in evidence) and the water world changed a squealing of brakes. in this country – hopefully forever, certainly for He is a man who knows his own mind. Listen now. to him. “The Romans conquered the world not At the World Championships which ended in because they held committees, but because Barcelona a week ago, BRITAIN WON EIGHT they killed the opposition. That’s where I’m MEDALS. ’s gold in the 200m coming from.” Backstroke represented our first British female Mount Isa is where he’s coming from, more world title. ’s victory in the 50m literally. He refuses to talk about it in detail. Breaststroke was the first World Championship “It’s a story I don’t want to go into. My dad’s still gold medal by a Briton since 28 alive, so I don’t. I’ll say this. It was a tough years ago. upbringing. Halfway between Darwin and Was he satisfied? “I’m never satisfied,” Brisbane, sport in Mount Isa was survival. It’s Sweetenham said. where Greg Norman comes from … where Hard as Ayers Rock, forged in the blast Patrick Rafter came from. In fact Rafter’s father furnace of a small mining township in northern was the first president of my swim club. I Queensland, his impact on British Swimming taught the whole family to swim. I treasure has been explosive. There was no time to those times. As an athlete I was untalented, but change slowly. “I took a high-risk strategy. I highly motivated. I swam, played rugby league risked being perceived as dictatorial. I was and union. I started to teach children to swim considered to be too hard, too pushy. But I had at an early age and I enjoyed it. Loved it. to impose a set of standards. I couldn’t make “I worked at Mount Isa Mines, mining British coaches the best in the world in three copper, lead and zinc, on the administrative years, but I had to sell a concept. Put in place a side, and – I’ll probably go to gaol for this – bit set of plans that would make us the most by bit a swimming pool appeared in my professional sporting team in Great Britain.” backyard. I had no idea of building. All I know The results were there in Barcelona. But he is that if you wanted a swimming pool, you dug wants more. “I’m obsessed, desperate, for a hole. You put sand at the bottom, you did a Olympic medals. There’s no question of that. deal with the local cement company for a pile of Personal bests won’t satisfy me. Finals won’t excess cement, you got some reject blocks, you satisfy me. I have a deep obsession for medals. put some reinforced steel in there that you I’m at the age now, I’m 53, when I think of all happened to locate. the things I want to do in sport and I feel how You found a boiler that wasn’t being used little time is left. So I leave nothing to chance. very often and that no one would miss. The fact No stone unturned. I want to walk out of that that all of this had MIM written on it was beside Olympic village in Athens with a set of athletes the point. I told everyone it meant ‘Made In and coaches who went in expecting the highest Mexico’. It had nothing to do with Mount Isa achievement and achieved it. And hope was not Mines.” part of the equation. It’s the reality that counts. So a pool appeared, and with it, a career The reality of being part of the most professional path. At the age of 24, Sweetenham decided he team in the world.” wanted to be Head Coach of the Australian Hellfire! I’m only listening to this man and I Swim Team. By 30, he was. The trajectory was want to leap to my feet and salute. If I were a almost vertical, but there was a casualty ... his British swimmer (not likely since personal best good self. When one of your best friends takes in 25m at Saffron Walden Swimming Baths is you into her office at the Australian Institute of about four minutes with floating breather Sport and announces: “I’ve been deputed by the halfway down) I would not be afraid to fail but Board to tell you that you are the most inspired to succeed, a fairly novel state of mind obnoxious and arrogant person that any of us in modern British sport. had ever met”, you could say your ambition had Sweetenham has been controversially tagged outstripped your humanity.

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But note the past tense. Sweetenham of the leaders in coach education worldwide. changed. Dramatically and forever in 1983 as a And what he doesn’t know about the result of a near fatal accident. He calls it his subtleties of Bing-Fa are almost not worth “defining moment”. knowing. He was in Germany, coaching an AIS Swim His athletes certainly know all about them, Team in a meet against the home team and the military and diplomatic strategies Sweden. He was in the back of a van changing emanating from Ancient China, as devised by into a pair of shorts. Jogged by the cobblestones ancient Eastern advisers, called ‘Shi Ke’ or on the road, the door suddenly flew open and Eating Guests. Sweetenham is an Eating Guest, Sweetenham leant forward in his seat to close no reflection on his girth; more relevant to the it. But the seat had not been properly bolted to visionary manner in which he has revamped an the floor, it slid out of the door and he found entire sport. For those of us who thought himself lying on the road having smashed into a swimming meant wearing goggles and getting traffic sign. wet … this is an entirely new world. “I thought I was all right. But when I tried to Every athlete is given their own philosophical stand up the pain was intense and I looked preparation plan by Sweetenham. It tells them down to see the bone in my left leg actually what they will be thinking on the blocks at the embedded in the ground. I sat down again and Olympics, how every move in the water will be pulled the bone out of the ground and my foot refined and executed and how they will feel at and ankle just flopped backwards towards my the end of the race, when, inevitably, they have knee, held on to the leg by a tiny bit of flesh. won. Blood was everywhere. They thought I’d die of “I deserve to be the best,” it tells them to shock at the loss of blood. But the coach in the believe. “I respect my opposition and my front seat had bandaged up the bone with his preparation can only be described by my race- shirt and we were lucky. A helicopter rescue desperate, obsessive and professional. I am team was in the area, heard the distress call today what I believed I could be. I have led by and landed on the road almost immediately. example ... invincible. I can win on my worst “In fact, I was lucky twice, because the local day in any conditions.” hospital was hosting an orthopaedic convention Imagine that in the hands of a poor hangdog and one of those doctors saved my leg ... sewed British tennis player expecting to lose and the the foot and ankle back on. I was in there for 17 nature of the Sweetenham revolution becomes weeks and on crutches for 2½ years. I clear. He asks his athletes to sign up to a questioned my life during that time. Before that, commitment. A page long, it demands nothing the only important thing in my life was my swim less than perfect preparation. team being successful. I realised I’d nearly lost It reminds them … “Soft, compromising, the plot. I was totally obsessed with success. rationalised, unprepared coaches and athletes Now I could see a bigger picture. I basically who do not perform consistently in training; became a nicer person.” expose themselves to harsher and more His leg is still suffering from a chronic bone challenging conditions than the Olympic Games infection ... the only cure is amputation. It themselves, will be found wanting when their flares up from time to time and requires day comes.” massive doses of antibiotics that he must travel It finishes … “Train well today and every day. with at all times. For 20 years since the Each day is an Olympic preparation day and accident, he has missed being able to play with next year’s result relies on what and how you do his children or take part in any sport, except it this year – consistently better than ever before bush walking. And there is not a lot of that in ... Bill.” Loughborough, where British Swimming is That is not bullying, that is encouragement based. with no get-out clauses. British sport loves get- And no swimming either. “God, no,” he said. out clauses. We can’t play tennis because of the “I hate swimming. Do you really think, after six weather. We don’t win at football because it was hours on deck every day, I’d want to spend hot and the grass was all wrong in Japan. Well, another hour in the water?” It is probably as we only have a handful of Olympic-sized well. He is at his most effective on dry land. swimming pools in the whole of Britain but we Four times he was the Australian Swim Team’s still came sixth in the World Championships. Head Coach at the Olympics. He personally “I think,” Sweetenham said, “that British trained nine world record holders (Long and sport has been conditioned to accept and be Short Course). His profile runs for pages and pleased by mediocrity.” He is absolutely right, pages of high achievement, including the receipt but you can no longer accuse swimming of of the Australia Medal. He is recognised as one being part of that culture. Our Eating Guest has

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put that right. helps us meet those expectations from the BRITAIN’S HAUL public we serve? GOLD (2) 1 st is there a common philosophy? I JAMES GIBSON 50m Breaststroke would say yes, there is. It is very simple. We are KATY SEXTON 200m Backstroke in place to assist those who wish to swim in a SILVER (3) more satisfactory fashion. This can range from KATY SEXTON 100m Backstroke learning to swim, to setting world records. We 200m Breaststroke exist to serve our clients. Within that context, MARK FOSTER 50m Freestyle multiple philosophies of “how to” exist, largely BRONZE (3) to the benefit of the public we serve. Diversity JAMES GIBSON 100m Breaststroke provides a learning process and improvement 800m Freestyle process for everyone we can touch with our ZOE BAKER 50m Breaststroke collective efforts. 2 nd is there a common body of PROFESSIONALISING THE knowledge? Yes, we’re improving. With our 5 COACHING OF SWIMMING required Certification Schools and 14 additional By John Leonard Enrichment Schools, the ASCA has created and continually improves and evaluates and Coach Peter Daland frequently reminds me expands the skills and abilities of its members. that swim coaches evolved from the old days of Globally, there is no uniformity, but the “bath attendants”, who spent all day at the programs of Australia and the USA are (overheated) pool, in their bathrobes, providing considerably similar and efforts through the towels to patrons. Naturally, since these World Swimming Coaches Association under gentlemen (no ladies to our knowledge) spent all President Niels Bouws of Germany is leading day observing the motion of humans through inevitably to agreement worldwide on the basics water, they became a source of information on of a common body of knowledge. Already, with how various people succeeded or failed in doing international clinics, the education possibilities so. Hence, the birth of Swim Coaching. of the internet, and other sources, information Not very glorious. and education is accessible to any individual I was led by the request of a new ASCA with a computer who wants to coach. ASCA member lately, to research the concept of serves clients with its education in Africa, South America, Europe, Oceania, and North America. “Profession”. Here’s what I found. rd It comes from Latin (heck, I guess everything 3 is there a formal Education comes from Latin) Professio, MEANING PUBLIC Process? Yes and no. In the USA, thanks to DECLARATION. This comes from the fact that our partners at USA-Swimming, we have long ago and far away, when a person made a “required” education for our newest coaches commitment to a profession, they were before they get a coaching license. Above Level automatically branded a member of a religious 1, education is required only for Certification by community, openly declaring a faith or an the ASCA. The good news is that 7,800 (and opinion. Sound familiar? growing daily) coaches have committed Nowadays, various things have been tacked themselves to Certification and the required on to that original concept. Now, it’s a body of education process it includes. This VOLUNTARY people involved in a vocation that requires a association clearly is superior to any forced specialised body of knowledge and experiences. mechanism we can create. The market – our Heck, in one way, for many of us, it’s still a employers – have a way to require and demand “Brand”, like Ford, or GE, or Heinz Catsup. Still continuing education from our profession. doesn’t sound too glorious. We’re branded as “a Again, the globalisation of this process through Coach” which triggers many reactions in WSCA can only strengthen our professional status. people’s minds, based on their past experiences th with those who call themselves a coach. 4 are there Standards of Entry? There Another factor in the definition of a are in USA-Swimming. All new coaches, within profession today, is its “universality”. Coaching one year of starting to coach, must complete the swimming is indeed a global profession today, Level 1 Coaching School through ASCA and with people practicing it on most of the USA-Swimming. Unfortunately, no such continents. Additionally, the idea of a profession standard exists for NCAA Coaching Assistants is imbued with the concepts of a “discipline” or High School Coaching (though individual states have some requirements for HS coaches). and an “order” to the vocation. th How do we measure up against this 5 are there Guidelines for behaviour? standard? What has the ASCA provided that In 1991, the ASCA passed the first ever Code of

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Ethics in Olympic Sport coaching ... 12 other As a coach, I have only one thing to offer to Sports have followed suit. If you’re an ASCA an athlete. That is, my attention ... which Member, you are educated and informed on means that I attend to their needs. The reward behaviour by the ASCA Code of Ethics, which is for good behaviour should be attention ... a key protection for those whom we serve. attending to their needs. The consequence of 6 th does the profession have inattention, lack of effort, unwillingness or consistent Communication mechanisms unreadiness to learn or just plain offensive or in place? Yes! With the American Swimming disruptive behaviour is my inattention to that Magazine, the ASCA Newsletter, and the athlete. Journal of Swimming Research, we provide How could it be other than this? If you have information from the anecdotal to the rigorously three children, and you spend all of your time scientific, on a monthly basis, in addition to 18- and energy work working with the one that is 20 live clinics a year and the ASCA website, badly behaved, what does that tell your other www.swimmingcoach.org for fast two children? It tells them that to capture your communications of ideas. attention, they should behave badly. What we 7 th do we have leaders who serve as reward is what we get. mentors and role models and are they As a coach, I want athletes who are eager to active in leadership roles both formal learn eager to experiment to improve, eager to and informal? Yes, the ASCA Board and more work hard. I want athletes who come to me to recently the ASCA Fellows Program provides a help develop their skills both mental and set of mechanisms to evaluate past efforts, physical, and are willing to accept what I have think about and plan for the future of the to offer. Otherwise, why have they come to me? profession and then pass on accumulated And I am going to reward that athlete with my wisdom to future generations of leaders. Our attention. In so doing, I encourage others to leadership role and individuals are highly become like the athlete above. If I spent my time active, highly visible, and provide key links from with the unwilling, the slothful, the disruptive, I our past into the bright future. would only be encouraging that behaviour. The work of creating, maintaining and The link I want to forge is between attention improving a profession is never done. Your and excellence. Excellence in the sense of ASCA Board and Staff works daily to build the achieving all that is possible, and desired. My brand of which you are a part The Swimming way of forging that, is to provide my attention to Coach (evaluated from Grain’s those who “attend” to me. This does of course Business Journal, “what defines a profession?”) result in increased performance for those that do so. I am a professional coach, and when I PLAYING FAVOURITES pay attention to a person, that person is going By John Leonard to improve. Over time, this makes it appear that my “favourites” are the better swimmers. Not so One day a few years ago, a club board at all. The better swimmers are those that pay member accused me of “having favourites” on attention, and thus become my favourites. our club team. Several other parent board What Dad didn’t realise is that you must members nodded their heads in agreement. The have favourites if anyone is to develop in a implication was that this was a terrible sin. positive fashion. The coach’s job is to reward When I was a younger coach, I thought it was those who exhibit positive developmental terrible also ... and he was right. I did have behaviours. Those are my “favourites,” and they favourites. My favourites were those athletes should be. who most fervently did what I asked of them. Those that did, I gave more attention to. I talked WHAT DO COACHES REALLY DO to them more. I spent more time teaching them. FOR ATHLETES? I also expected more of them. The implication that he was making was that Here is what Jamie Drobny, now a working my favourites got better than the others adult, had to say in a letter to her old high school because they were my favourites, and that was swim team members. somehow unfair. He mistook cause for effect. The Coach, proudly, is John Casadia of Vineland The fact is, that the athletes who came to me High School in New Jersey. ready to learn, ready to listen, ready to act on An incredibly dedicated swim coach and my what they learned and try it my way, even if it experiences as a member of his close-knit and was more challenging, more difficult than they highly motivated high school swim team helped imagined, were ready to get more out of our to develop my competitive nature, my powerful program. And they were my favourites. work ethic, and my absolute fearlessness when

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it comes to meeting life’s challenges. Beyond his astonishing energy, and his SEASONAL TRAINING ability to guide us to multiple New Jersey State Championships, Coach John Casadia’s way of inspiring and motivating a team has left an DESIGN indelible imprint on my life. In Coach Casadia I By Genadijus Sokolovas saw the embodiment of true leadership, and the Reproduced from American Swimming Magazine way in which leadership produces excellence. 2002/Issue 4 When he was not poolside urging us on, Coach Casadia was working tirelessly behind the ontinuous improvement in swimming scenes, preparing practices, planning pre-meet Cperformances throughout a season depends pasta parties, and crafting weekly newsletters on the swimming and dryland workload volume for alumni of the swim team, his current in the various energy zones, and the adaptation swimmers, and parents of team members. of athletes to this workload. Although there are Coach Casadia’s efforts earned his the national many ways to develop faster swimmers, to recognition that he so richly deserved. He attain the maximal effect of training, workload taught me through his example how fulfilling volume should be distributed during the season total commitment to any team or group can be. in an optimal manner. Ideally, daily and weekly Although I was not the fastest or strongest workload volumes should correspond to the swimmer on his team, Coach Casadia always training condition of the individual swimmers encouraged me to outperform myself. He and in order to evaluate the swimmer’s level of insisted that a fifth place finish in a race could conditioning, swimming test sets should be have just as much impact on the outcome of a done on a regular basis. meet as the first place finish. As a result, now I When planning training sequences, coaches understand that although I may not always be should first determine the number of training first or best, hard work and dedication are never seasons within the current training year. Since wasted. there is a paucity of scientific investigation into For 13 years I spent 20 hours a week the number of seasons a coach should conduct training to perfect my technique, increase my in one year, coaches have traditionally divided endurance, and break my own records. Seven this period into 1-4 seasons or training years later, I have lost some of my speed in the sequences per year, and have based their pool and the superior level of physical fitness I decisions on personal experience or anecdotal once enjoyed. What remains, however, is the evidence gained from information provided by high standard of excellence to which I hold other coaches. myself, a continued desire to succeed, a healthy Several investigations were done in the competitive spirit, and the ability to be a former attempting to answer the productive member of a team. question as to the optimal number of seasons in Indeed, to see myself as a part of a team is a calendar year … Gordon S.M., 1983; 1989; perhaps the most enduring lesson that I have Priluckij P.M., 1985; Sokolovas G., 1987; 1988; drawn from swimming. Coach Casadia and my Siruc A.L. 2000, etc. In order to answer this teammates taught me that a team is more than question, scientists analysed the progression of just a group of individuals. It is an organism working capacity in athletes when placed in two whose participants … working together in different training strategies. These strategies pursuit of a single goal … achieves greater were… success as a whole than would any of its parts Strategy 1 – Increasing the workload working alone or in smaller groups. Each team volume in various energy zones. This strategy is member has a contribution to make. All of the typical during the first phase of the season teams that I have joined, including Coach (aerobic endurance development), when it’s the Casadia’s, my college sorority, and my current coach’s aim to increase workload volume and team at RBC Dain Rauscher, have been the duration of workouts with constant rewarding and educational experiences. I intensities in the various energy zones. attribute my success on each to my ability to Strategy 2 – Increasing the intensity with determine the best role for me and to live up to the same workload volume. This strategy is it, all the while remembering that I do not have typical during the second phase of the season to be the leader in order to play a significant (speed or peaking phase), when athletes aim to role in ensuring that a team meets its goal. swim faster and increase intensities in various energy zones with constant or even lower workload volumes.

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During the investigations, athletes completed Strategy 1 the athletes improved their ability to test sets and were tested in various increase the number of repetitions for 16-18 physiologically-biochemical parameters during weeks. It showed that athletes using this Strategy 1 and 2 sequences. The goal of strategy could increase their working capacity investigation was to determine the duration for approximately 16-18 weeks. Beyond this each strategy could maintain a constant period the number of repetitions stayed the improvement until the athletes in the study hit same or increased at a very slow rate, and a plateau or declined. Test sets were selected indicated that the use of Strategy 1 was limited based on training strategy. In Strategy 1 they to a maximum of 18 weeks. The investigation swam test sets with a constant intensity in four indicated that Strategy 1 was effective in energy zones every week. Examples of test sets creating a foundation (potential) for future in Strategy 1… swimming velocity in various energy zones, and was best used during the first phase of each N x 200m with :15 seconds rest season. in the aerobic energy zone Strategy 2 test set progressions reached a N x 100m with :15 seconds rest plateau between six and eight weeks and in the mixed aerobic-anaerobic energy beyond that period, times remained the same or zone increased very slowly. Therefore Strategy 2 N x 50m on a 1: 30 interval showed it had limitations when it was employed in the anaerobic energy zone for longer than eight weeks. This strategy is best used in concert with Strategy 1 as the N x 12.5m on a :40 interval second phase during a season. During Strategy in the creatine phosphate energy zone 2, athletes have the ability to maximise the (sprint) potential swimming velocity developed during After pre-season conditioning, athletes swam Strategy 1. the initial test sets with a constant number of repetitions using ALL-OUT efforts. The test set • A combination of Strategy 1 and Strategy average time was calculated and was then set 2 affords the athlete the best progression as the goal (or training) time for the subsequent potential in connection with swimming training weeks of the season. Holding this performances. average time each week, the goal was to • Strategy 2 should follow Strategy 1 during increase the number of repetitions that the seasonal training. athlete could maintain prior to the onset of • In general, the optimal duration of failure. Strategy 1 should be from 16-18 weeks for Since test sets with constant swimming senior and adult swimmers. velocities indicate changes in work capacity in • Age group swimmers (10-12 years old) various energy zones during the season, a increase the number of repetitions in test greater number of repetitions would indicate an sets during Strategy 1 at almost twice the increased working capacity in those athletes rate than senior swimmers (16-18 years). who advanced the test set (increased the Therefore, for age group athletes the number of repetitions prior to failure). optimal duration of Strategy 1 is 12-14 During Strategy 2, athletes swam test sets weeks. with a fixed number of repetitions and • The duration of Strategy 1 for adult attempted to increase the swimming velocity sprinters should be 14-16 weeks versus every week. Examples of test sets in 16-18 weeks for adult distance swimmers. Strategy 2… • During Strategy 2 test sets, age group swimmers (10-12 years old) increase their 4 x 100m with :30 sec rest swimming velocity faster than senior in the mixed aerobic-anaerobic energy swimmers (16-18 years), and therefore zone their optimum development period is 2-4 6 x 50m on a 1: 30 interval weeks. in the anaerobic energy zone • The duration of Strategy 2 for adult 4 x 25m on a :40 interval distance swimmers should be shorter in the creatine phosphate (non-aerobic than for sprinters – 6-8 weeks for adult metabolism) energy zone (sprint) sprinters versus 4-6 weeks for adult distance swimmers. The investigations revealed different • Test sets are an effective training and adaptations to the workload when the athletes monitoring tool for swimmers. trained in Strategy 1 versus Strategy 2. During • A transition period should follow each

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Strategy 1/Strategy 2 training sequence, allowing the athletes to recover from their A DESK JOCKEY’S GUIDE TO training loads. . The duration of the SWIMMING OCEAN RACES transition period should depend on the By Sherry Oshiver fatigue level of the athletes and normally Reproduced from SWIM – July/August 2003 lasts about 1-3 weeks. Ocean swimming can teach you about risk Over a period of 25 years, programs that taking, perseverance and personal limits. In employed this system of athlete development were tracked, and the records from thousands addition to the harsh educational value, of athletes were collected to develop a you’ll learn that ocean racing is also fun. comprehensive understanding of athlete On a clear summer evening, almost 300 adaptation. The data has enabled Dr. Genadijus eager swimmers assembled on the shoreline of Sokolovas to develop a computer program that Sea Isle City, N.J. Male and female, we ranged focuses on training design, and the software in weight from a slight 100 pounds to a bulky program is able to create the ideal adaptation 225, and were about to compete in a one-mile parameters (based on the Strategy 1 and 2 ocean race, a quarter-mile out to sea. system) for athletes of less than average talent, At the crack of the starter’s gun, we ran into average talent and elite talent. the surf. What we all wanted was a shot at the To enable the program, a coach supplies narrow inside course. input in a number of areas in order to What occurred was a “fist fight in a determine the workload distribution in four washing machine” – a thrashing, kicking, energy zones. These are… punching, dunking scramble of arms and • The swimmer’s present condition legs as the surf rolled us over and over – • The swimmer’s age and sex something like a brutal basketball game without • The swimmer’s event specialty, seasonal referees. goal, past peak performances • Length of seasonal macrocycle (# of weeks) • Desired peak volume (in one week) • Frequency and distribution of training sessions • Workload volume during the previous training season (total yardage) The software program uses the data to design and describe the workloads in the four energy zones (swimming portion), and the I thought that I, a lawyer and M.B.A., knew dryland workload volume (general and specific) all about competition, learning curves and during both the preparation phase (Strategy 1) handling unforeseen obstacles in unknown and the competitive phase (Strategy 2). In waters. I thought that intellectual knowledge addition, the computer program designs the and professional experience were infinitely Strategy 1 and Strategy 2 phases. The fungible. I was wrong. Very wrong. Ocean racing progression of test sets is a design based on the taught me a lot more than I had expected about expected changes of each athlete’s working risk taking, perseverance and personal limits. capacity and swimming velocity during the Sometimes you just have to try new things to season. This knowledge enables coaches to learn more about yourself. But, in addition to track athlete progression during test sets and the harsh educational value, ocean racing is make the necessary changes to the workload fun. when needed. The advantage of this program over similar In the Beginning programs is being able to relate the workloads How did it all start? When I first heard about in each energy zone to the conditioning level of the ocean races, I had been practicing with a the swimmers. This allows the program to make coached swim group for about five months. I individual plans for every swimmer or group of just wanted to improve my Freestyle stroke. swimmers. Achievement of the best results with During that time, I progressed from being a minimum efforts is the main purpose behind winded wall fixture after 100 metres of Freestyle this program. to swimming 1,600 metres of the stroke non- stop in a pool. A one-mile ocean race would be

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more of the same, with more interesting boat. I saw none. Since it was farther to the scenery, I thought. However, I was soon to learn shore than to the finish line, I continued. a lot about the consequences of inadequate Then, my hand plunged into another mass of research. jelly. Through my fogged goggles, I could see the As the first big wave broke, the water – a purple veined dome and the slimy tentacles chilling 60 degrees Fahrenheit – stunned me. clinging to me. The current was pushing the sea For a minute, I could not catch my breath. Why life into me. Finally, I shook the creature off. had I not worn a wetsuit? Eventually, when I However, my goggles were so clouded that I felt fewer elbows and feet striking me, I sprinted had to remove them. Since I was reluctant to hard and rounded the first flag, a quarter-mile put my face into the water for fear that I would out to sea. be stung in my eyes, I kept my head out of the Suddenly, everything was calm. Too calm. No water. other swimmers were in sight. All was hazy I began to worry about not having enough blue-green. The ocean bottom no longer existed. stamina to finish. Would the tide wash me in if I The water and sky were one. I felt as if I were in floated on my back? I pondered the dietary a sensory deprivation chamber. In this habits of sharks and wondered if they would pleasurable world, time stood still. But my prefer some of the other swimmers in black goggles were so foggy I could not see the wetsuits who might resemble seals. But I shoreline. Desperately, I snatched off my managed to push those non-productive goggles and looked around. The current had thoughts from my mind and concentrate on the dragged me almost 200 metres off the course! task at hand. Just swim. Yet, I felt no panic. There was a sensuous After what seemed like an eon, I reached the freedom, like being weightless in a floatation second pier and saw the lifeguard boats. “Which chamber. As I readjusted my course, I started to way to the finish line?” I asked. “Straight do an awkward “sea-crawl,” picking up my head ahead.” I was thrilled to be on my way out of the every few strokes to ensure that I would not be murky, treacherous water. pulled out by the current again. But it was not over. I then ploughed into a Every few hundred yards, I swam past buoys 20-foot mass of seaweed. It seemed to be and row-boats with lifeguards who cheered us everywhere – on my swim cap, on my suit and on. “Go for it,” they said. “Only two more under it. At last, dripping dark webs of seaweed, buoys.” The rest of the race was a clear spirited I ran out of the water and raced past the finish sprint toward the finish line. line. Later, I learned that I had placed fourth in Back on shore, I watched the rest of the my division. competition. To my horror, I saw fins approach Time for Reflection one of the lifeguard boats. But, as another Would I compete in another ocean race? swimmer remarked, the fins belonged to Maybe. But I will never forget the thrill and dolphins, which generally do not swim near sensuous freedom of swimming out to sea, the sharks – a comforting thought and one that eerie yet serene calm of the first race or the helped propel me into my next ocean race. adrenaline rush of the jellyfish encounters. Back for More Sometimes I reflect on these things as I sit at One month later, I was back for more – in home in the urban sprawl that is my Atlantic City, N.J. This race was about a mile- neighbourhood. I remember how alive I felt and-a-half. We were told to swim around two cutting through the Atlantic. And I think about piers and cut back to the beach. There would be what I learned. no buoys to mark the course. This race was different. The current was The ocean races taught me a lot about against us. Swimming was exhausting. After a heavy storm, the water was warm and concentration, perseverance and testing my brownish. About three-quarters of the way limits. It’s nice to be cosy and content, through the race, I felt a gooey, gelatinous glob but exhilaration comes with breaking out of envelop my ankle. Then a hundred needles the mould. stabbed it and set it on fire. A jellyfish! I tried to shake it off, but it clung like glue to me. So I Sherry Oshiver has been an enthusiastic Masters had a companion. swimmer since I992 and has placed as high as Eventually, the jellyfish left. I longed for a fourth in her age group in national long course cooling balm and wanted desperately to be on competition. A lawyer, who is also an avid terra firma. But the shore was a quarter-mile photographer, she has exhibited her artwork in a away. I stopped … treaded water and looked Washington, D.C. gallery. around searching desperately for a lifeguard

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September 2001 – Early January 2002 RHOP Set Maggie Bowen 200 IM 15x400 IM best average 400 IM @ 5:00 4:37 Progression and Training 100 ez on 1:40 Reproduced from American Swimming Magazine 2x400 @ 5:10 5:09; 5:06 2002/Issue 4 200 ez on 3:20 Summer 2001, Spring 2002, Summer 2002 3x400 @ 5:20 5:09; 5:11; 5:13 FINA WORLD CHAMPS: FUKUOKA, JAPAN 8/01 300 ez on 5:00 2:11.93 WORLD CHAMPIONS – AMERICAN RECORD 4x400 @ 5:30 up to 5:17 Rate Rate DPC 400 ez on 6:40 Cycles Split (sec/c) (c/min) (m/c) 5x400 @ 5:40 5:14; 5:14; 5:09; 5:09; 5:01 50 1.03 58.2 1.6 25 29.87 “I wanted to shoot myself.” 100 1.38 43.4 2.05 22 33.73 “Hardest set of my life!” 150 1.23 48.7 1.58 27 38.14 RHOP Set done in both October and again in November 200 1.19 50.5 1.98 23 30.19 100@1:05 1 min base (top men’s interval) WOMEN’S NCAA CHAMPS; AUSTIN, TEXAS 3/02 300@3:45 @ 3:30 (top men’s interval) 1:52.91 NCAA CHAMPION – AMERICAN RECORD 200@2:05 300@3:45 Rate Rate DPC Cycles Split 300@3:10 (sec/c) (c/min) (m/c) 300@3:45 50 1.03 59 1.66 17 25.76 400@4:10 100 1.33 45 1.95 15.5 28.76 300@3:45 150 1.15 52.2 1.57 19 32.34 500@5:15 200 1.16 51.6 2 18 27.03 300@3:45 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPS: AUSTIN, TEXAS 8/02 600@6:15 2:08.18 WORLD RECORD 300@3:45 Rate Rate DPC Cycles Split 700@7:20 (sec/c) (c/min) (m/c) 300@3:45 50 1.02 59 1.66 24 28.6 800@8:20 100 1.33 45 1.95 23.5 34.62 300@3:45 150 1.15 52.2 1.57 27 36.02 900@9:25 200 1.16 51.6 2 22.5 28.94 300@3:45 EXAMPLE SETS 1000@10:25 June 2001 Maggie was 10:20 in October; 10:08 in November June 9, 2001 Distance Camp Final Exam This LCM set was done during the National Distance Camp 12/7/01 for Maggie Bowen: in Colorado Springs. The primary goal was to descend ALL 4x200 IM’s on 6:00 Goal time 2:02 from a PUSH = A+ 400 IM’s 1-3 x 2. 2:00.4;1:59.6;1:58.6;1:58.2. 1200 IM on 18:30 2001 Christmas Training in Bahamas LCM 3x400 IM on 6:00 (5:39; 5:32; 5:28) 8x500 IM’s 2 on 6:50; 2 on 6:30 3x4x100 Odd = 50 Butterfly, 100 Backstroke, 150 Breaststroke, 200 1. Butterfly on 1:35 build Freestyle 2. Backstroke on 1:35 neg. split Even = 200 Butterfly … 50 Freestyle 3. Breaststroke on 1:45 neg. split Anaerobic Challenge David’s Birthday Set 1:00 Rest “Completely got to point of failure – almost cried.” 800 IM on 13:00 40x100’s LCM as 10x(4x100’s fastest interval possible – 2x400 IM on 6:15 had to make 3 of 4 for any within that round to count and to 2x4x100 (5:37; 5:31) remain in interval group, otherwise move to slower 1. Backstroke on 1:35 neg. split interval.) 2. Breaststroke on 1:45 neg. split Maggie began in the 1:07 interval group: 2:00 Rest Round 1 & 2 made all 400 IM on 6:30 (5:17) Rounds 3 & 4 made 3 4x100 Freestyle on 1:20 neg. split and descend; last one Round 5 made 2 timed (1:09) Moved into 1:10 – made the remaining 100’s June 14, 2001 Distance Camp 3x100’s all out from dive, last one Butterfly 10x400 IM’s dive on 8:00 Middle Distance – Jan-Mar 2002 5:11;5:12;5:10;5:09;5:11;5:10;5:10;5:10;5:10.9;5:06.9 1/16/02 Average 5:10.4 Pace Challenge Set – 30 chances to make 20 (goal time June 24, 2001 28.7) Throughout the summer the team did a set of push best 10x50’s@ :40 made 5 (28.3-28.5) average LCM 200’s. We began at 10x200 and decreased 10x50’s@ :50 made 10 (27.2-28.0) that number, as well as increased the interval from 3:45. 10x50’s@ 1:00 made 10 (26.8-27.3) Maggie returned from distance camp and we modified the Warmed down – 200 between sets set because of the proximity to World Championships. Lactate Tolerance Set 8x200 IM’s, evens were moderate – she held – 2:35s, odds 4x 200 IM @ 3:00 descending to FAST! From dive were descend to best effort – she held 2:27, 2:24, 2:20, 200 Freestyle @ 3:00 active recovery 2:18.

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100 stroke @ 1:30 100 Freestyle @ 1:30 active recovery EDUCATION & Maggie Bowen’s goal times for the set: DEVELOPMENT REPORT R1 2:04, under 57.4 Butterfly from dive R2 2:03, 1:02.5 Backstroke By Wayne Lomas R3 2:02 1:05.7 Breaststroke Reproduced from Queensland Swimming R4 under 2:00 from dive, 56.5 Freestyle “The Fast Lane” – 2003 Issue 3 Standard at the Meet Preparation Zinger: (Challenge done typically the day after arrival or 2 NATIONAL AGE CHAMPIONSHIPS days prior to racing) National Age 2003 has been and gone. Maggie’s from SEC’s 2002 Queensland Swimming has once again claimed 100 IM; Butterfly 50 pace x 2 58.5, 29.2; 56.9, 28.7 the title of Australia’s Premier Swimming State Standard SCY warm up … four clubs finished in the top 10 (Chandler, 4-500 mix Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton, Commercial & 200 IM drill Albany Creek) with Miami (13th) and Mackay 200 IM kick/swim (22nd) Queensland’s top regional clubs. 4x75’s kick/drill/build Congratulations to everyone involved with Hypoxic set: 25 under the National Age Championships – the coaches, 50 w/2 breaths technical officials, parents, swimmers, massage 50 as 25 under/25 1 breath 25 no breath therapists, physios, sports psychs’ nutritionists, 6-12 50’s build 2 Freestyle 1 IM order volunteers, family members, and friends. Pace work … Warm down Special congratulations must be extended to the following swimmers who set new Australian Standard Week Training in Mid December thru January or Australian All Comers* Records during the AM PM Championships. Separate men/women 16yrs Boys Monday General Kick/swim 0:56.75sec* Stroke specific MVO2 Leith Albany 100 Backstroke Tuesday Off Upper/lower Brodie Creek 16yrs Boys 2:03.17sec Stroke groups – 200 Backstroke Team meeting Wednesday tech emph. Alice 16yrs Girls Quality set Chandler 0:25.22sec* 4th best stroke Mills 50 Freestyle Redcliffe Upper/lower Leisel 17yrs Girls Leagues 2:25.57sec Hammer yardage Jones 200 Breaststroke Thursday Off Lawnton Upper middle 18yrs Girls Libby Goes w/”uppers” Commercial 50 Freestyle 0:55.09sec Lenton Stroke groups – (All Comers) Team Challenge Friday Tech emph. (Mills, Kick Chandler Hartman, 18 & U Prime stroke 1:56.34sec* Saturday Upper/lower Club Houghton, Medley Relay Wilkie) Women’s Workout (Lenton, 3/1/02 Maggie, Kirsty, Demerae Qld Jones, 18 & U 1:52.87sec* Goal: Descend the 100 IM’s FAST transition 75’s and 50’s Team Houghton, Medley Relay 2x75’s 50 Mag’s 25.8 to Kirsty 26 Mills) Butterfly/ 25 Demerae 25 hand, 40.3 to mid, 41.3 to In the wash-up, the National Championships Backstroke mid, 41.9 feet feet feet @ 2:00 were a fantastic event. Some interesting 100 IM @ statistics from the Championships are as 1:00 1:02 1:04 2:00 follows… 100 loosen @ • 2:00 Queensland (459) won the State 1x75 as Pointscore by 42 points over New South above @ 2:00 Wales (417). 100 IM @ :58 1:00 1:02 • 141 Queensland swimmers made a 2:00 100 loosen @ National Final – 66 of these were boys and

2:00 75 were girls. 50 ba/br @ • Queensland swimmers figured in the 1:30 Finals of 114 of the 134 events. 100 IM @ :57 :59 1:01 2:00 • Queensland Boys won 13 individual gold 100 loosen @ medals, 12 individual silver medals and

2:00 19 individual bronze medals. 50 br/fr @ • Queensland Girls won 29 individual gold 1:30 200! Mag’s & 2:05 (Fly for medals, 22 individual silver medals and 1:58 2:01 Kirsty IM Demerae) 21 individual bronze medals.

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In 2002, 28 swimmers won 45 individual flight that most of us had enjoyed meeting each gold medals, whereas this year, Queensland’s other for the first time … including our 40 individual gold medals were won by 19 chocoholic coach, Rales. swimmers. In 2002, 61 Queenslanders won a Stepping off the plane in an overseas country medal at the Championships (31 girls, 30 boys) was the first unforgettable experience. The girls’ – in 2003, this number dropped to 54, which team headed straight for the bathroom and were shared equally by boys and girls. were greeted with their first of many culture shocks. We found that there were no western It is safe to say that in 2003 our results were toilets, but instead just a hole in the ground. A not as dominant. However, we can still be proud roll of film and 20 minutes later, we were that we are Australia’s premier swimming State. introduced to our host families, who showered The challenge is to be ready to defend our title us with presents. in Perth during April 14-18 next year. With City The swimming competition itself was of Perth and West Coast finishing first and unforgettable. To say it was crowded would be second in the club pointscore, Western the biggest understatement ever. It was like Age Australia is going to be hard to beat in 2004. So Nationals but three times the amount of people. the message to Queensland swimmers is clear During the warm-up the pool was packed, … let’s start now for our preparation for the forcing us Aussies to dodge the oncoming 2004 Australian Age Championships! traffic. Many of us came out of warm-up bashed NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SQUAD and bruised … such as myself with a bleeding Following the National Championships, the lip. Australian selectors chose a number of squads At the meet, we were treated like superstars and teams. The Fisher & Paykel National – signing just about anything in sight and receiving many gifts, ranging from lollies to Development Squad comprises the Nation’s best swimming caps (which, I might add, were made swimmers in the following age groups … Boys out of mesh). One rule in Japanese swimming is 14-16 years and Girls 13-16 years. The that everyone had to wear a cap in the pool, Australian selectors also had the difficult task which was bad news for some of our boys, such of naming two equal-strength teams to contest a as Andrew Webber or “Baldie”. Tri-Series against a team later this We spent the last two days of the trip year. At the time of print, the names of the sightseeing as a group. Our excursion to swimmers selected in the three squads had not Spaland was most definitely the highlight of the been released. trip. Most of us, including Guy and Wayne, took 2003 14-YEAR-OLDS JAPAN TRIP on the Steel Dragon 2000 – the longest, In the early hours of Thursday, 1st May 2003, steepest, biggest and greatest fall roller coaster 26 of Queensland Swimming’s 14-year-old in the world. I still feel like I’m flying. members assembled at Coolangatta The trip on the whole was awesome. I could International Airport for the trip to Nagoya. go on for at least another five pages about it but Joined on the tour by Head Coach Raelene I’ve been given a word limit. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is considering Ryan (Miami Swimming Club), Team Managers going in the future. The memories will last you a Julie McGinley and Gayle Park, and Trip lifetime! Coordinator Wayne Lomas, the team embarked Story by Tim Townsley on a 6-day cultural and swimming trip of a Albany Creek Swimming Club lifetime. On 1st May 2003, the Queensland team, The team returned home with 13 medals and consisting of 24 14-year-olds went to the fourth a record in the 14-years Boys’ 4x100m Freestyle largest city in Japan – Nagoya. Nagoya has a Relay. The entire team represented themselves, population of 2,179,473 (1/1/02). their families and Queensland Swimming with The team was billeted out with swimming distinction throughout the week and every one families around Nagoya, who were also of them is to be commended for their conduct, competing in the Kasugai Swimming Clubs courtesy and behaviour throughout. competition. The competition was the size of Following are the reflections of some team Nationals, if not bigger, with the number of members, Renee Murdoch (Acacia Swimming competing swimmers being approximately Club), Tim Townsley (Albany Creek Swimming 1,300. Club) and Fiona Mackay (Indooroopilly The Queensland team swam well and we all Swimming Club). had fun, but the most exciting part of the swim meet was when Russell Webber, Dean Franks, Story by Renee Murdoch Nick Whitburn and Matthew Kahn broke the Acacia Swimming Club Meet Record for the 14-year-old Boys’ 4x100m After a gruelling 9½-hour flight, the whole Freestyle. team was excited and bouncing with energy – On the Tuesday that we left to come home, anxious to set foot on new land. It was on this the whole team went to the Nagashima Spaland

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– Nagashima, Japan. This is the home of the POLICYHOLDERS THE Steel Dragon which holds three Guinness World Records for the tallest-out-and-back, longest VICTIMS OF CAPITAL and the fastest roller coaster in the world. SHORTFALL This trip was all organised by Guy Daisuke By Jason Clout & Lisa Murray and Wayne Lomas … so a big thanks to them.

Also, big thanks to the Coach, Raelene Ryan, and the two Managers, Julie McGinley and Recent events have exposed the Gayle Park for putting up with us all. inadequacy of the traditional insurance Story by Fiona Mackay cycle (Indooroopilly Swimming Club) My Japanese Experience softly spoken Englishman, one of the On the 1st of May, 26 Queensland swimmers (15 boys, 11 girls), three managers and a coach A leaders of the insurance industry, told met at the Coolangatta airport to fly to Japan. policyholders what they did not want to hear The majority of us didn’t know each other but when he visited Australia recently. after seven hours in the plane from Cairns, we had rectified this. Nicole Dean and I were being Lloyd’s of London chairman Peter Levene billeted together. (We were all billeted in pairs.) declared that higher insurance premiums were On arriving in Nagoya Thursday night, we something that policyholders would have to get were greeted by Japanese swimming officials used to – for the foreseeable future. and our host families and we started our international adventure. On Friday, we attended After the past few years of rising premiums, Japanese school with our family and had an especially in classes of insurance like interesting day, including one period cleaning professional indemnity and directors’ and the school. Afternoon was spent swimming to offices insurance, policyholders did not want to loosen up after the plane trip. We also learnt how starts are conducted at a Japanese meet. get the message that high premiums were here Saturday brought a 5am start to be at the to stay. pool for 7.15am warm-up. (The pool was so The insurance industry may be in much crowded we swam for 5 metres and bobbed vertically for 95 metres – about 1,300 swimmers better shape, thanks to rising premiums in at this meet.) The day proceeded with lengthy most lines of insurance, together with industry breaks between our events and finished at rationalisation, but that improvement is at the about 6.30pm. The next day was another 5am cost of hurting policyholders. start after a late night (these people don’t sleep!) – 6 hours. We arrived at the pool at 8.30am for Leading business consultant Curt Rendall a warm-up like the day before. The majority of notes that the cost of insurance is now a large us didn’t swim until midday. We finished at item of expenditure. 7.00pm! – with another late night and then a sleep-in!!! Our nourishment during the meet was “Business used to be able to just pay their interesting, consisting of quite nice dietary insurance without thinking about it. But now it is snacks (rice based) to some (not very nice) a significant cost that has to be considered”, he traditional Japanese lunches. (I still don’t know what some of the food was.) The majority of our says. dinners were at restaurants where we could choose more familiar foods – e.g. spaghetti. Another problem is that businesses may Monday was spent sightseeing with our host have trouble obtaining insurance coverage at families before saying goodbye. Our host family was amazing, with everyone from the any price – due to a lack of capital in the grandparents to youngest being really friendly industry. and welcoming. Lots of tears were shed when Levene’s visit highlights this problem of a we left, with a strong and lasting bond being shortage of capital. formed. Tuesday was spent at Nagashima Spaland The terrorist attacks in the United States in (theme park) and shopping. September 2001 are seen as the major cause of We had lots of fun, leading Japan Tuesday the industry’s reduction in capital, but Levene night to return home. Thankyou to Queensland Swimming and the Managers and Coach. This says that natural disasters have also had an was a truly wonderful and worthwhile effect. experience. Whatever the reason for that lack of capital, those with capital have the whip hand at the

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moment. As QBE Managing Director Raymond Jones says, “capital is king”. ‘The cost of insurance That means insurers can pick and choose is now a large item which lines of insurance they want to offer. As a of expenditure.’ result, some professionals complain that not only is indemnity cover expensive, it cannot be When the markets turned sour, the change obtained locally because no insurer wants the caused difficulties for insurers. However, the risk on their books. reverse could be true if markets recover over the But Levene has another message. In the next few years. Stronger investment returns past, the insurance industry has cycled through could combine with more profitable peaks and troughs. When times are good, underwriting procedures to lay a sound base for investors pour money into the sector. the industry. That increased capital leads to a softening of JP Morgan says July was a good month for premiums and often a reduction in insurance stocks. Tower recovered from recent underwriting standards as insurers pursue weakness to attain a 20% increase in its share market share. The inevitable correction flowing price during the month. from too many insurers chasing too few IAG and Promina, which floated on May 12 customers then leads to capital deserting the this year, were up 10% and 6% respectively market. Then the cycle starts again. during the month. But Levene says the insurance cycle is no QBE was the best-performing stock in the longer good enough. There is a structural general insurer category with a 41% change in the industry and he is determined improvement in the year to July, says JP that Lloyd’s will be disciplined enough to Morgan. IAG was the next best with a 30% maintain its underwriting standards – even if it jump. costs it business. A recent report by Macquarie Equities on the Lloyd’s is a niche player in Australia. insurance industry says that premium rate Worldwide, however, it is the second-largest increases and a relatively benign claims insurer and also the sixth-largest reinsurer, so environment have helped the general insurers. it has a global presence in what is now very much a global industry. “Improvements in industry structure, supply Levene notes that many businesses and chain cost reductions, application of more other parties purchase their insurance offshore. rigorous capital adequacy standards and the Reinsurance is already a global market, which government’s apparent resolve to tackle he says helped in the aftermath of the World problems associated with public liability Trade Centre attacks in 2001 because no single insurance auger well for continued favourable insurance carrier had to bear too much of the underwriting conditions”, Macquarie says. burden. A decade ago, the five largest reinsurers had The non-life insurers are expected to 21% of the world market. That figure has outperform the life insurers during the second increased to 38% now, according to Lloyd’s. half of 2003. But Macquarie says the life Pricing risk is just one element of the insurers have learnt some important lessons. insurance mix. Insurers also depend on their investment income and that income has been “While a sustained bear market has lagging of late. negatively impacted on life insurance earnings In good times, investment performance can and embedded value, the difficult external hide underwriting problems. During the 1990s, environment has reinforced the need for tighter booming stock markets here and overseas strategic direction, heightened cost discipline and helped overcome what otherwise would have improved asset management performance. been painful reverses for some insurers on their pure insurance performance.

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“In markets where capital guaranteed products still dominate, it has reinforced the need for more economic pricing.”

On the major life insurers, Macquarie says AMP is expected to announce an after-tax loss THE WHY & HOW for the first-half of the year of approximately CHILDREN LEARN $2.3 billion. Even so, the demerger proposal at the GEELONG AQUATIC CENTRE affecting AMP’s British operations will attract Presented at the ASCTA 2003 Annual Convention huge interest. By Debbie Gill

AXA also reports this month, and its first- INTRODUCTION half profit is expected to be about $680 million. Even though I have presented Austswim courses on numerous occasions, run staff in- The upcoming result will include the sale of services at our own pool and school parent AXA Health and a share of the Members’ Equity evenings to very large groups, I feel quite joint venture, says Macquarie. overwhelmed being given this opportunity to share my experiences with you today. The federal government has coordinated BACKGROUND Geelong Aquatic Centre began six years ago meetings with the states legislative reform. with one 25-metre, 5-lane pool and a small, These followed a 1pp report, which had a beached entry learners’ pool, both heated to 32 number of major recommendations on liability degrees. Within three weeks we had 1,200 issues such as capping payments. children enrolled in our program and the numbers steadily grew to 3,000 within a two- year period. We quickly realised that we needed The most recent of those meetings was in to increase the size of our premises if we were to Adelaide recently. While legislative reform has retain our swimmers at a higher level. Two occurred, the concern within the insurance years ago we made a gut decision and doubled industry is that differences between the states the size of our building to include another, could mean the uniform approach that industry deeper, 25-metre pool with 7 lanes that is heated to 29 degrees. claims it needs for correct pricing of products The new pool caters for Levels 4 and up, may not be achievable. squads, our own swimming club, the Go Swim program, Geelong Football Club and the The fear within the industry is that what Geelong Super Cats Basketball Club recovery started out as a similar approach across the sessions … and much more. We also included a lecture room to accommodate our own staff in- states and territories could, in practice, lead to servicing and also AustSwim, CPR and First Aid quite different results due to the different courses. wording used in legislation. We now have a complex that can cater for babies from five months of age to International Changes to the Trade Practices Act (personal competitors. The oldest person we have taught to swim was 86. injury and death) are strongly supported by the All pools are salt chlorinated and we Insurance Council of Australia. The ICA says it endeavour at all costs to live up to our motto will ensure personal injury and death claims are of… taken under state or territory law. It will also QUALITY WATER remove the prospect of “cause of action QUALITY FACILITIES shopping” between state and commonwealth QUALITY STAFF jurisdictions, it says. With school intensive programs, most weeks we have anywhere between 7,000 to 8,000 But some groups, like the Australian children swimming at our centre – a logistical Consumers Association are opposed to the nightmare which could not be handled without changes because they say there is less excellent staff and organisation. consumer protection. We were thrilled to be asked to start the first

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Rainbow Club out of NSW last term, and have I hope today to encourage you to think about 83 children, with a variety of disabilities, from what you, as teachers and swim school six months to 18 years … learning to swim in operators, do and say to make it easier for your the program every Saturday afternoon … and young students to understand and learn. I want we are getting more enrolments in every week. to leave time at the end for you to share some of This has been a very humbling, but incredibly these things with each other. rewarding experience. I urge all centres to take Champion swimmers are not born … they up this challenge. The need is definitely there. are produced through a lot of hard work and I realised a while ago when I was taking the dedication … by both the pupil and the teacher development section of an Infant course, how … then the coach. Hard work, natural ability, easy it is to forget why and how children learn. correct teaching methods, lots of fun, friendship So often we go through the motions because we and effort, all contribute to make it possible. have done it for so long, without any real Children who begin their water experience at an thought about WHY and HOW we are teaching early age have definite advantages to those who a skill. It is important that we continually revise begin later. This does not mean that they will and reassess our goals and programs and set necessarily become champion swimmers, but tasks that are appropriate. they will feel more comfortable and secure in a I remember when I was teaching at a top medium that can be frightening. By the time private school many years ago, where I was they are 3 or 4 they know fear, so they find it Head of Physical Education, I suggested that we harder to try new things. Often parents tell their needed to rewrite our program. The reaction children scary stories because they want to from one of the staff in our department, who keep them far from the danger of water. These was also an experienced teacher, has always parents are often scared themselves. Haven’t stuck in my mind. He questioned why I needed you ever heard a child finish their lesson and to do this, as I had everything in my head and say, “I didn’t drown today Mummy”? Wouldn’t it could teach without having to write anything be better to teach them to respect the water and down. He was probably right, but how can you the safety issues that go with it? teach the same thing to all children, year after I think that this is probably the most year. I must say that this teacher is still dangerous age of children around the water, teaching at that school, 15 years later and especially if they have had no lessons or only a probably using the same work program. few and then not continued in a program. They Many classroom teachers still use the same believe they can swim but, at the same time, work program from year to year … just change have no concept of depth or consequences, and the dates. I found that out when I did CRT work are just as likely to jump in to the deep end if in a few schools. When I taught in the not supervised. classroom, I had a course outline, but rewrote CHARACTERISTICS my lessons each year as I had a new lot of What do we know of children at this age? children with a new lot of needs. Swimming is By three years of age MOST children exhibit the same … except programs will need to be the following… looked at each term. • Beginning to develop self control and able Being an AustSwim Presenter for both to think for themselves. general and infant courses, one of the things I • Becoming increasingly independent, so it have noticed is that there are very few resources is important to encourage this through available for the beginner teacher of pre-school self-directed behaviour. and lower level classes. There are videos and • Show extremes of emotion … prone to only a few books, mostly aimed at infants and, tantrums … so it is important to give of course, numerous resources for higher and attention to positive rather than negative squad level swimmers. behaviour. When AustSwim candidates come to our pool • Can be very demanding and like to do to do their nominal 20 hours, we have made a things for themselves, so we must show conscious decision to ensure that at least HALF patience and allow them to do this. of their hours are done IN THE WATER at the • Able to respect and obey rules as long as lower levels. I encourage any of our teachers they are not too intricate. Need to who are taking lower level classes in the after- structure lessons to include opportunities school sessions, to spend time in the water with for children to learn about and our pre-school teachers. I believe that, just as in understand pool rules, class procedures classroom teaching, this is the most and the basic mechanics of buoyancy, underrated, but hardest and most intense area submersion, propulsion and relaxation in of the Learn-to-Swim program. the water.

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• They need to be encouraged and praised if It is sad that children no longer have time for they are to develop a feeling of self worth. childhood. They need time to play and explore • It is important for the development of their and take part in activities that develop confidence for them to be successful. curiosity, spontaneity and coping skills. • Ask many questions and your answers Swimming lessons can be the ideal time to cater need to be short and truthful. for this. Gone are the natural games of marbles, • Able to be in a small group in familiar sticks etc., replaced by TV, computer games and surroundings with their parent or carer Game Boys. out of the water … but close by. Play is an essential part of growing up. • Their social skills are developing quickly Through play, children can experiment and and they like to be part of interactive discover. If lessons are fun and give the child a games, even though their play may be sense of success and achievement, they will parallel. want to be there each week. Children should • Have a vivid imagination and love to make leave the lesson on a positive note. Games believe, following a theme in their play. should not be time-fillers in a lesson, they • They love taking part in circuits and role should be meaningful, with a skill as the focus. play. Programs should be well organised, providing teachers with guidelines as to what is required • They react to pressure and will devise ways to avoid it. Make eye contact and to be taught at each level and the method used. speak directly to them, call them by name A child should be able to change to another group of the same level and receive the same and get down to their level. instruction. The only difference will be the • They are very aware of the progress of personality of the staff involved. their friends and draw comparisons. Pre-school lessons should ideally be held in • They like to please their parents and the mornings when the child is fresh. After- teacher. school lessons should be avoided if possible. • They love to joke and have fun … the This is not always possible, especially if the sillier the better. family has to travel a distance to get to their They walk with a rhythmical gait (arms in lessons. Sometimes children have been to one opposition to legs), talk in sentences and have a or two other activities before they get to their sense of time and a good memory for events and swimming lesson, or they may have had an detail. argument in the car on the way, or had a They are still very egocentric, but are traumatic day … which makes it hard for them beginning to understand others’ point of view. to focus. Try to get the parents to tell you if They are able to propel themselves through the something out of the ordinary has happened, so water and coordinate limb movements. that you can take the child’s mind off it and LESSON FORMAT understand why their behaviour is not usual. What can we do in our lessons to help Skills should be broken down and each step children learn? should be mastered, before moving on to the Children love to learn and to succeed. They next stage. LEARNING IS A PROCESS. It love to be praised. We, as teachers, need to find should take place at the child’s pace and ways to help them to achieve their goals. We readiness, not when the teacher, or parent need to reassure them that we win be there to wants it, and in a common order so that it help them and ensure that we are. It is caters for individual differences in the class. IMPORTANT that we build up their trust and Skill acquisition should not be rushed, VITAL that we do not break it. rather taken slowly so that learning takes place Young children need to have confidence in at the swimmer’s pace. their ability to attempt an activity. They will not Often teachers are too intent on distance make progress if they are afraid. They must rather than quality of technique. It is important trust their teacher enough to attempt a task that QUALITY is taught from the very start, without a sense of failure, and then be encouraging a FEEL for the water. A encouraged to try again. We should not expect streamlined body position and efficient leg kick them to get it right all of the time. are the basis of all strokes. Be careful that you Children learn skills through repetition. do not bend to consumer pressure, rather Once learned, the skill can be demonstrated on educate the parents that all children are demand at a consistent level. Practice time different and should be allowed to develop at needs to be given to ensure this happens. They their own rate of readiness. need constant movement, which allows for more Material needs to be presented in a variety of repetitions and practice, with feedback from the ways, using the different senses ... e.g. talking teacher.

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about a skill (auditory) … demonstrating (visual) chief, or helper. Suggest that they show the … and assisting the child (kinaesthetic). Using others how to do something, or can they check all of these modes caters for the differences in that the others are doing something correctly. the class and reinforces each other mode. This helps them to feel really important and Children at this age consider these senses they will be eager to come to lessons and to try separately and we, as teachers, must help them things. At the same time, it is important to to begin to link them together. share this treat with the rest of the group so Our pre-school classes, as a rule, have four that all children feel that they are equally children in each group. I personally don’t agree important in your eyes. with individual classes at this age, unless it is SWIMMING AIDS for a medical reason and then we prefer that Once children are in a lesson on their own, they participate in the Rainbow Club. Children we use few swimming aids … kickboards, are very sociable creatures and like to work with noodles, underwater toys, etc. We use their peers. Even though an individual lesson backpacks, waist belts, flippers, etc., on rare gives the child constant attention, at this age occasions. They do have their place, but should they tire easily and their attention span is not be over-used or the child, and the parent, short. Peer learning serves as a very influential will become dependent on them and develop motivator. and an unrealistic view of their ability. Many parents expect that their child will TEACHER QUALITIES improve a level each term and cannot A good teacher shows the following understand why others in the group may have characteristics… mastered skills, but their child has not. This is • A love of children an unrealistic expectation. Talking with the • A passion for what they are doing parents and explaining the complexities of skill • Enthusiasm, warmth and humour … acquisition will usually alleviate any problems makes lessons fun and shows that they ... e.g. teaching Freestyle. want to be there I often wish that some parents would go for a • Ends lessons on a positive note so that walk while their child has their lesson. We have children can’t wait for the next lesson two large viewing areas behind glass and • Has good people skills parents are able to sit by the pool but usually • Commitment find it too warm to do so, which is good. • Confidence In most cases the child is happy as long as • Empathy they know where the parent is, and that they • Knowledge … not only of swimming, but can see them. Children are far more adaptable the fact that children learn in different than we give them credit for. One of the most ways using the different senses of seeing, important skills that we, as parents and doing and hearing educators, can give our children … is to be • Knows that teaching is in assisting the adaptable. It is a skill that they will need for life, child to discover, not enforcing their just as swimming is a lifelong skill. values on the child Children at this age have a very short • Knows, and calls each child by name and attention span. Keeping them active and moving respects the rights of each child is one of the most important things in teaching, otherwise they will become bored, start to jump • Patience … knows when the child is up and down in the water, and invariably knock ready, when to introduce a new skill and another child under the water or off a platform, when to hold back or fall off themselves. It is so important to keep • Is resourceful and adaptable … uses your eyes peeled and ears open at all times many ways to teach each child in the when teaching but, in particular, at this age as group and is able to change tactics if they are smaller, not as confident and can be something is not working frightened so easily. It is important that you • Assesses each child in the group, explain to them that they need to stay where individually and accurately they are and watch and listen, ready for their • Is able to set boundaries within the class turn. so that children gain respect for the water Teaching/learning is a two-way street. The through self-discipline more you put in, the more you get back. • Is able to demonstrate … children are very Children need to know that you are in charge, literal in their thinking and interpretation so establishing ground rules is important. at this age, so instructions need to be If you have a difficult or frightened child in clear, concise and correct ... it is said, “a your group, try making them the leader, or picture tells a thousand words” which is

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so true when teaching a skill ... being able to implant a picture in a child’s mind, TEACHER TRAINING rather than a whole lot of instructions By Richard Cahalan that the child cannot understand, enables Presented at 1998 ASCTA Convention a child to understand what is required Swimming relies mainly on touch as a child cannot see what they are doing. Therefore, the image they have in their mind affects the way they swim, for example… Big arms – say, Shane Warne bowling arms … Torpedos – sandwich or crocodile hands and rocket arms … Hold your ears on or I’ll have to pick them up from the bottom of the pool … Tall as a tree … Long Barbie legs. • A good listener … children like to tell you about the things that are important to them. Take the time to listen to what they IMPORTANCE have to say to you. Children can find their The importance of training your staff should teacher special and want to share things never be underestimated. It is probably not THE with them. most important aspect of your business, Reverse psychology works wonders with because that is reserved for the collection of some apprehensive children. fees. Without money coming in, there is no staff, “I bet you can’t do this” there is no you, so that area needs to be the “Yes I can” main priority. No matter how much we may try, “No you can’t” we can’t be everything to the business. Even “I can too” though this 20 minutes is about teacher “Ok, then show me” training, we should really look beyond that and This may be the first time that they have realise that it’s everyone who needs some form tried this skill because they have been too of training to do their job – the receptionist, the frightened. Even if they have not completed the supervisor, the teacher, the cleaner … maybe skill correctly, as long as they have attempted even you! The thought of having to provide it, you have accomplished a lot. They will structured training for everyone is quite hopefully attempt other skills more often, which intimidating. is vital to their learning, and it makes you feel good too. THE COMPONENTS OF TRAINING As a swimming teacher we are not just From the time you need to hire a person, you teaching swimming, but have the opportunity to are involved in the training process. Training teach and reinforce other things such as colour, encompasses a wide range of activities. Each movement, body awareness and spatial employee may require you to… awareness ... e.g. standing in front of, behind, beside. Find them Staff Recruitment It is important that we extend the child. It is Train them Staff Training often easier to expect less rather than more. Evaluate them Staff Evaluation Children rise to your expectations if they have Keep them Staff Development trust in you. At the same time it is very Fire them Termination important that you do not rush children, because the slower we go, the faster children FINDING EMPLOYEES will learn and the better their retention and We firmly believe that training starts with the technique will be. Positions Vacant advertisement. You are looking to recruit “enthusiastic, friendly and motivated” Teaching children of this age is people. The advertisement should tell people one of the most exciting and what you want them to be if they are going to work for you. However, once you hire them, rewarding experiences anyone can there’s a lot more work to be done to train them. achieve.

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TRAINING EMPLOYEES This manual is only one component of your We could spend hours talking about how to TRAINING SYSTEM. train people for every position. Since the topic • It has a standardised format. we have is Teacher Training, we’ll deal • If possible, use diagrams and specifically with that. So what do you need to photographs. train them? Start with a keen person, hopefully • Use of a video helps make the system one who has read your ad and has a desire to more user-friendly. do what you require of the applicants. At We are currently developing the entire present, we don’t require AustSwim TRAINING SYSTEM to accompany the certification, but if someone has gone out and Manuals, which includes a Workbook, done their training off their own bat, then they containing things such as OBSERVATION have shown some desire – which is a good sign. SHEETS, OPEN BOOK TESTS and detailed We definitely want to talk to them. You also instructions of what each trainee teacher is need an easy to duplicate, easy to follow required to do on any day. There are six main system. This must include a TRAINING areas in the program … Waterbabies, Pre- MANUAL. Your Training Manual should… School, Learn-to-Swim, Squads, Junior Squad • Standardise and duplicate what and how and Supervising. The requirements for each you teach. section are slightly different. • Be a tool to assist in teacher training. • Be a document for evaluation.

Water babies Pre-School Learn-to-Swim Squad Junior Squad Supervising 3 months – AGE 2½ years 2½-5 years 5-9 years 5-12 years 7-12 years 12 years Dog paddling – Floating – Freestyle, All Advanced ABILITY Freestyle/ Freestyle/ Strokes, Starts, All abilities Techniques Backstroke Backstroke Turns 30 hours – read 30 hours – read 30 hours – read 30 hours – read 30 hours – read Manual – complete Manual – Manual – Manual – Manual – complete Be trained in TRAINING Workbook – hands complete complete complete Workbook – hands all levels on NSSA Level 1 Workbook – Workbook – Workbook – on ASCTA Level 1 NSSA Level 2 hands on hands on hands on

The first 30 hours of the training is unpaid. OPERATIONS MANUAL comes in. What should After the candidate has learned one section, that include? they get paid half rates to learn any additional • A Position Section … This contains a modules. Much of the first 30 hours is learning detailed Job Description or Position how to conduct a class. Once they learn how to Agreement, important legal information do that, it usually doesn’t take 30 hours to regarding our Systems and the employee’s learn subsequent areas. We tend to hire mostly Compensation Agreement. in the Pre-School and Learn-to-Swim programs. • A Company Section … It contains an Once the teachers start working, we are able to Organisational Chart, the Company identify what areas they would or would not be Philosophy and the Company Story. suited to. We then direct them into other areas • A Policy Section … This section contains of the program from there. Pre-School and things such as the Dress Code and the Learn-to-Swim classes are taught in the water, Employee Handbook, which deals with so new teachers gain their confidence away staff discounts, payroll and general from the watchful eye of parents. Learning these housekeeping. classes gives the teachers a good grounding in • A Systems Section … This contains the the fundamentals of swimming – which helps Teaching Manual and accurately when they progress later on in the teaching documented ways of performing any other program. jobs requiring routine work. ALL THE EXTRAS • A Logic Section … Here, examples of any Apart from the teaching of swimming, there forms, such as correctly filled in Sickness are lots of other things we want our teachers to and Absentee forms, Applications for Time know … such as information about the Off and Time Cards are kept. company structure, their superannuation, how EVALUATION and when they are paid, even where they need The supervisor, on deck for every session, to park their car. This is where our has a wide number of responsibilities, which includes providing feedback to teachers in areas

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that they may need to improve, difficult Hopefully we can make more use of the situations or problem children. They are also good work they’re doing, such as the responsible for providing positive feedback to AustSwim new Baby Course coming out soon. We the teachers when they are doing a good job. want to work in cooperation with them to STAFF DEVELOPMENT help make all our teachers better. I mentioned earlier – Staff Development and Our teachers will benefit through Swim Retaining Employees. We attempt to reduce Australia, as it grows stronger. I also feel turnover by continually making our teachers there’s a need for a “Level 0”Course in better. After 30 hours training, they really only teaching the strokes, because for the know how to present a class and make some ASCTA level our teachers deal with, the Level 1 observations. The real knowledge comes from course is too advanced. There does experience. Part of our ongoing training is appear to be a gap between Learn-to- through bi-monthly inservices, which deal with Swim and coaching that I think ASCTA teaching changes, updates and more in-depth can help with. training, aimed at improving the way they They’re in the process of doing some teach. We also have an annual inservice, which studies at University to get some data of everyone is expected to attend. It’s on a Sunday the long-term benefits of learning to afternoon in September, and even though it’s NSSA swim at a young age, and information hard getting there on the day, it has proved to they will bring can only help us. It’s be very successful. This is the time we another professional organisation we introduce major developments, such as new benefit from being involved in. training manuals, operations manuals or things We’ll continue to watch, look and learn affecting the entire staff. Last year, Bruce from what other people are doing with Sullivan, a professional speaker some of you Private their staff. The importance of teacher may know, attended and made such a fantastic Enterprise training to this industry, as it becomes impact that we’re bringing him back again this more commercialised, will be magnified year. in the years to come. WHAT WE’LL BE WORKING ON As for what we’ll be working on in the next 18 months or so, we’ll be making a big push to TEACHING UNDER 5’s finish the things we’ve started. That includes TO SWIM the RECRUITING SYSTEM, which contains… By Lisa Milford • Advertisements Presented at 1998 ASCTA Convention • Phone Interview • Interview Questions INTRODUCTION • Evaluation • Should Under 5’s be learning to swim at • Notifying Applicants all? And the subsequent training of the staff to use • Are we really teaching … or are we just a that system. facilitator? The TEACHER TRAINING SYSTEM, which • Can anyone teach Under 5’s to swim? contains… • Should they learn to dogpaddle or • Manuals underarm ? • Workbooks • Maybe we should teach them to swim on • Videos their backs first! • Workshops • Should they be taught to swim with heads We will also be working on similar training in the water or out? systems for every position at each facility. We’re • Should they be taught all four strokes going to try to improve the systems we have. It’s simultaneously? what I call the “Harbour Bridge Theory”. When • Should we be teaching them in shallow they finish painting the bridge, they go back to water or deep? the beginning and start again. That’s what we • Should they be using floaties, bubbles or aim to do with our manuals, operations fins? manuals, inservices and other training • Should they be taught to swim without components we’ve finished. For now, even the use of aids? though we know we can improve on them, we’ve • Do aids have a place? actually decided that “good enough is good • enough”. We can always come back to them. Is play an important part of the process of teaching Under 5’s? We’re going to continue working with other organisations – such as…

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• Have you ever wondered what other to expand and to grow. Quite often, our lessons people are doing? provide the child’s first port of call on their educational journey through life. We have the SO MANY QUESTIONS! responsibility of making their lessons a positive WHERE DOES ONE START? and uplifting experience. The aquatic classroom provides an The purpose of this presentation is to opportunity to assist in establishing the address some of these questions. To challenge developing personality and potential of the ides and provoke your thoughts. To share ideas whole child. Children can love the water – play, and to provide you with some insight into where laugh – and eventually learn all the swimming other swim schools are going. I will take the skills necessary. However, this is dependent opportunity to use part of this presentation to upon us – the swimming teacher. Why? The encourage you to share your ideas, talents and impression that we make on the child from the beliefs. Remember – there are many ways and very first moment is what is going to determine means to teaching young children to swim. Be whether they want to continue the experience or prepared that in some areas we will need to not. It is our responsibility to provide a safe, agree to disagree ... each program is different. stimulating and nurturing environment for this How boring if we all taught in exactly the same child to want to keep coming back to learn. manner. ARE WE A TEACHER OR A FOOD FOR THOUGHT FACILITATOR? SHOULD WE BE TEACHING UNDER 5’S TO SWIM? Teacher Facilitator Establishes social norms Coaches Eisenberg, Murkoff and Hathaway, in their Sets boundaries and reinforces Creates an book “What to Expect – The Toddler Years” page through discipline experience 391, state: Makes learning Leads through conforming “Formal swimming instruction can be both easy unproductive and unsafe. Not only doesn’t nearly Encourages Is an authority swimming training make better swimmers, it cooperation doesn’t ‘waterproof’ them, either. In fact, children Is teacher centred Is client centred who have had lessons may be at greater risk Focuses on Focuses on content around water than other children because they process feel safe and comfortable in it and because their Encourages Influences attitudes parents are under the impression that their interactivity children can swim, are often lulled into a false Holds expectations Is a resource sense of security.” Assesses, evaluates and Guides measures Discussion questions… • Is it unproductive and unsafe? We are both! • Is there such a thing as “waterproofing”? • Are they at greater risk? Our job role is to act as a guide and to educate the child. Within their lessons we need BENEFITS OF SWIMMING LESSONS WITH to provide them with opportunities to UNDER 5’S experiment and explore so that they can • Improved coordination discover things for themselves. Yet, our classes • Interaction with peers have to be well organised and structured. We • Improved problem-solving abilities need to appear to be teaching swimming but, in • Increased confidence and self esteem some cases, we may only be facilitating that • Educated in water safety issues child’s learning process. It is essential that we • Skill for life provide safe parameters for this learning to take place and a gentle, fun and supportive TEACHING UNDER 5’S environment to nurture our students through. In the words of Rob McKay… we are the Some will need more nurturing than others – for guardians of the water world, being handed some, this experience can be quite intimidating young beings in the most impressionable and at first. formative years of their lives. We are teaching budding human beings – each one unique, open and curious, like a sponge (all absorbing), ready

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WHAT MAKES A GOOD PRE-SCHOOL back to my Mummy. Mummy, please tell the AQUATICS TEACHER? teacher I don’t want to go under the water Good teachers have the following qualities… today.” or ☺ Display characteristics such as … a love of “I don’t want to go swimming today – I feel sick.” children, enthusiasm, people skills, When teaching Submersions, always ensure knowledge, skill and an interest in that you… swimming, commitment, confidence, 1. When you have the child’s attention – “cue” warmth and humour. them ☺ Is patient and determined. Patience in 2. Check for readiness teaching swimming is not necessarily a 3. Use one smooth, continuous movement to passive quality. Patience needs to be submerge the child’s face and bring them to exercised in conjunction with timing – the surface knowing when to introduce a new skill and 4. Always watch their face not pushing the child before they are ready. 5. Greet the child with praise ☺ The ability to hit on the proper approach BALANCE &BUOYANCY with each child. They are resourceful, Water balance is the most important element imaginative and use any and all means to in learning independent movement in the water. get their teaching to take. Johnson and Barrera liken it to learning to ride a bike. You, as the teacher, must act as the ☺ They keep instruction short and specific training wheels throughout each phase of the and speak at a level that is appropriate to child’s skill development. You will provide the the learner. support necessary to keep the child secure ☺ Acknowledges that people learn in different while making the correct movements. ways. We learn through a combination of Gradually, you will decrease the pressure of seeing, doing and hearing – with one mode your hold until, eventually, the child’s being more predominant than the other. A confidence, trust and ability have reached a good teacher accepts the challenge and level that enables them to perform the skill sticks at it until they succeed. alone. ☺ Always prepares the child for the next class LEARNING BALANCE – make today’s lesson so good that they When balance is in question, so too is the can’t wait to come back for the next lesson. ability to move and in water to breathe. Try and ☺ Always remembers that the art of teaching remember what it was like the first time you is in assisting the child to discover … it is ever rode a bike, roller-skated, roller-bladed, not necessary to shove swimming down skied, or ice-skated. Water balance is developed their throats. gradually from the initial entry into the water ☺ Always makes it fun and successful for the and being assisted to walk around the pool, to child – but most importantly, enjoys what walking independently on the bottom, they are doing and shows that they are. eventually going under the water, and finally “The best teachers teach kids first … and being released to feel the full effect of buoyancy swimming second!” while floating. The position that the body floats Steve Graves, NSSA in is determined by the way the head and limbs KEYS TO SUCCESS are held – by the state of tension that the body Here are just a few keys to success in is experiencing and the amount of air in the teaching children under 5 … Successful lungs. Floating is what the water does to our Submersions, Buoyancy and Balance in the bodies, but balance is what we do with our water, Play and the utilisation of their powers of bodies while floating. The front float is the imagination, and Structured Programs. foundation for all movement in the water. SUBMERSIONS PLAY Submerging is a skill that is of vital Play is an essential part of growing up. importance in a child’s – or adult’s for that Through play, children can investigate and matter – swimming repertoire. If a child is discover. Test theories … “if I hold my breath confident and happy with their face being in under the water like that girl said, will water go and under the water, then their swimming up my nose?” Explore cause and effect … “If I experience will be positive. A child’s first put my face in and sniff, what happens? Oh no! submersion is capable of leaving a lasting A fishy went up my nose. That doesn’t feel too impression… great.” Test spatial awareness … “What happens “Hey, that was easy, again…” or if I jump up instead of pushing off the way she “The water went up my nose and it hurts. I don’t said?” want to go under there again … I want to go

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Children learn through play and 3 When teaching them to hold their breath … experimentation. They love to be able to use tell them to make a “balloon face”. their often wild and vivid imagination and to 3 If they swallow water … ask them, “Did you test things out. A good teacher can use this to swallow any of my fish? Open your moth their advantage. Toys, games, and the other and let me see.” Pull the fish out and throw class members are all “tools” that can be them back. utilised when teaching through play. That time 3 For teaching the front float … tell them that between turns is often a great time experiment. they are going to fly like superman out to The more fun the lesson and encouragement you. given to experimentation – the more relaxed the 3 When encouraging kicking … tell them to child will be … and, in turn, the easier it is to try and splash Mum or Dad on the side or teach the child to swim. don’t wet my hair. 3 When back floating … let the child know STRUCTURED PROGRAMS how long they will be there for … a count of Aims and Objectives for each Group 10 … or we’re going to sing the pancake song or twinkle, twinkle. The skills taught in each group have to be 3 When teaching kicking to older pre- appropriate to the ability level of the class. schoolers … encourage them to make the Parents and children should be able to identify water boil. what has to be accomplished to move to the 3 To encourage the correct head position … next level. Well-organised programs provide pretend to glue their chin on to their chest. their teachers with guidelines as to what is 3 To encourage big arms … “I want you to suitable to be taught at each level and the reach up and get the ice cream, or money, off methods that they wish to be utilised – ensuring the roof.” that if there were two or more Tadpole Teachers 3 When teaching bubbling … tell them to tell in the pool at the same time, each customer will their toes a story. receive a similar experience – bar for the 3 When children are having trouble bubbling personalities of the staff involved. in freestyle … tell them to pretend that Mum is going to give them a dollar for every REWARDS bubble they blow. Ask them if they want ten dollars or a hundred dollars. Children love to receive tangible rewards for achievement. Certificates for promotion to the WHAT ARE OTHER PEOPLE DOING? next level or for achievement of minor goals are always greeted with much enthusiasm. Stamps Levels in Teach in or stickers are great for trying hard in class. In Swim Pre- Use of Aids Shallow years past, it was not uncommon for children to School School or Deep be given lollies! Program Kickboards, KEEP THE GROUP MOVING Carlile 4 Levels Goggles, Both, use Swimming including hand floats platforms Children learn skills by repetition. By Organisation Water and lots of in deeper repeating the desired skill often and correctly, Sydney Babies toys when water the skill will, in time, become part of the child’s needed motor skills repertoire. Therefore, it is essential Deep 5 Levels in water, to provide as many practice opportunities as Kickboards, Zancanaro baby shallow Flippers, possible within the lesson – while still providing Swim School program, water Goggles, no enjoyment and interest for the child. Griffith NSW 7 Levels in created attached aids Pre-school with TEACHING TIPS platforms 3 Levels in 3 When encouraging them to put their face in Baby Kings Swim Bubbles, Both … “Let’s look for fishies under the water!” – Program – School floaties and shallow 5/6 Levels or – “What can you see under the water Melbourne kickboards and deep today?” in Kinder 3 If you or they accidentally give themselves a Program fright … distract them – give them a toy or talk to them about whether they saw any fish … how clever they were.

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SHALLOW OR DEEP WATER? them joyfully. Teach him that it is just as ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES important to have fun in the water as it is to learn to swim. Teach him that to be the best is SHALLOW not everything, but that trying is. Teach him to Advantages Disadvantages be safe, and teach him gently, but don’t Allows students to mollycoddle him because only the test of time gradually progress to Can cause dependence on develops a sound aquatic individual. independence with the the bottom. This is a big order for you, the swim security of being able to instructor, and I place my son in your hands. stand if necessary. See what you can do for him … he is such a Reluctance to move out of Allows for smaller steps nice little fellow! … His Dad. one’s comfort zone – of progress – i.e. walking children who are insecure in the water, bobbing, don’t usually want to move As teachers, it is our responsibility to… floating. into the deeper water. Create an experience. Can challenge the Educate those in our care. Children can move around comfort zone but doesn’t far more – may run off. Make learning easy and enjoyable. push it to the extreme. Teach them respect for the water and its Allows for greater environs. choices in games. Provide experiences that instil a willingness Group movement – can have all members of the to continue with lessons. class moving. Set boundaries and reinforce through Can get away with using discipline.

less aids. Encourage cooperation. Act as a gentle guide. DEEP Always challenge. Advantages Disadvantages Assess, evaluate and measure our The timid or insecure Learn to handle their body performance. child’s fears will be weight, flotation and heightened due to initial buoyancy. instability. In some cases, we just provide the The class can be confined Can cause overwhelmed environment through which the child to an area where there is child to revert back to land- experiments, explores and inevitably of their less chance of them based skills – e.g. vertical own accord teach themselves to swim. running away. body position. Can’t put their feet down Harder to keep everyone Are we just a cog in the wheel? which can encourage a moving in the class – flatter body position in the therefore, often more one- References water. on-one swims. • Burns, Stephanie – The Art of Learning Can experiment with a • E & R Howard, ‘Building an Aqua Dream wider range of body Aids are often used more – Team’ The Learn to Swim Process, NSSA positions in the water can create dependence. Newsletter p16. because they can’t put • Johnson, J. & Barrera, M. (1994) their feet down. Learning curve can be ‘Developing Balance As A Key To Breathing steeper initially – have to And Movement Skills’ Blue Buoy Swim swim. School Tustin, California – NSSA Conference Notes. CONCLUSION – A FATHER’S WISH • Kutner, L. (1991) ‘Be gentle, Supportive to help child face fears’ Swim Teacher Dear Instructor, Newsletter – NSSA. Tomorrow morning my son starts swimming • McKay, R. ‘On Working With Children lessons. He is going to jump into the pool and Under Three’ Professional Swim Teacher – find a great new adventure, which will include Swimming Teachers of America. excitement and disappointments alike. • McKay, R. (1995) ‘Teaching From Your So, I wish you would take him by his little Heart Using Your Head: An Interactive hand and teach him the things he will need to Curriculum For The Whole Child’ know. Teach him to respect the water Conference Proceedings – International environment and find comfort in his new Infant Aquatic Education Conference, surroundings. Teach him not to be ashamed of Melbourne, Australia. his lack of skills and standards, but to achieve

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At the Nationals, Phelps, who may well be considered as “the American Thorpe”, conquered three titles in three different strokes, with excellent times. In the 100m Butterfly his winning time of 51.89, the 4th all time performance, was just 0.01 sec off his PB and a

Reproduced from June 2003, No.6 mere 0.08 sec off Michael Klim’s world record. The Australian, who has not yet completely recovered from some serious troubles to a shoulder, will skip the Worlds. Phelps was also able to defeat Klete Keller in THE BEST PERFORMANCES the 200m Freestyle. Keller collected a bronze A review of the 2003 National medal in this event at the previous Worlds, in Championships in the five continents Fukuoka 2001. Phelps’ time, 1:47.37 (Keller By Camillo Cametti, FINA Press Commission 1:47.74) was remarkable, in the sense that it th Chairman brings the author in the 15 place of the all time world rankings, right ahead of the great In April, swimming pools around the world – German “Albatross” . Olympic size, 50 metres – in all continents, have Phelps completed his trilogy with an even become ebullient with a large number of world more significant feat … winning the 200m top performances … national, continental and Backstroke ahead of Lenny Krayzelburg. Both even world records, set mostly at the national contenders clocked great times – Phelps 1:47.04 championships of the major swimming powers. (4th place in the all time world rankings) – These competitions were often doubled as Krayzelburg’s time of 1:57.46 and his 100m “trials” for the 10th FINA World Championships, Backstroke win with 54.26 (best world time this due to take place in Barcelona next July. The season) confirm that the former Ukrainian is on heat in the pools worldwide will go on through the right track to be back to excellence. May and most of June when several pre-Worlds The unstoppable Phelps provided another and prep meets are scheduled. outburst of staggering performances during the Let us begin this necessarily partial round- “Duel in the Pool”. He brought his own 400 IM up of the world’s best performers and world record down to 4:10.73 (55.04, 1:03.23, performances at this stage of the season with 1:14.23, 58.23) – 0.36 sec less than his the United States. previous mark. His split at half race was Early in April, in Indianapolis, two major impressive and also predictable if we consider events took place, the National Championships that Phelps is the 200m Butterfly world record (1-5 April) and the dual meet USA vs. Australia holder, with 1:54.58 and that a few days earlier (6 April), advertised as the “Duel in the Pool”. he managed to swim the 200m Backstroke in On both occasions the major highlights came 1:57.04! Less than an hour after having set the from the formidable and versatile Michael 400 IM world record, Phelps jumped again in Phelps, the 17-year-old swimmer from the pool to win the 100m Butterfly, with 51.84, Baltimore. a new national record – just three hundred of a second away from Klim’s world mark. His third individual win came in the 200m Butterfly, with 1:55.17 – just 0.07 sec ahead of the combative Olympian . Will Michael Phelps be the swimmer of the next World Championships? After his April showdown, most are ready to bet “yes”. As a follow-up to his preparation for the Worlds, Phelps went off to a great start at the “Domino’s Swim Class” (50m), taking place at mid-May in Ann Arbour, MI. On day one he won both the 400m Freestyle, with 3:49.93 and the 200 IM (2:00.82). Phelps is not alone But the United States can count on other lethal arrows, such as those of . The Breaststroker, who deceived in both Sydney and Michael Phelps (USA) Fukuoka, won the 100m National Title with

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1:00.21, thus enhancing his position as the Hackett emerged as the most valuable world’s third best, behind the Russian Roman swimmer. He made it clear that he intends to Sloudnov, who holds the top two world challenge Thorpe as Australia’s best swimmer at performances, and the Japanese Kosuke the next Worlds. Kitajima. Moses was impressive also in the The giant from Brisbane competed in all the 200m event, which he won with 2:11.22, his Freestyle events, from the 100m to the 1500m. best time of the latest two years. His 100 He started 12 times, among prelims, semi-finals metres’ split, 1:01.96, was clearly faster than and finals. Grant won easily both the 800m and the world record holder’s split, by Kitajima. the 1500m, respectively in 7:44.91 (7th all-time From Indianapolis needs to be mentioned the performance – until the 600-metre turn his successful comebacks of (the splits were faster than those of Thorpe’s world 50m Freestyle winner, with 25.02) and Amanda record) and in 14:47.07 (6th all-time Beard (200 IM in 2:14.41). performance). He also won the 200m with 1:46.19, his third best time in this event. In the 400m Freestyle he came just 0.53 sec behind Ian Thorpe, with 3:42.94, his second best lifetime result. Hackett feels fit to swim and win medals also in the 4x100 and the 4x200 Freestyle Relays. In Barcelona he is targeting at least five gold medals. Thorpe was also up to his fame. He won the 400m Freestyle with 3:42.41 (9th all-time Jenny Thompson (USA) performance – all the top nine are held by him). The latter came in first place in both the He never lost his favourite event since when he 100m and 200m Breaststroke in the duel appeared on the international scene at the age versus the “Aussies” (her times: 1:08.17, of 15, at the Perth ’98 FINA World 2.25.77). The performances of in Championships. the 200 and 400 IM – in both events he finished “Thorpedo” confirmed that he has opened a ahead of Canadian , who had new front when he won the 200 IM with 2:00.11 recently set the 400m world record, short – a national and a Commonwealth record, as course – confirm that long course swimming is well as the 8th all-time performance. quite another story. Ian Thorpe (AUS) won the 100m Backstroke with a PB of 1:01.37. grabbed her 21st national title by winning the 800m Freestyle with 8:32.17, a remarkable time. won her 12th title in the 100m Butterfly with a precious 59.74. They will all be serious medal contenders in Barcelona, along with Natalie Coughlin, who won the 100m Backstroke in the “Duel”, with 1:00.74, nearly a second ahead of Cope, as well as the 100m Butterfly, with an excellent 58.70. The Force of Australia The Australian team – that could not count on some of their best guns – from Ian Thorpe to Breaststroker specialist, Leisel Jones, Michael Klim; from to Leisel imposed herself as the best female swimmer of Jones – relied mainly on Grant Hackett (winner the Championships by winning both the 100 rd of the 200m Freestyle, with 1:46.64 and the and the 200 metres, respectively in 1:07.04 (3 1500m Freestyle with 14:48.34 – the 10th all- all-time performer, behind retired South African time performance of a calibre that just Kieren Penny Heyns and Chinese Xuejuan Luo), and Perkins and himself were capable of) and Matt the 200 metres with 2:25.74 (2:26 in semi- Welsh, winner of the 100m Backstroke with a finals). sensational 53.89, just 0.11 sec ahead of Petria Thomas won the 100m Butterfly with Krayzelburg and 0.20 sec ahead of USA’s Aaron 58.57 but she will skip the Worlds. Coming up Peirsol. and running are Freestylers Elka Graham Ahead of the “Duel”, during the last week of (200m in 1:58.96) and newcomer Libby Lenton March, the Australian Championships (also who won the 100m “dual” in Indianapolis with Trials) were held in Sydney. 54.71 and the 50m at the Nationals with 25.01.

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In Asia… Freestyle 8:30.51, 1500m Freestyle 16:12.75 – China Nationals in Tianjin, 15-22 April, and a place among the world’s best middle confirmed the high quality of the women distance specialists. Butterflyers, performances. Breaststroker Hui Qi – 100m (50m 27.42, 100m 59.41) and Yuko Nakanishi 1:08.24, 200m 2:25.70 – cruised to third gold in (200m 2:08.39) raised expectations for the 200 IM. Breaststrokers Xuejuan Luo (50m Barcelona. So did Backstroker Mai Nakamura and 100m) and Nan Luo (200m) also did well. who won both the 50m (28.72) and the 100m Freestyler Yu Yang was sensational in the (1:01.39). 200m with 1:57.70, the 8th world and the 4th …Africa and South America… Chinese performer all-time. 18-year-old Good news also from Africa and South Freestyler Yanwei Xu (50m 25.58, 100m 55.27, America. At the South African Championships 200m 1:58.71) also won the 100m Butterfly in Durban 2-7 April, Ryk Neethling, who with an excellent time of 59.08. successfully converted himself from a middle Among the men, the 17-year-old Peng Wu, distance specialist to a sprinter, set the new who won three gold at the in 100m Freestyle National Record in the semi- October, conformed his good disposition by final with 49.06 – just 0.02 sec off the African winning the 200m Butterfly in 1:56.93 and the record of Algeria’s Salim Iles. 400 IM in 4:17.81. At the National Championships held in during the last week of April, Japan made it clear its team will make itself respected in Barcelona. Led by Breaststroker , the Japanese swimmers delivered plenty of quality performances. Kitajima came close to break the one-minute barrier in the semi-final with 1:00.07. He later won the final with 1:00.23. He is now the world’s second best in this event, behind world record holder Roman Sloudnov of Russia, who was not particularly brilliant at the Nationals Ryk Neethling (RSA) (held almost contemporarily to the Japanese The previous South African record was set 27 Nationals). Kitajima clocked sensational times years ago in Philadelphia by Jonty Skinner with also in the double distance, 2:10.59 (his world 49.44 (at that time it was the best world time record is 2:09.97) and the 50m with 28.02 – an but could not be recognised as a world record). Asian record! What fantastic races are ahead The other notable sprinter, , among Sloudnov, Kitajima and Moses! won the 50m with the time of 22.44. Among Other swimmers did very well. Among the women emerged Elena Poptchenko, a guest men, swam the 400 IM in from Belarus, winner of three events, including 4:15.29 (Asian record) and the 200 IM in the 100m Butterfly, with a remarkable time of 2:00.64; Tomoki Morita, 18, won the 100m 58.82. Backstroke with 54.87. At the French Nationals in Saint Etienne 13- 20 April, 17-year-old Tunisian hopeful won the 400 IM gold medal with 4:17.03 – a new African record. In the prelims, Mellouli set an African record also in the 200 IM with 2:01.50. With these times he could well target a couple of finals in Barcelona! 24-year-old José Martin Meolans from Argentina made the headlines at the “

Takahiro Mori (JPN) Trophy” held in Rio de Janeiro early in May. In the prelims, Atsushe Nishikori had set an Meolans won the 50-100 Freestyle (22.75, Asian record in this event, with 54.54 (the 49.52) and the 100m Butterfly with 52.93 – a previous one was set by at the new South American record. The previous mark Olympics) as well as an Asian record in belonged to Suriname’s Anthony Nesty with the 50m with 25.72. Butterflyer, Takahashi 53.00 from the ’88 Seoul Olympics. Brazil’s top Yamamoto won both the 100m and 200m with swimmers, “senators” (gold in 52.88 and 1:56.88 respectively. the 200m Freestyle), Fernando Schere (50m Among the women, claimed Butterfly), Rogerio Romero (200m Backstroke) a hat-trick – 400m Freestyle 4:08.67, 800m looked on their way back to top form.

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Eduardo Fischer won both the 50m and the Inge de Bruijn (NED) 100m Breaststroke. Later on, at mid-May, at the Brazil State Championships, he set the South American record in the 50m with 28.21 (- 0.09 sec). Flavia Delaroli bettered her own South American record in the 50m Freestyle with 25.87 (former 25.89). …and Europe Europe was also very much alive. Some top class veterans have decided they will continue to impress the world audience. 33-year-old French Butterflyer Franck Esposito came close to Phelps’ world record in the 200m with a staggering time of 1:54.70 (3rd all-time). His Under the guidance of Australian Coach Bill splits – 25.23, 54.24 (29.01), 1:24.02 (29.78), Sweetenham, the British Team is taking shape 1:54.70 (30.68) were faster than the world for the Worlds. At the British Championships in record splits up to the last quarter of the race. Sheffield 19-23 March, there were a couple of Esposito won also the 100m with 52.93. sensational duels. In the women’s Backstroke, Other highlights from French swimmers Kathy Sexton and strenuously came in the 800m Freestyle, both men and fought to win in the 100 metres. Sexton women, thanks to Nicolas Rostoucher (7:56.79) eventually prevailed with 1:00.45 – a new and Laura Manadou (8:33.92). Commonwealth record – but Price was also able The French Championships were open to to swim under the previous mark in 1:00.77. foreign participation. Among the guests who did Sexton managed to also win the 200m event, very well were Dutchman Pieter van den overcoming her rival with a winning time of Hoogenband (100m Freestyle 48.96, 200m 2:09.27. Freestyle 1:47.46) – Algeria’s Iles Salim (50m Among the men the best things came from Freestyle 22.55) and, among the women, Elena the Breaststrokers – Darren Mew, James Poptchenko from Belarus and Louise Ornstedt Gibson and Ian Edmond provided some of , winner of three events each. excellent performances for a world final. Poptchenko took the 100m Freestyle (54.94), Freestyle and the 200m Freestyle (1:59.12) and the 100m were also up to their standards, while Georgina Butterfly (58.81). Ornstedt swept the Lee qualified for Barcelona by setting a new Backstroke events. national record in the 200m Butterfly with The Russian Championships – Moscow 21- 2:09.48, at the American Nationals. 25 April – were an opportunity for Alex Popov, The start of the Italian Championships who has recently relocated in , to (Ravenna 2-6 April) was the 17-year-old show that he can still be considered the “Tzar”. Butterflyer Francesca Segat. She set two Alex won the 50m Freestyle with a very fast national records in the 100m with 59.56 and time of 22.17. He did not have any problem in the 200m with 2:10.34. also winning the 100m Freestyle, with a 400 IM world champion Alessio Boggiatto promising 49.27. Sloudnov won the 50m comfortably won the 200m and 400m with the Breaststroke but opted to stay in the shadows times of 2:01.33 and 4:15.91 respectively. After in the other Breaststroke events. 16-year-old the explosion of the phenomenon Phelps, Backstroker appeared as Boggiatto will target a spot on the podium, the best female swimmer. She won the 100m in knowing that it will be virtually impossible to 1:02.03 and the 200m in 2:10.60. defend his title. Among the qualifiers for the (50m Freestyle in 22.14 … Worlds there are all the best-known Italian amazing! … 100m Freestyle in 49.71), Pieter swimmers, including (he van den Hoogenband and Inge de Bruijn (50m did it at the Australian Nationals as, since last Freestyle in 24.80) emerged as the top autumn, he lives and trains in Melbourne under swimmers from the Dutch Championships, the coaching of Ian Pope and with Matt Welsh 24-27 April. De Bruijn recently among his teammates), , parted from her American coach Paul Bergen , and with whom she was associated for six years and . came back to Holland to train under a new The German Nationals in Hamburg 14-18 coach and in a new club. She is targeting the May saw fast times across the board and a few Athens Olympics in 2004, via Barcelona ’03. national records were threatened. Middle

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distance Freestyler and double world champion Men Hanna Stockbauer made it clear that she is • Brian Johns (CAN) – 400m IM – in the ready to defend her titles. She put on another time of 4:02.72 at CIS Championships on leading performance in the 800m Freestyle, a 21st February 2003. race she won in 8:26.42, close to her PB of 8:24. Stockbauer eyes to improve both the European record and the world record. Stockbauer claimed also the 1500m with 16:05.91 – the best world time this season. She was second in THE POWER OF ELEGANCE the 200m Freestyle with 1:59.77 – behind The Russian team is unbeaten since the 1998 (1:59.35). FINA World Championships After the conclusion of the championships, van Almsick (in a televised interview) said she By Pedro Adrega, Editor-in-Chief of “FINA had decided to pass up the World aquatics World” Championships, claiming that she would rather With Marina Bantsekina, Press Officer of the compete in the Olympic Games in Greece next Russian Swimming Federation year. “The summer Olympic gold is my true and Bonn, 1991. Fourth edition of the FINA only, and ultimate target, the last one in the World Cup. In the final classification, the third sport for me”. place of the team event is occupied by USSR. Annika Melhorn also appeared in good shape The first world level medal for this country in when she won the 200m Butterfly unopposed, synchronised swimming. After a long with 2:10.91. Good news also from former domination of Americans, and South African Sarah Poewe who swept the Japanese, this European country was making Breaststroke events from , its entry in the main stage of this discipline. who was a comfortable winner of both the 100m Irony of history … it was the first and last medal Freestyle and the 100m Backstroke and for USSR as a country but it was the first of a Thomas Rupprath, the 100m Butterfly series of accomplishments for one of its European record holder. Rupprath won the successors – Russia. event with 52.51. He should be counted among In that 1991 team, three names must be the medal contenders in this race. mentioned … Olga Sedakova, At mid-May the Polish Grand Prix took place and Anna Kozlova. The first two had impressive at Oswiecim. Besides winning her favourite careers representing Russia – the latter is now a 200m Butterfly in 2:10.65 (she is the world member of the US national squad! The 1992 record holder in this event), Otylia Jedrzejczak Olympic Games in Barcelona (in which the team took three other races – the 100m Butterfly, the event was not in the program) confirms in solo 200m and 400m Freestyle. She will certainly be and duet the supremacy of the three traditional among the protagonists in Barcelona. countries in this discipline but in 1993, again in Rest assured, the Barcelona Championships the FINA World Cup, (now) Russia goes one step are poised to be memorable! forward – silver medal in the duet, with

Sedakova and Kozlova between the Americans NEW WORLD RECORDS (25m) (first) and Canadians (third). The 1994 World Championships in were still too soon to The following four new World Records were break the so long preserved hierarchy (at the approved by the FINA Honorary Secretary on European level, Sedakova and her team were receipt of applications, and after doping control already unbeatable), but in the 1995 World Cup results. three medals for Russia – Sedakova third in Women solo, Maria Kisseleva/Elena Azarova third in • Hui Qi (CHN) – 200m Breaststroke - in the duet and also bronze medal in the team event. time of 2:18.86 at FINA Swimming World Despite these successes, something was Cup, Shanghai, on 2nd December 2002. missing for the Russian team – a major success • Emma Igelström – 100m Breaststroke – in in a World Championship or Olympic Games. the time of 1:05.29 at Swedish National ’96 also respected the trio SC Championships on 15th March 2003 … USA/CAN/JPN. The FINA World Cup in 1997 and in the time of 1:05.11 on 16th March would be a sign of what would happen since 2003. then … three gold medals for Russia in all the events! Names like Sedakova, or Maria Kisseleva were at the maximum of their force but had their eyes focused in the

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following major rendezvous … the 1998 FINA Following the FINA World Cup in 2002, World Championships in Perth. where Davydova and Ermakova were the And, in Australia, the radical change of the protagonists – gold in the duet and team event – world hierarchy left no doubts – again three everyone was expecting these two athletes to be medals in all the events! Russia was the natural choice for Barcelona. But the undoubtedly the strongest synchronised team Russian Head Coach Tatiana Pokrovskaya had in the world and the elegance, grace and some cards under the table – Maria Kisseleva synchronisation of its major stars seduced and Olga Brusnikina, the sensational duet that spectators and judges. Two years later, in the conquered all the possible titles in the late eastern part of the immense country, the 1990s – Brusnikina is the third “most valuable” Russians showed again their superiority – two swimmer of the history in world level gold medals in the Olympic Games of Sydney, competitions with 10 gold medals between 1997 featuring Olga Brusnikina and Maria Kisseleva and 2001, while Kisseleva is ranked seventh in duet and displaying all the stars in the team with eight medals (six gold and two bronze from event – Olga Sedakova was no longer competing 1995 to 2000. (she is nowadays the main coach of the Swiss National team). In the water, the grace and synchronisation of the In 2001, the new generation arrived and the Russians flourishing celebrities are and Anastasia Ermakova – second in duet at the Fukuoka FINA World Championships and members of the team that conquered the first place in that competition.

FINA World Championships Fukuoka 2001 preparing for the team event Internal rivalry Even if the recent accomplishments of the … were unequivocal for judges and spectators Russian swimmers are statistically far away from the three powers in this discipline – taking During the recent National Championships, into account the Olympic Games, World Davydova and Ermakova had no rivals but Championships and World Cups, USA has 52 Pokrovskaya announced that she intends to medals, 56, Japan 58 and Russia 22 – consider Brusnikina and Kisseleva for the dynamic created by the last performances Barcelona – a surprise taking into account their will certainly give its fruits for the upcoming absence from the big competitions since 2001. years. As for the World Championships, each country The quality (and quantity) of talented is entitled to take just one duet, the final choice athletes and coaches – who are more and more of the Russian coach will be made at the requested to train in other countries – allows occasion of the European Cup in in the even internal rivalries for assuring the place in beginning of June. the major competitions. This situation is Davydova and Ermakova were certainly not actually happening in Russia – the FINA World counting with this situation and now they will Championships in Barcelona next July are have to fight for a place in . As for the motivating the envy of the great names of more experienced swimmers, it will be the synchronised swimming in Russia. occasion to show that they are back to the top – Maria Kisseleva has a “Parallel” career as a TV

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star, presenting some programs and doing publicity. Recently, she was actress in the film

“Idiot”, inspired by a novel of the Russian writer A PEDAGOGUE IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA Dostoyevsky. Rick Powers – an example to be followed “For me it’s normal that a country has two By Jean-Louis Meuret strong duets. It just raises the quality of their Editor-in-chief of “FINA aquatics World” performances”, states Pokrovskaya. “About the Under the FINA Development Program, Rick teams, and except USA, Canada and Japan, it is Powers, FINA course expert affiliated to undeniable that squads like Spain or China are American Swimming, prepared a lively report on progressing quite well”, also considers the his last Level 1 Coaching Course given in Port Russian coach. Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, For the solo event, things are also not between March 17 and 23. The national decided. Davydova, third last year in the World federation, Papua New Guinea Swimming Inc., Cup is the natural favourite to represent her followed his Education Program and invited country in Barcelona, but the opposition can coaches, physical education teachers, members come from a “certain” Natalie Ichtchenko, world of National Defence Force, members of the junior champion also in 2002 in Canada and Sports Commission Sports Program and owner of the national crown in 2003. disabled sports representative interested in swimming. Looking at the scoreboard … four 10s and four Theory during the morning session covered… 9.9! 1. Introduction – what makes a successful competitive swimmer? 2. Drag reduction and body posture 3. Video analysis 4. Physiology of training 5. Season planning – macro, meso and micro- cycles 6. Age Group limitations and team division criteria 7. Putting a program together 8. Goal setting 9. Test sets The happiness of holding the gold medal 10. Individual Medley training 11. Psychological preparation relaxation techniques and visualisation 12. Nutrition and dry-land training 13. Fund raising 14. Masters swimming 15. Lecture for parents of competitive swimmers – how you can enhance or hinder your child’s success 16. Question & Answer Session on last day

The maturity of the Russian synchronised swimming school allows these enigmas. Their resolution is a guarantee of success and the best way to build a solid structure in this discipline. Because the hard work initiated by “pioneers” like Olga Sedakova must be continued.

During the Courses

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Practical sessions took place during the afternoon in the Sir Donald Cleland Pool or the CROC SCARE IN CAIRNS Murray School Pool and covered… By Mark Davies, Casuarina Croc’s Head Coach Northern Territory 1. Learn-to-Swim sequence for four strokes (session not for swimmers) THE CASUARINA CROC’S VISIT CAIRNS 2. How to conduct a training session FOR THEIR EARLY SEASON SWIM CAMP 3. Body balance drills 4. Drills for all strokes Not a bad place to hang out for a week or so. 5. Start and turns – teaching sequence We got together the ‘Magnificent Seven’ for our 6. Relays and games trip. They included Kate Conway, Michael McEwin, Megan Warham, Ben Short, Sarah Rick Powers by himself Henderson, Lucy Moon and Kara Kennedy. Early season swim camps are great and can really help kick-start a season. It is also a great chance for the more serious swimmers to get in a quality week of training and have some fun as well. It’s great for the kids who have worked hard in their sport to get rewards such as swim camps; they can help give kids another reason to stay in their sport, which can’t be a bad thing. We all met at the internationally renowned airport of Darwin at 5.15am … well, most of us did. We had a large concert for the teenagers of Darwin the night before and of course all the Over a 36-year career as a head coach, he swimmers went along. They turned up weary said… eyed, hair everywhere and late so we had to jump the queue to make the flight. The concert “I have coached the national teams of six would take its effect as Mosh-pit-itus would countries – Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, , strike down all those who jumped around the Kuwait and Malaysia, as well as clubs, mosh pit at the concert; they must have got too universities and a high school team. close to other mosh pit dancers … no dirty dancing I hope. My swimmers have participated in six We arrived at Cairns at 9.30am on a wet Olympic Games. Swimmers I have trained have Sunday morning ready for the week ahead. We set a world record, many national records in the checked into our very budget motel … left the various countries I coached, won at the junior bags and started our tour of Cairns. We never national level and have had many Top 16 made it passed the shopping centre. These kids rankings in the US. are shopoholics. After what seemed an eternity in the shops, we made it back to our very I have given over 100 clinics in 27 countries. I budget motel. The rooms were sorted out, the have been the Senior Chairman of Alaska cooking and cleaning crews set up and we were swimming and have a diploma in Physical ready for Cairns. Oh, we had to drop into the Education of Eastern Illinois University of pool to give a few kids an extra swim for missing Charleston. training – discipline folks. The Woree pool was great and Paul the boss man was very My objectives are to develop national level welcoming and looked after us all week. Also a swimmers within a team environment that meets special hello to Sean from Kara, as she really the commitment and ability levels of all had the ‘Hots’ for him. I hope Kara doesn’t mind participants, stressing technique to promote me saying that in this article – I wouldn’t want efficient swimming.” to embarrass her!!! With the bed allocation organised – Michael and Ben had to share a double and soon became known as Michele and Bennette. With only a microwave and a BBQ, the cooking skills of the kids would be surely tested … as would our taste buds. One of the aims of all our trips is to give the kids all the responsibilities of

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cooking, cleaning, activities, etc. It’s a great way Cairns. The Casuarina Croc’s are a top squad to build self-confidence, responsibility and with several highly-ranked swimmers and very independence. I think too many kids are spoilt committed and professional outfit, but they also on away trips and there is no reason why they play hard. can’t look after themselves, plus I can’t cook so Besides the many shopping expeditions, someone needs to feed me. They actually enjoy which were pretty scary from a credit card point the shopping and cooking but not the cleaning of view, the first excursion was to Palm Cove for … you can’t have everything! a fishing and beaching experience. It was a very With wall-to-wall mattresses in our little but nice beach with many touristy shops and a lot comfortable studio rooms and with only two of wind. We wandered around, checked out the bathrooms it was going to be a test of patience fishing spots but decided it was too windy to for us all. We have a couple of real ladies who fish. Not that that would have made any take forever to change and do what ladies do in difference with our fishing skills! Megan, Sarah the bathrooms – not known by men as it is truly and Kate found some boy friends from Darwin one of the mysteries of the modern world. on the beach and played their own version of Overall, we survived pretty well; the meals were Bay Watch before I dragged them off before of the usual high standard especially with only something happened I couldn’t write about. a microwave and BBQ to work with. We The next incident was to come during the managed with $13 per person over an 8-day night; no it’s not what you think. The hair camp, with plenty to spare. colour of our swimmers mysteriously changed The first training session was on the Monday overnight. Dark blue to very blonde seem to morning at 7.15am at the Woree pool, a nice have been the colours of the night. Michael had reasonable time. The local club, the Stingrays, several attacks from the colour ghost, starting were just fantastic in their support. The set-up with blue, red then green. Megan just got at the Woree pool is very picturesque with the blonder as the week went on. Well, while all this mountain range of Cairns surrounding the pool. was happening, poor old Lucy Moon was as Paul, the Manager/Coach of the resident club, crook as a dog; I knew something was wrong as welcomed us and kept us going with endless she is usually a pain in the butt on away trips. cups of coffee for the coaches and Milo for the And not to let us down she got well and swimmers. The week’s training program annoyed us like the good old Lucy we have consisted of morning sessions concentrating on grown to know and love. Unfortunately she technique and a bit of work each afternoon but wasn’t the only one to get annoyed either. I nothing too nasty. We did a lot of filming of the don’t know the full details but it involved swimmers’ strokes which is always a great help. Shaving cream, Watermelon and resulted in We also organised team meetings and one-on- some VERY dirty looks getting thrown Michael’s one chats to go over last season and thoughts way the next morning. All this time Ben and on the season ahead. I highly recommend swim Michael, or should I say Benita and Michele, camps like this as you get to work so much with seemed to be growing closer and closer … I may the squads when you have them 24hrs a day for have to do something about the sleeping a whole week. It is impossible to cover all we did arrangements. At least Beth had little to worry in a normal week back home. about with Michael and the local girls. With our spare time we managed to fit in A visit to the movies at the Cairns Central quite a lot of activities and there are plenty of shopping centre, which was becoming our activities in Cairns to keep you occupied. This is second home. I’m not sure what movie they had why I was keen to do a camp in Cairns as it has seen but the boys had big smiles on their faces. a lot to offer. Swim camps should be about fun After another pool session, working on as well as it’s a reward for the kids who have technique, we headed for the Pier district and been in the sport for a while and are looking to lazed about the man-made beach and strolled get some thing more out of the sport. The more amongst the many shops along the Esplanade. reasons you give kids to swim, the greater the Lucy’s remarkable recovery from a near-death chance they will stay with it. One of the flu was just a distant memory as she gained conditions with the activities is that the kids that inner shopping strength she possesses. I were rewarded for good training and behaviour; don’t like to embarrass the kids but Lucy did if they trained poorly or misbehaved then the call home and asked her mum to fly her back activities would be cancelled for the whole home because she was feeling unwell and squad. wanted mummy to look after her. What a big Now it’s time to get into the adventures girl, luckily she had me to look after her and activities, social gossip and all the dirt that the give her the sympathy she deserved – which swimming public should know about this trip to wasn’t much. A little nap before training, and

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back to the good old Woree pool. Paul and the testing our nerve and I think we all passed the staff were at their best with hot chocolate for all. test. We were spoilt with a BBQ breakfast which we The next stop was Port Douglas, the made the most of with many helpings. playground for the rich and famous. As usual the guys hit the shops and markets before we We were in town for the Cairns Show so we headed back to good old Darwin. It took a long had to check it out. I think the whole time coming but I think the guys finally hit the population of Cairns was at the Show. I checked shopping wall and they actually were looking out the main arena while the guys ventured on forward to leaving for the airport, of course they the usual mad rides offered at the Show. Lucy hit the shops at the airport for that one last and Megan got into an argument, hard to great buy. understand as they are such sweet innocent girls. The fireworks were great but I have to Well, as we prepare to fly out of Cairns we admit I was glad to get away from the crowds. reflected on the trip. It was a great success for The next morning we went up to see the world several reasons. It was our first pre-season trip, famous Kuranda markets, of course they were as the guys are at the age of needing quality on the following day, but not to worry, it killed a training and a bit of a reward trip of training at few hours anyway. a high level. It was a real boost for their motivation and has really set them up for a We checked out the Bungy prices on the way positive start to the season. It was also an eye- home and decided to go there tomorrow and test opener for Lucy who needed a trip away to our nerve at the Bungy challenge. So we arose make the tough decision of staying in the sport to face the fear and challenge of the Bungy in or moving on to another stage of her life. Sadly, the mountains of Cairns. We were the first to it became obvious to us all it was time to move arrive and at first the height of the jump didn’t on, but it was the right decision and if not for look that challenging. That soon changed when the trip she may have stayed in the sport too were got to the top. It was a bloody long way long and that only creates bad memories down, not that I was scared at all. I had to get a instead of leaving with good memories. We wish medical clearance because of my severely blood her well in life and she will be always welcomed shot eyes due to a diving accident in Darwin. back to the Croc’s any time. Luckily, I failed the medical and I was refused a jump. So I went for the Jungle swing which was Since being back in training in Darwin, you actually a pretty thrilling ride. But back to the can really see the benefits of the trip. The kids Croc’s and the Bungy jump. In the end only one who went to Cairns had the benefit of quality Croc had the nerve and the $109 to afford the training and extra motivation. We are swimming jump. Megan stood on the edge of the bridge further and faster than last season at this time contemplating her fate as we courageously and the pre-season trip has certainly been a big yelled at her to jump from the safety of the part of that. ground. She finally took the big leap of faith into oblivion and bounced up and down like a I must give a special thanks to Paul and the human yo-yo, with the screams of excitement or Stingrays of the Woree pool in Cairns, they were fear bellowing through the Mountains of Cairns. great hosts and we certainly look forward to a return trip next season. After Megan conquered the Bungy, the rest of us took to the jungle swing which hoists you to To my good old mum who helped looked after the top of the trees and then you pull the Bungy the little darlings from The Casuarina Croc’s – cord and you literally swing amongst the trees. Thanks for your time and efforts. Kate and Sarah took some convincing but they made it and had a great time. Ben had a little So to all swim clubs around the country, trouble pulling the rip cord and I had visions of good luck for the season ahead and if you are being stuck in the tree tops of Cairns for a ever in Darwin look up the Casuarina Croc’s couple of hours. Lucy – getting stronger as the and have a swim with us. See you all at shopping tours increased – had a fly amongst Queensland Champs and Nationals. the trees with a little bit of encouragement from the other girls. Kate, who has a fear of almost everything, overcame her fear and actually went back for a second ride and demonstrated very good and Breaststroke work while sailing through the air. It was a great half day

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AN ARTIST BEHIND THE NUMBERS Portrait of a GRAND MASTER For Roper, though, competitive swimming By Tito Morales ceased being about gold medals or records some Reproduced from SWIM – July/August 2003 time ago. After many decades immersed in her life’s greatest passion, she now views the sport in much more aesthetic terms. Gail Peters “I look at my swimming as an art”, she Roper, a 1952 explains. “When I’m in a race, I’m trying to Olympian and paint the perfect picture – with the perfect start, Masters the perfect turn and the perfect everything-in- between.” pioneer, looks at her Although Roper would be the first to disagree, her lengthy Masters career has swimming as produced enough masterpieces to fill the an art. Louvre.

It’s the third week in May, and Gail Roper, a Try as one might to view her mentor of mine from what seems like an accomplishments in terms of brush strokes or eternity ago, has just returned home from the composition, though, it’s just plain difficult to USMS Short Course Nationals in Tempe, Ariz. get past some of the statistics. Over a long, hot weekend probably more conducive to inner tube lounging than day-in Upon reflection, in fact, the numbers she’s and day-out of all-out swimming, the 73-year- accumulated seem more befitting of another old legend swam in four different events. To the sport – perhaps basketball or maybe even surprise of no one, she touched the wall first in baseball. Consider these… each. • 185: the national records she has broken This, in and of itself, is probably the greatest since her debut. barometer of Roper’s dominance. Whenever • 61: the world records she has set. she’s in the competition pool, it’s rarely a • 164: her U.S. Masters National Titles. question of IF she will win. Instead, the focus shifts to her margin of victory and whether or It’s the gaudy stuff of legends – residue left not she will approach any national or world over from the legacies of a Ruth, Chamberlain standards. or Gretzky. And, yes, when one looks purely at the statistics, Gail Roper must surely rank On this occasion, there were no new records. among such athletic icons as one of the most She did, however, once again prove herself to be decorated performers of all-time – not just in the class of her age group. In the 400 yard IM, swimming – but in the history of sport. she outdistanced her nearest competitor by over 36 seconds. In the 100 Butterfly and 100 IM, it But to begin to gain an understanding of the was by 11 and 7 seconds respectively. And in artist behind the litany of numbers – and there the most miniature of all events, the 50 are far too many to recount in detail – one must Freestyle, she beat the runner-up by an first take a peek into a youngster’s soul. astonishing 5.55 seconds. A WATERY AWAKENING

The latter, in particular, is no small feat. Roper grew up in To put it into proper perspective, if Jenny Trenton, New Jersey. Thompson, or any other 50 Freestyle specialist ever prevailed over a It was the 1930s and national-calibre field by more than two full body lengths, the story would surely headline ESPN America was steel reeling Sportscentre, Nike will have uncovered the next from The Great Tiger Woods, and a swimmer might, just might, Depression. finally win Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year. A very young Gail

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But the young Roper, then Gail Peters, and went out of her way to travel to wasn’t paying much attention to the shaky competitions where she could sit in the stands stock market, soaring unemployment, or a and watch the best swimmers in action. Despite tenuous geopolitical situation in Europe. She her tenacity and desire, however, the results was too pre-occupied playing in a nearby creek. were far from immediate. But, demonstrating a resolve which is just as apparent when she At first it was figure skating which caught mounts the blocks today as it was back then, her fancy and, like many girls at the time, she Roper was determined to succeed. had dreams of becoming the next Sonja Henie. But the tug of the water had soon worked its Eventually, all the self-instruction and magic and by the time she reached high school, sacrifice paid off. Roper won a coveted spot on she had begun to set her sights on doing some the 1952 Olympic Team as America’s top fast swimming. Breaststroker and earned a Sullivan Award nomination in the process. But still the Lift though, was quite different back then. obstacles kept coming. In , just when Opportunities for female athletes were virtually the stars all seemed aligned for Roper to make nonexistent. Girls were expected to finish their her mark on the biggest of all stages, she schooling, marry and start families. End of injured her ankle during pre-meet preparations discussion. and was unable to compete anywhere close to top form. “It was difficult right from the very beginning,” she recalls.

First it was Roper’s mother who was dead-set against her daughter’s ambitions, doing everything in her power to dissuade the youngster. Then it was a P.E. teacher who berated her, warning that too much physical Gail – Helsinki 1952 activity for a developing young woman would lead to irreparable, catastrophic health problems.

The biggest blow of all, however, came from Al Neuschaefer, coach of the successful boys’ high school team. When Roper, an admittedly so-so swimmer at the time, approached him about possibly accompanying his team to its annual training session in Fort Lauderdale, Neuschaefer took one look at the under-sized teenager and broke into uncontrollable laughter. He continued mercilessly to taunt and deride her before finally barking, “Girls don’t swim!”

Roper was left utterly humiliated and reduced to tears. Then indignation set in. And it was this lightning bolt of resilience, perhaps, which gave birth to a competitor and future aquatic artist of the highest order. Gail with Eva Sgekeley and Dick Papenquth Helsinki 1952

“That’s the first time I can ever remember Roper bounced back to reassert herself as getting angry”, Roper says. one of the pre-eminent swimmers of her

generation. She captured several more national STROKING AGAINST THE TIDE championships and bested the young woman

who had won the Olympic title she was Roper decided that if she couldn’t find convinced should have been hers. Her success anyone else to coach her, then she would school in 1953 even earned Roper a rare, second herself. She read every book she could on the consecutive Sullivan nomination. But her best subject, spent every spare moment at the pool

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opportunity for achieving Olympic immortality intense study and labour. But one can also had been snatched away forever. detect an almost uncanny bond between the athlete and her element – a sort of cosy familiarity, like O’Keeffe surely had with her canvases.

Roper not so much works through the water as she works WITH it. And it’s as if her watery surroundings have not only come to respect and Gail admire her wisdom, but they are more than Tokyo 1954 happy to reward her mastery with exceptional performances.

None of my teammates nor I had any idea about our coach’s first successful swimming career. She was never one to divulge such details. I didn’t learn about Helsinki until many years later – long after I, myself, had retired

from the sport. As she paced about with a stop- At age 26, Roper reluctantly retired from the watch dangling from her neck, her entire focus sport in which she had invested so much of was on nurturing and nudging us in the herself. She turned her attention to other direction of our own dreams. pursuits, including working as a marine biologist, and began raising a family which A THING CALLED MASTERS today includes seven children and six grandchildren. It’s an oft-repeated adage that athletes learn

more from their failures than they do from their A REBIRTH IN WINE COUNTRY triumphs. And it seems clear that it was Roper’s

misfortune in 1952 which has proven to be the Roper has spent much of the last 30-some- catalyst for her unparalleled success in the odd years in northern California. Things are Masters arena. contemplative in Healdsburg, which she now calls home. The town’s pace seems mostly It was during her age group coaching stints, dictated by the deliberate growth of fruit in the after nearly two decades away from the blocks, surrounding orchards and vineyards. In other that Roper first became aware of organised words, it has proven to be a fertile environment events for adult competitive swimmers. And the for someone so passionate about such a more she learned about the raw start-up, then meditative pastime. dubbed “seniors competition”, the more she

came to realise that it might just prove to be a In the early 1970s, Roper formed an age good match for her. She had the time to train, group program called the Santa Rosa Swim had ready access to a pool and, most Club. My three brothers and I were among its importantly, she realised that she still had the first members. “Mrs Roper” cut a fairly drive to excel. unimposing image on the pool deck – she was neither particularly large nor loud. She was “I just really missed it,” she says now. “I business-like, yes, but was never one to govern missed that good feeling of being in shape.” through brute intimidation. What truly earned our respect, though, was when we first had the Little did any of us realise that we were opportunity to watch her slip into the pool. actually witnessing the genesis of a rebirth. We

didn’t pay very much attention as our coach We kids had absolutely no idea what we gradually resumed her own swimming career. looked like as we struggled with our form, trying To be truthful, not many people at all seemed to hard to execute our coach’s patient instruction; be paying much attention to the new movement. but, as our youthful eyes spied her seemingly effortless technique, we very quickly came to Masters competition was far less organised understand how we wanted to look. than it is today and Roper, along with the likes

of such other trailblazers as June Krauser and When Roper strokes across a pool, it’s clear the late Ray and Zada Taft, almost appeared to that there is something special going on. Yes, be making up the rules as they went along. her triumphs are the result of many years of

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There were only a handful of competitions on the calendar and the notion of Top Ten rankings “I just love the sport,” she says. “I don’t think or All-American lists would have been quite in all these years I’ve ever had an experience comical as only 46 athletes showed up at the where I haven’t enjoyed swimming.” first Masters nationals. It has given her a great deal of pleasure to In a somewhat ironic case of turn-about-is- witness how the popularity of Masters fair-play, I can distinctly recall on at least one swimming has exploded beyond what she or occasion when we age groupers were recruited anyone else ever envisioned possible. At last to be timers at one of the meets staged at our count there are approximately 42,000 USMS club’s facility. The accommodations were far members and the sport’s growth shows from world-class – the pool was without gutters absolutely no signs of slowing down. and its depth never exceeded five feet – but the competitors didn’t seem to mind. It was clear “I enjoy seeing so many healthy people,” she that they were simply relishing the opportunity says. “I think it’s the greatest thing to watch so to focus on the report of the starter’s pistol many people daring to dream.” again. RECOGNITION FOR A LIFE’S WORK No matter how many kinks still needed to be Given all her accomplishments, it is no worked out, though, the fledgling organisation wonder that Roper has swum her way into the proved to be just what Roper needed. International Swimming Hall of Fame in Florida – not once – but twice. The most recent occasion “I think there are a lot of people in Masters was on January 11, 2003 when she was swimming who have some unfinished business honoured by being one of the inaugural to take care of,” she says reflectively. “That’s the inductees into the new Masters wing. best thing about it. People have another chance.” During Roper’s acceptance speech, the many struggles she has had to endure over the course There was no steep learning curve for Roper of her long journey all came rushing back to the second time around. She handily won just her. And, as the grand master began to recount about every event she entered in those early the incident in high school, she was so days and hasn’t looked back since. overcome with emotion that she couldn’t finish.

GIRLS DO SWIM – NO MATTER WHAT “What I was trying to say,” she says quietly, Roper was forced to retire once again in yet firmly, “’It took me over 50 years, Coach 1990, at age 61, because of arthritis and a Neuschaefer, but I guess I finally made it to Fort severe case of spinal stenosis. The latter is a Lauderdale…’” malady in which the back and limbs are plagued by alternating bouts of numbness and …With easel, palette and masterpieces in excruciating pain. hand.

“The doctors told me I couldn’t swim Tito Morales, a novelist and freelance writer, is a anymore”, she says, “and that if I wanted to try, Masters swimmer who competed collegiately for the University of California at Berkeley. it would have to be with a snorkel.”

But after four years away from the action, she once again decided to defy conventional wisdom and take matters into her own hands. Not only has her return brought still more success, but she is convinced that her comeback has been incredibly therapeutic for her health. Gail… Masters swimmer “I guess I’m just not the kind who gives up”, Roper says with a soft laugh.

Not even the implantation of a pacemaker in August of last year has put a damper on her enthusiasm for the pool.

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least efficient stroke in the LM. and I may do Germantown Academy that any other day, any other am or pm practice depending on the normal pace Aquatic Club 1969-2002 work; and each individual in my opinion has By Dick Shoulberg their own training pace cycles and if they go Reproduced from American Swimming Magazine way off their cycles I adjust their practice 2002/Issue 4 immediately. Hopefully we are outdoors by June 10.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 6: 00-9: 00 I train outdoors at Mermaid Swim Club where I did 13 years of summer club coaching and it is two miles from my home. The pool is approximately 75 metres long and about 10 metres shy at both ends. It is Coach Richard Shoulberg 33 metres wide. I have six black lines, no lane lines and I have a six lane 25 metre pool in A Club Profile from National Team between those 33 metres, lane with lane lines Coaches Meeting May 2002 and flags and I cycle the athletes 33 or 25 metres and occasionally 75 metres. We try to hit

11,000 metres in the morning to 11,500. 1. G.A.A.C. merged with Team Foxcatcher from 1985-1995. I had full use of indoor, six- On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday we lane, 50 metre pool. Because of travel we train from 6:00-9:00am at Nor Gwyn. It is the only used it on Saturdays and Sundays only true 50 metre pool we train in and I during the school year, long weekends, designed that pool in my home in 1975 and Christmas training and four days a week in have been using it since the summer of 1976 – the summertime. no heater.

2. Outline of early training which has been We do about 25 minutes of land for the kids very, very similar for the last twenty-five who are going doubles. The athletes who do get program years but never the same practice in at 6:00am train until 8:55. The last 25 ever. minutes is usually short-course metres. At 3. September 10 - June 10. We do all our 1:00pm in the summers we train at Lynnewood training short course yards except for a few Gardens Pool. days long course at Christmas. From 6:00am to 7:45am the first 28 minutes are We get three lanes. It is 48 yards 11 inches land and it could be Vasa, bio-bench, and we go 1: 00-3:00pm. We come back to medicine balls, East German incline bench Germantown and we do about 75 minutes of or step-ups. From 3:00-3:40pm some form some type of land work and my distance kids go of land training and the sprinters go from shy of 9,000 in that pool and we either do 3:00-3:55pm. We swim the distance, middle running, spinning, bio-bench, Vasa, medicine distance, Butterfly, Backstroke Breaststroke balls, dollies or weight lifting. We vary the dry from 3:45-6:00pm – 10,500 yards. We try to land exercises every day. hit 5,200 yards in the morning, and mornings that we do buckets our average In the mid-80’s I started a program called goes down but I think the intensity is equal Mirai and my club coaches picked between 10 or more. Saturday we train for five hours and 13 athletes with the best work ethic not one session, 20 minutes of land 4:40 in the necessarily the fastest. They train with me from water, 20,000 yards plus. I started this 5:00-6:00pm of geared down normal practice for when we had our first energy crisis in the the older athletes. The same technique, the 70’s and I like it because I can be home by same drills and I introduce them to the history 12:30 and so can the kids for family time. of our sport. On Sunday we train from 10:00-12: 15. Usually they do technique and drills only The second hour they must do drills only and we try to do 10,500 yards every and then if they want to they can do some land afternoon all four strokes. Lots of the kids transitional work. They swim four days a week on Thursday morning do drills and and they are encouraged to play other sports technique work. A high percentage is their also. Then on Saturday from 7:00-9:00am the

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top kids will swim 7,200 yards in that group. Fran Crippen loves to read everything he can about swimming – I wish he was the same I would like to talk about some of my special about history, mathematics and chemistry – sets and special athletes – Karen LaBerge, our and he read that did a 30,000 swim. first Olympian in 1980 in the 400 IM – a broken So, on December 22, 2001 he did 30,000 for 7,000 yards on the 70 minutes. time – 5 hours 33 minutes and 5 seconds – every 100 was recorded by my assistants and In the pm some time 10x1000x1020. On posted in a place of honour in our pool. No.8 she was 8, was a little mouthy – 20 seconds later pushed off, did No.8, 9 and 10 The first 1,000 was by 100 Freestyles. The again and they were her three fastest! She was second 1,000 was by 100 IM’s and he repeated first in the world in 1981 in the 1500 metre that 15 times. This is something he wanted to Freestyle. do because of Tom Dolan. Another thing Fran wanted to do was, in 1986 at our high school Erica Hansen, Kathy Hettche, Dave Wharton, championships called Easterns, Dave Wharton , Peter Boden, and Jeff Prior swam went 4:22.1 in the 500 and 1:48.41 in the 200 in our first 24-hour swim where we start at IM the next day. He swam 5 events – 200 7:00am on Friday with no school and then swim Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 200 Breaststroke, for so many hours and rest for so many hours 200 Freestyle, 400 IM and made great senior then swim again. national cuts.

They swam 65,000 yards in 14 hours of One of the college coaches who was a US swimming with 10 hours rest in between. The coach and was at the meet told him (not me) last three – from 4:00-7:00am they swam their that Dave was too tapered for the meet and fastest repeats that they did. would not swim well at Nationals! Dave questioned me and I laughed and so the next Erica Hansen was first in the world that day we did 57 – 100’s on the 59 and he had to year. Kathy Hettche went on to swim gold medal do every one under 57.9 or he failed the set. at the in a 4:11.41 in the 400 and 8:30 in the 800. After he completed a set correctly I told him he should tell that college coach he was wrong A few years later Peter Boden made the about him being too tapered. He went to World Championship Team. Jeff Prior won a Nationals, beat Darnye in the 200 IM going gold medal at the Pac Pacs. Trina Radke went 1:47.1, went to World Championships, Olympic on to make Olympic Trials and World Trials and broke the American Record and ran Championships and we all know Dave Wharton down Kostoff in the Freestyle. went on to break American and World records and swim to a silver medal at the ‘88 Olympics Fran tried that set as a 10th and 11th grader and in ‘92 was fourth. He won seven NCAA titles and failed. This year he decided that he was not and he broke 16 American records. going to fail and said to one of my assistants to set the clock pace at 80-100’s on the 59. I didn’t Sue Heon in May of 1984 was told to swim know he was going to do 80. I thought he 7,500 on the same pace as a 55 yard pool which wanted to go 57. The first 40 he averaged 54.2 is 10 inches longer than metres – and then was and the last 40 – 56.3! told to do two 100’s at the same pace and then 75 and the younger kids will do 15,000 for time. Trina in 1987 was asked by Frank Keefe to go to Hawaii for a training trip. So I challenged Sue dove in went, 7,500 yards exactly on her to 14,000 metre Butterfly for time and I also 1:10 then flip turned and went 75 more holding said that I told Frank she could go as long as 1:10 and one of my great assistant coaches, she did a 14,000 Butterfly in Hawaii. She did Chris Martin, tried to stop her and I wouldn’t let the one in Hawaii faster than the one at home him, and Sue Heon, after 15,000 holding every before. one exactly at 1:10, said I just made the Olympic Trials and we were convinced that she She never made the finals in the 200 would, and whenever we do a set of high Butterfly until August of 1988 where she demand we immediately go back to normal qualified sixth at the Olympic Trials. She ended training because I want to see what their up making the Olympic Team with a lifetime individual normal paces are. best 2:11 and went 2:10 at the World Championships.

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The last set I will talk about was for Dave Training Natalie Coughlin Wharton. SPEED RACER In 1985 he went 16,000 for time, IM, where By Teri McKeever with Michael J. Stott he went 250 Butterfly, Backstroke, Freestyle Reproduced from Swimming Technique and at 10,900 miscalculated and he went 100 April-June 2003 metres Backstroke and he said I am sorry I miscounted and did 150 Backstroke not a 250 The Teri McKeever/Natalie Coughlin combo has Backstroke and I knew he would break the proven to be a potent partnership for both Cal- American Record in May. Berkeley as well as USA Swimming.

Twenty some days later he went 10,000 for I call Natalie time and we decreased it by 3,000 each week “Speed Racer” – until we had 1,000 left for time. He also did 12 – and with good 100 IM long-course on the 1:12. The first six reason. Not only were on the wall with 30 centre of the pool and does she the last six he started in the centre of the pool currently hold 22 to work on transitional turns. world and American He averaged 1:02’s for those 12x100’s. In records, but also 1987 I came home from a morning practice at I can’t ever Nor Gwyn and told Molly that Dave Berkoff remember telling would become the next best American her to “pick it up”. In fact, she’s been picking it Backstroker and I based that on 3x800 he did up – and putting it down – on the world’s best that day. swimmers ever since she returned from a shoulder injury that undermined her chances I told Dave that he would be real happy the for a spot on the 2000 Olympic team. next year with his swims but I did not put the Natalie came to Cal with a well-deserved pressure of how happy I thought he would be reputation and an impressive distance training around his neck. base gained under Coach Ray Mitchell at Terrapins (Concord, Calif.). One of the great My athletes work hard and all my great ones favours Ray did Natalie was to ground her always worked hard and they love a change and fundamentally in all four strokes and challenge most important I like to get back to normal her to stretch herself. individual pace work training cycles. She also arrived with a need to regain her Sports Science confidence. People forget that in 1998, Natalie had qualified for nationals in every event at 1. An exercise physiologist does skin folds on every distance and was touted as one of the a four to six: week cycle unannounced. bright stars in U.S. swimming.

2. We have blood profiles done for US I give her credit. Eighteen months of rehab Swimming. produced a lot of doubt and pain but she 3. Occasionally a local hospital that is persevered aggressively in hopes of returning to involved with sports science will come and an elite level. One of the positives of that do lactate testing. experience is that now she really listens to her body. 4. Heart-rate monitoring, mostly land training. IDEAL CHOICE 5. Finally, five out of the last six: Olympic Trials we have had swimmers make the She will tell you that Cal has been an ideal team in the 400 IM and also other events. choice. Our philosophy of power and technique suits her creative mind. We mix and match dryland and swimming components. Among other things, we do yoga and weights twice a week as well as spinning, running and medicine balls.

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In fact, one of Natalie’s favourite routines is a In a college setting, Natalie benefits from the pool circuit that includes four or five rounds team environment and the weekly racing. She is running 15 metres and diving in, then sprinting extremely competitive. We rarely talk about seven strokes, getting out and doing push-ups times. Rather, we talk about goals in technical and jumping rope, sculling 50 metres long terms such as working breakout cycles, hitting course while standing on a kickboard, then the 15-metre mark and taking the proper diving into a 15-metre sprint off the blocks number of kicks underwater. We do a lot of followed by an easy swim. things that are not time-related, especially in a taper mode. We will go back and rehearse We probably do up to 50% technical work in pieces of her race and maybe do 15 fast turns any given training session. I don’t think drilling mixed in with easy swimming. We try to do a necessarily means low intensity. For us, it’s a little bit of long course all year. combination of drilling, kicking, paddle work and kick swimming. A lot of her quality efforts FOCUSED ON THE PROCESS are done kicking or kick swimming. Earlier in her career, she had experienced success with I don’t think she is as wrapped up in winning that. We had gotten away from it a bit and now as much as she is in the process of getting we have gone back to it. better. If she keeps improving, the times will take care of themselves. What is important is One of things that works well for the two of swimming well, developing, refining and us is the sense of partnership borne of mutual practicing an arsenal of skills to advance her trust and respect. She is very clear about training. It is not about volume – it’s about communicating her needs. She has to coach me training to activate those skills under stress, to be the best coach for her. We have very pressure and fatigue. That’s how I think she will similar personalities. It’s good in the sense that get better. I know how important it is for me to have space to myself. I can see it in her face when she Preparing for the Olympics is a 15-to-18- needs some space, too. My role is to coach the month goal. It’s important to have a plan for whole person – not just the swimmer – because that time, but also to break the march into the whole person comes to train every day – not manageable pieces. That includes the rest as just the swimmer. well as the work. She has a good balance in her life. She needs mini- as well as long breaks. She is also very good about processing Together we plan her breaks to give her time to technical information, taking it in and working enjoy the experiences – be they weekends or with it. She has made some technical stroke trips with a boyfriend or family stuff. changes. Previously, she was very linear with most of her strokes, especially as she fatigued. I think she needs time away. It’s about She had tried to “round” her strokes more in an taking care of the whole person – and Natalie is attempt to relieve pressure on her joints. good at that. Our college schedule allows her to take Wednesday afternoons off and she treats it She gets information from a lot of different as a “me” day and a mid-week recharge. She sources and uses what fits. Because of her often goes home where she has a great support shoulder recovery, she arrived at Cal ready and network. There she washes laundry, sees Jake open to embrace both technical and training (her Boxer) and her family and gets an changes. That mindset was a huge asset and it emotional and spiritual recovery. It makes a allowed her to build on what she had done real difference in how she feels about what she before. Essentially, she looked upon it as a is doing. refinement and opportunity to take advantage of the training resources available in a university And these days winning is what she does setting. best. She closed the summer with sparkling performances at U.S. Nationals and Pan Pacs. She is very purposeful in her training. She She has carried that momentum throughout the knows what she needs to do and she just does collegiate season culminating with the NCAAs, it from the moment she gets in for warm-up to where last year she set four individual American the moment she gets out. She is very aware of records and this year she set another. how her training – such as the yoga and spinning – will affect her technique and how it Natalie enjoys the view from the top of the integrates to allow her to be the best athlete podium. It’s a nice perspective for a young possible. You don’t have to explain that to her. woman who acknowledges she has a real

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opportunity to lead and inspire members of the Long Course Records national team. 100m Freestyle: 53.99 (American Record) 50m Backstroke: 28.48 (American Record) 100m Backstroke: 59.58 (World Record) 200m Backstroke: 2:08.53 (American Record)

SAMPLE WORKOUTS Typical Weekly Schedule (during College season)

Monday/Friday

6-7:45 a.m. Metres (aerobic/drill swim) 5,000- 6,000

1:15-3:15 p.m. Yards (5,500-6,500) Teri McKeever is the women’s swimming coach at Cal-Berkeley and the primary trainer of Tuesday/Thursday Natalie Coughlin since August 2000. 6-6:30 a.m. Speed circuit/medicine balls RECORDS & HONOURS 6:30-7 a.m. Spinning/running 7-7:50 a.m. Yoga Following is a partial list of records and honours 3-4 p.m. Weights Natalie Coughlin has achieved since enrolling at Cal 4-6:15 p.m. Yards (5,000-6,500) power in water

Awards Wednesday

2001 Swimming World American Swimmer of the 6-7:45 a.m. Metres (team challenge) 5,500-7,000 Year 2001 NCAA Swimmer of the Year Saturday a.m. 2001 Pac-10 Swimming of the Year Yards (5,500-7,000) 2001 James E. Sullivan Award finalist 2002 Swimming World World Swimmer of the Year 2002 Swimming World American Swimmer of the WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2002 Year (Metres) 2002 Pac-10 Swimmer of the Year 2002 1x400 Choice 2002 James E. Sullivan Award finalist 4x150 (rest :15) 2002 USA Swimming Athlete of the Year 25 double arm Backstroke + 25 Backstroke 2002 USA Swimming Performance of the Year 25 scull + 25 Freestyle 2002 NCAA Swimmer of the Year 25 reverse swim + 25 Breaststroke or Butterfly (1,000) NCAA/American Records 10x50 Odds IM, 3 cycles each stroke (Freestyle to wall, 100 yard Freestyle: 47.00 work stroke transitions) on :55 200 yard Freestyle: 1:42.65 Evens Choice, 3 cycles fast + form to 25m mark + 100 yard Backstroke: 49.97 3 cycles fast + form to wall 200 yard Backstroke: 1:49.52 (1,500) 100 yard Butterfly: 50.01 8x100 Kick 200 yard Butterfly: 1:51.91 2 each on 2:00/1:55/1:50/1:45 (2,300) Short Course Metres Records 6x200 pull 1-3: 3 Freestyle w/snorkel, paddles and band only 50m Backstroke: 27.08 (American Record) on 2:50 100m Backstroke: 56.71 (World Record) 4-6: 3 choice w/ paddles, buoy and band w/ 15 200m Backstroke: 2:03.62 (World Record) sec. rest 50m Butterfly: 25.83 (American Record) (3,500) 100m Butterfly: 56.34 (World Record) 4x400 100m IM: 58.80 (World Record) Odds 25 Butterfly + 75 Freestyle/25 Backstroke + 75 Freestyle/25 Breaststroke + 75 Freestyle/100 Freestyle @ 5:30

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Evens Backstroke 50 drill/50 swim SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2003 (Yards) (5,100) 2x800 w/ fins + paddles (rest :30) 5x150 w/ last 50 non-swim + 2x25 build (rest 5 secs.) Odd 100s Freestyle 3 cycle blast off both walls, (1,000) then breathe every five 5 x kick Even 100s primary non-Freestyle 25 blast + 75 for 2x50 @ :50 just to make base form 1x75 @ 1:30 kick under :50 (hold :47-:49) (6,700) (1,875) 1x300 Loosen 1x600 pull with paddles + buoy + band, every fourth (7,000) 25 up tempo 4x50 swim, paddles only @ :45 MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2003 1x400 paddles only – 50 drill/50 swim (Yards at Maui) 4x50 swim, paddles only @ :40 1x200 paddles and fins 25K + 25S + 25D + 25S 1x500 Choice 4x50 swim w/ paddles and fins @ :35 5x100 continuous w/ board (3,675) Odd 100s 50K/50S 6x75 choice of stroke (25 non-swim + 25D or K + Even 100s 25K/25S 25S) on 1:30 1x500 Freestyle or Backstroke w/ paddles only 25 build @ :30 25 R arm only + 25S + 25 L arm only + 25S 50 on 200 pace (2nd or 3rd 50 of 200) @ 1:00 1x500 w/ fins continuous 25 blast @ :30 Odd 100s (25 flow + 25 rhythm scull + 25 25 easy @ :30 underwater recovery Butterfly + 25 Butterfly) 50 on 200 pace (last 50 of 200) @ 1:00 Even 100s (25 flow + 25 rhythm scull + 25 3 (5,175) Butterfly/3 Breaststroke strokes + 25 5 x loosen 75 (25 double arm + 50S) @ 1:30 Breaststroke) 50 (25 scull + 50 choice) @ :50 (2,000) (5,800) Working with a partner (one is coach, one is swimmer) 4 x 6 x 25 from centre, work 5 turns and 1 finish on :40 4x50 Freestyle w/ flip turn, 1 breath @ 50 + 25 underwater pullouts, no breath on :30 Repeat turns again – switch positions (2,800) 4 x 8 x 25 choice swim (build pressure on water every two cycles) on :30 50 Freestyle (no breath, open turn) on :40 (3,800) 8x25 FAST kick on :30 50 (double arm Backstroke, 25 choice 5) on 1:00 75 FAST kick on 1:15 (5,000) Place stretch cord at 12 yards 1x300 Backstroke underwater to cord, with odd laps K, evens S + 6x50K on :50 (FAST) 1x300 w/ paddles, odd laps K, evens S + (w/o cord) 6x50S on :45 w/ paddles 1x300 (paddles only) Odd 100s 50D/50S + 6x50S on :40 (no equipment) Even 100s 25D/25S (6,800) 8x50 2 each @ :40/:45/:50/:55 (7,200)

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TRAINING EQUIPMENT GEORGIA SWIMMING MIDDLE DISTANCE PROGRAM • Paddles and Buoy With a spotlight on Maritza Correia • Ooof Balls for vertical kicking (new this year) Reproduced from American Swimming Magazine • Fins and Snorkel (new this year) 2002/Issue 3 • Bulkhead Swims – Bulkhead moved out to PERSONAL BACKGROUND 15 metres

Ritz has swum with Peter Banks of the WEAKNESSES GOING INTO THE SEASON Brandon Blue Wave since the age of eight. • Inconsistency at the meets – talks • Developed a strong distance background • Turns and Starts – moving 15 Yd • Swims a good IM Bulkhead

• Developed a great technique • General strength – Butterfly and weights

• Gradual development STRENGTHS GOING INTO THE SEASON

COLLEGE BACKGROUND • Her background and work ethic Will be a Senior majoring in Pre-Medicine. • Academic soundness • Can train IM and Freestyle and Butterfly • Freshman year (2000) – NCAA Champion • Great kicker and puller … make her do in 200 Freestyle SCM and anchored on something fast each day American Record Medley Relay and also swam the mile and 400 Freestyle Relay on TAPER the last day at NCAA’s • Has won every Freestyle event at the • SEC – Saturday before we left S.E.C.’s from the 50-1650 – her best mile • NCAA’s – approximately 10 days out … time is 16:29.93 SCM and 16:09.83 SCY weights until Friday before … three • 400 Freestyle Relay at last year’s NCAA morning practices-week before leaving … was a breakout swim goes down to approximately 4,500 a day • Progress of times… two days out

TRAINING CYCLE Class 50 100

23.24 49.27 Freshman (dual meet) (dual meet) • 9-10 swim workouts 22.37 48.49 • Weekly Schedule Sophomore (Relay NCAA’s) 21.69 47.56 Monday AM – Aerobic Pull with fast kick set (American (American Junior Record) Record) 1. Approximately 5,000 metres LC NCAA Champion NCAA Champion 8 x 300 or 6 x 400 on a 15 sec-20 sec R. 12 x 100 kick

2:00 • 14th Swim – 47.0 Relay split 1:80 1-3

1:40 TRAINING COMPONENTS

Monday PM – Threshold – each warm-up 1,500- • Meets – Butterfly, IM and every Freestyle 1,700 with a pre-set (stolen from ) event • Training Middle Distance with an 1. Approximately 7,500 metres LC emphasis on Long Course in the Fall 300 – 6 x 50 Drill @ :55 • Land Work – 3 days dryland, 2 days 1900 – 4 x 400 Pilates, 2 days weights with Medicine Ball 3100 – 6 x 200 w/split 4000 – 8 x 100 30-25-20-15 15-20-25 & go

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Tuesday AM – 5,000 LC Sample Butterfly Workout

1. 2,000 kick set 2. Drill/work • 1,500 General Warm-up • 2,100 24x25 Drill Tuesday PM – EZ-FAST & Active Rest (yards) Kick w.hands at side-breathe every 4th kick in rhythm 1. 40 x 50 3 EZ on the 40 – Freestyle 4 kicks / 1 stroke 2 Race on the 35 – Butterfly & Turtle drill @ :30 Freestyle Right arm Left arm Wednesday AM – Butterfly Workout 2 R – 2L – 2 both

1. See chart • 3,150 each 2 x Through – Swim Butterfly w/tubing @ middle of pool @ :30 base Wednesday PM – approximately 7,000 yards 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 & 150 • 4,350 200 Pull 75 Butterfly 25 Freestyle 100 Freestyle – 1:20 4x100 Kick Rotate 25 under 200 D/S – 2:50 (x2) 100 Race – 1:30 (6 x through) • 4,850 20x25 8 @ :30 no breath Butterfly Thursday AM – OFF 4 @ :25 1 breath Butterfly 4 @ :20 2 breath Butterfly Thursday PM – (Yards) 7,500-8,000 – Threshold 4 @ :15 Butterfly IM & Freestyle • 5,000 150 Warm Down

1. (1:05 or 1:10 Base) 600 Freestyle -6x100 IM Race 1:15 1200 Mid Season Sample Workout SC Yards 500 Freestyle -5x100 IM Race 1:15 2200 400 Freestyle -4x100 IM Race 1:15 3000 1500 Warm-up 300 Freestyle -3x100 IM Race 1:15 3600 • 200 Freestyle -2x100 IM Race 1:15 4000 500 S 400 IM

300 Pull (15 sec Rest) Friday AM – 4,500-5,000 200 Kick

100 N/Split Freestyle 1. General Aerobics 1000 Drill Set • 3,500 8x250 Snorkel & Paddle 2:50 1000 Kick Set 5,500 30x100 Freestyle Descending 1-3 :70, :65, :60 Friday PM – 7,000-7,500 • 5,600 100 EZ 1. Mixed bag – some descend work for preparation • 6,800 Kick – 1x200 N/Split 3:10 to race 4x50 – 1 EZ :55 1 Fast :40 Saturday AM – Swim Meet or High Intensity Swims • 7,400 12x50 Ext Drill/Swim 1 Arm/Swim 1. Workout 8,000 (10 sec Rest) 45 minutes to 60 minutes Dryland 1 Arm/Swim

• 7,900 20x25 EARLY SEASON – ADDITIONAL 1540 Blast INFORMATION Drill

25 Fast Top • No Supplements 25 DPS :36 • Time Challenges within workouts • Very competitive but – done quietly • 300 Swim Down Total: 8200

W W W 97 X X X SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA – September-October 2003

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF GEORGIA Day Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 STRENGTH & CONDITIONING 1 rep max/exercise RPxWT RPxWT RPxWT Monday 69% DB Bench Press 10x35 10x35 10x35 Weight Program DB Chest Fly 10x25 10x25 Shoulder Shrugs 10x25 10x25 Tricep Pushdown 10x20 10x20 10x20 • General progression from Hypertrophy (3 Hammer Seated Row 10x75 10x75 sets 12 or 10 or circuit-light wt) to Chin Ups 5x___ 5x___ 5x___ Strength and Power (3 sets 6-heavy wt) Parallel Squat 15x90 15x90 Leg Extension 12x60 12x60 • Unloading phases to recover and allow for Leg Curl 12x45 12x45 better performance (mid November) and Standing Calf Raise 10x140 10x140 Dips 5x___ 5x___ 5x___ after Christmas Training Wednesday 72% DB Lunges 10x___ 10x___ 10x___ • Men came out of the weight room 3-4 Leg Curl 10x50 10x50 weeks out, and women 7-10 days out of Seated Calf Raise 10x55 10x55 10x55 championships – both teams did go back DB Incline 10x35 10x35 10x35 to the weight room for about 10 days Close Grip Bench 10x85 10x85 Wide Grip Pull-up 5x___ 5x___ 5x___ before NCAA’s Close Grip Lat Pull 10x55 10x55 10x55 • Box jumps, dips, pull-ups all part of Rotator Bar Curl 10x___ 10x___ Straight Bar Curl 10x60 10x60 weight room work – progressed from one Swim Hypers 10x___ 10x___ set of 5 to three sets of 8 on all Friday 85% DB Bench Press 10x35 10x35 10x35 • Varied exercises by session for body part – DB Military Press 10x10 10x10 10x10 i.e. dumbbell bench on Monday and then DB Lateral Raise 10x5 10x5 incline bench on Wednesday to avoid DB Front Raise 10x5 10x5 Tricep Extension 10x45 10x45 10x45 repetition injuries 1 Arm Dumbbell Row 8x50 8x50 8x50 • Testing was done after four weeks in the Hammer Seated Row 10x75 10x75 10x75 Leg Press 10x230 10x230 10x230 weight room for a computer program to Leg Extension 12x60 12x60 come out with guidelines (shown on Leg Curl 12x45 12x45 sheets) Dips 10x___ 10x___ 10x___

• Women lifted after AM practice – men Day Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 lifted before AM practice 1 rep max/exercise RPxWT RPxWT RPxWT Monday 70% DB Bench Press 10x35 8x40 8x40 Dryland Program DB Chest Fly 10x25 10x25 Shoulder Shrugs 10x25 10x25 Tricep Pushdown 10x20 10x20 10x20 • Pilates twice a week – athletes given a Hammer Seated Row 10x75 10x75 chance of Pilates or med ball routines – Chin Ups 5x___ 5x___ 5x___ about half the team does one or the other Parallel Squat 12x100 12x100 Leg Extension 12x65 12x65 – good for core body work, flexibility and Leg Curl 12x50 12x50 relaxation/focus Standing Calf Raise 10x140 10x140 Wednesday 70% • Medicine Ball Program – very general DB Lunges 10x___ 10x___ 10x___ along with abdominal work – also push- Leg Curl 10x50 10x50 ups, lunges, jumps Seated Calf Raise 10x55 10x55 10x55 DB Incline 10x35 10x35 10x35 • Running – progress from 15-30 minutes Close Grip Bench 10x85 10x85 about twice a week during the Fall and Wide Grip Pull-up 5x___ 5x___ 5x___ Close Grip Lat Pull 10x55 10x55 10x55 through Christmas training – stadium Rotator Bar Curl 10x___ 10x___ bleachers once or twice a week until about Straight Bar Curl 10x60 10x60 November 1st Friday 87% DB Bench Press 10x35 8x40 8x40 DB Military Press 10x10 10x10 10x10 Brian Brown is the strength and conditioning DB Lateral Raise 10x5 10x5 coach at Georgia. Whitney Hite and Brian DB Front Raise 10x5 10x5 Tricep Extension 10x45 10x45 10x45 Schrader are in the weight room each session 1 Arm Dumbbell Row 8x50 8x50 8x50 with men and women and help plan the Hammer Seated Row 10x75 10x75 10x75 program with and Coach Brown. Leg Press 10x230 8x245 8x245 Leg Extension 12x65 12x65 Leg Curl 12x50 12x50 Carol Capitani supervises the Pilates and Dips 10x___ 10x___ 10x___ med ball work with Jack’s oversight.

W W W 98 X X X SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA – September-October 2003

Day Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 YOUR ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO SHAPE AND 1 rep max/exercise RPxWT RPxWT RPxWT TONE ABS, BACK, LEGS AND BUTTOCKS Monday 72% DB Bench Press 10x45 10x45 DB Chest Fly 10x25 10x25 Shoulder Shrugs 10x25 10x25 Tricep Pushdown 10x20 10x20 10x20 WWoommeenn’’ss Hammer Seated Row 10x75 10x75 Chin Ups 5x___ 5x___ 5x___ Parallel Squat 10x100 10x100 10x100 Strength Training Leg Extension 10x70 10x70 Strength Training Leg Curl 10x50 10x50 Standing Calf Raise 10x140 10x140 Wednesday 70% AAnnaattoommyy DB Lunges 10x___ 10x___ 10x___ Leg Curl 10x50 10x50

Seated Calf Raise 10x55 10x55 10x55 By Frédéric Delavier DB Incline 10x35 10x35 10x35 Close Grip Bench 10x85 10x85 Wide Grip Pull-up 5x___ 5x___ 5x___ Close Grip Lat Pull 10x55 10x55 10x55 Rotator Bar Curl 10x___ 10x___ Straight Bar Curl 10x60 10x60 Friday 90% DB Bench Press 8x40 8x45 8x45 DB Military Press 10x10 10x10 10x10 DB Lateral Raise 10x5 10x5 DB Front Raise 10x5 10x5 Tricep Extension 10x45 10x45 10x45 1 Arm Dumbbell Row 8x50 8x50 8x50 Hammer Seated Row 10x75 10x75 10x75 Leg Press 8x245 8x265 8x265 Leg Extension 10x70 10x70 Leg Curl 10x50 10x50 Dips 10x___ 10x___ 10x___

Day Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 1 rep max/exercise RPxWT RPxWT RPxWT Monday 74% DB Bench Press 8x45 8x45 6x50 DB Chest Fly 10x25 10x25 $38.50 (inc. Shoulder Shrugs 10x25 10x25 Tricep Pushdown 10x20 10x20 10x20 Hammer Seated Row 10x75 10x75 GST) + $11 P&H Chin Ups 5x___ 5x___ 5x___ Get an inside view of muscles in action! Like having Parallel Squat 8x110 8x110 8x110 an x-ray as you work out, Women’s Strength Leg Extension 10x75 10x75 Leg Curl 10x55 10x55 Training Anatomy features full colour, detailed Standing Calf Raise 10x140 10x140 anatomical drawings of exercises for strengthening Wednesday 70% and toning the legs, buttocks, abs, and back. DB Lunges 10x___ 10x___ 10x___ Leg Curl 10x50 10x50 Seated Calf Raise 10x55 10x55 10x55 Descriptions of proper technique work in tandem with DB Incline 10x35 10x35 10x35 the illustrations to ensure clear understanding of how Close Grip Bench 10x85 10x85 to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of each Wide Grip Pull-up 5x___ 5x___ 5x___ exercise. Variations of these movements isolate Close Grip Lat Pull 10x55 10x55 10x55 Rotator Bar Curl 10x___ 10x___ specific muscles to help achieve targeted results. Straight Bar Curl 10x60 10x60 Friday 92% DB Bench Press 8x45 8x45 6x50 DB Military Press 10x10 10x10 10x10 DB Lateral Raise 10x5 10x5 DB Front Raise 10x5 10x5 Tricep Extension 10x45 10x45 10x45 1 Arm Dumbbell Row 8x50 8x50 8x50 Hammer Seated Row 10x75 10x75 10x75 Leg Press 8x265 8x265 6x280 PO Box 824, Lavington NSW 2641 Leg Extension 10x75 10x75 Phone: (02) 6041 6077 Leg Curl 10x55 10x55 Fax: (02) 6041 4282 Dips 10x___ 10x___ 10x___ E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Web Site: www.ascta.com

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