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Journal of the Australian Swimming Volume 25. No.1
Coaches & Teachers Association September 2008
Inside:
• Beijing Wrap
• Taking the Plunge
• JX Times Poster
our biggest
haul yet!
Olympic greats share
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Learn from the best of the best with JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING COACHES & TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Volume 25. No 1 - September 2008
FEATURES
8 Medal Madness as Dolphins bring home the goods from Beijing.
10 Olympic Swim Wrap Up.
CONTENTS
8
16 Thommo’s best men for the job any given day.
Where performance is essential, education is central, swimming 18 Our coaches had a great Olympics.
is life and the coach holds the key to unlocking 20 Lessons learnt from the Olympic Experience.
the ultimate potential in those around them. 42 Anti-Doping legislation is changing - what swimmers should know.
56 Summary of proceedings for the Australian Water Safety Council.
57 Eating before Swimming okay - old swim rule has mysterious roots, experts say
57 Professional Development Online
58 Golden Girl Hayley
Pools her talent for Swimming’s Survival and Health Program
HIGH PERFORMANCE
26 10km Open Water Swimming - Requirements for competition.
40 44 Challenging traditional Practice approaches to Skill Development.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
31 Mainstreaming & Class Inclusion
For children with a disability through the Learn to Swim Stages.
32 JX Times.
35 Australian Junior Excellence Program (JX)
2008-09 Criteria & Qualifying Times.
36 JX Coaches Award Winners.
46 The effective use of Swim Platforms in Infant Aquatic Programs.
48 Developing the Art of Sculling.
54
52 Teaching Survival Strokes.
54 Swimmers with a Disability, Learn to Swim - Teachers’ Workshops 2008
55 SWD LTS Teachers Workshop
DEVELOPING THE SWIM INDUSTRY
25 Swimmers with ability in disability.
28 Taking the plunge - becoming a full-time coach.
REGULARS
6 Editorial
40 Industry News - You now have a choice
58
ascta launches new Teacher Accreditation.
50 Swim Australia
ascta presents the “Swimming in Australia” DVD series: 60 Calendar
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5
Editorial
Dr Ralph Richards qualities that sport contributes to the lives
ascta, Chief Executive Officer of athletes (and coaches) and sets them
apart from the norm.
The Beijing Olympic Games results are now officially
Regulars
Regulars
To paraphrase a well known saying; “it’s
part of our swimming history – how will these better to have competed (regardless of the
Olympics be remembered? First, they will be remembered result) than to have never put everything
as the fastest international swimming competition on the line.” Any human endeavour that
we have ever seen. They will also be remembered for has value must also have risk. We must
never lose sight of the fact that to achieve
Michael Phelps’ accomplishments. He is a once in a we must also risk ‘failure’ (once again, I use
generation athlete and everyone who knows swimming this term to mean not winning the Gold).
will marvel at his accomplishments. Finally, the Beijing We do not aim for Silver or Bronze, a final
performance, or a semi-final performance;
Olympics will be remembered for the 20 medals won by we aim for Gold and that’s how it should be.
the Australian Swimming Team – any country (other If we do not get there, it’s not due to any
than the USA) would gladly take that total. lack of character or dedication. Once the
results are in, the professional thing to do is
Certainly, everyone active within our evaluate and then get on with life and sport.
sport will have a deep appreciation of the The enduring legacy of any Olympic Games
quality of those performances because and the lessons brought forward to coaches
as coaches or teachers of swimming we at all levels of our sport are:
know how long and hard the swimmer/
• Stay positive and focused at all times
coach partnership has worked to achieve
and try to convey this message to your
their success. Because of our background
knowledge of swimming we understand
athletes, their families and the public at AUSTRALIAN Olympic Medal Tally – SWIMMING
large. Your ability as a coach to deal with VENUE YEAR GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTALS
that Olympic Trials qualifying criteria were
the next situation will depend upon how
so tough that only exceptional athletes Athens 1896 0 0 0 0
to handle the present.
became members of the Australian Team.
What happens when the public (who have • Enjoy what you do. It’s healthy and Paris 1900 2 0 0 2
a limited understanding of our sport) view natural to celebrate our achievements St. Louis 1904 0 0 0 0
the Games result from a totally different (and those of our athletes), but take the
London 1908 0 1 1 2
perspective and expectation? advice
we give and enjoy the process as much Stockholm 1912 2 2 2 6
We are often put in a position of responding
as the outcome. Antwerp 1920 0 1 1 2
to (or sometimes defending) the public
perception of our sport. Because our sport • Continue to pursue your dreams – but Paris 1924 2 1 2 5
holds such a high standing within the realise that dreams do not become
Amsterdam 1928 1 2 0 3
public eye, some people see our medal reality by chance, they require sustained
result as the only result. As aquatics effort. Every coach wants to develop Los Angeles 1932 1 1 0 2
professionals we know this is far from the successful athletes, but few are prepared Berlin 1936 0 0 0 0
truth, it’s up to us to strongly put forward improve on every aspect. to put in place the required elements.
London 1948 0 2 2 4
our position with reasoned and considered Because coaching is an occupation driven • Improve your likelihood for future
thinking. Every Australian should feel great by results, it’s easy to put unrealistic success by learning, growing Helsinki 1952 1 0 0 1
pride that our swimmers represented their pressure on ourselves and our athletes. On professionally, and expanding your Melbourne 1956 8 4 2 14
country, themselves, their coaches and one hand we must set ambitious goals and horizons. Rome 1960 5 4 3 12
Clubs with great distinction – regardless of prepare ourselves to meet the toughest • Accept that improvement (i.e.
the medal tally. challenge; on the other hand we feel let- Tokyo 1964 4 1 5 10
improvement in each individual athlete
A wise coach once told me that when down if we do not live up to our dream. or in a Club/squad, or in one’s self ) takes Mexico 1968 3 2 3 8
critiquing a sporting performance, it’s OK to This is the great paradox that competition time; this is why we develop long-term Munich 1972 6 2 2 10
criticise the act as long as you don’t criticise offers. We tell our athletes that winning isn’t plans.
‘everything’ and that it’s more important to Montreal 1976 0 0 1 1
the individual. As professionals we will In the final analysis each individual will
evaluate results and find both positives and ‘have fun’ and to value the process as much Moscow 1980 2 0 5 7
determine what Australia’s Olympic result
negatives. Hopefully, we will learn from our as the outcome. Yet coaches and athletes Los Angeles 1984 1 5 6 12
represents to them. I hope you share
experience and change what needs change can feel devastated when performance
my optimism and look forward to Seoul 1988 1 1 1 3
and support strategies that have served does not match expectation or potential.
making good programs great and great
us well. This is how professionals work. We The Olympic Games make us acutely aware Barcelona 1992 1 3 5 9
programs unstoppable.
must celebrate the fact that we have so of this sporting paradox – we want to win, Atlanta 1996 2 4 6 12
many talented and dedicated individuals in we plan to win, but reality dictates that we
Sydney 2000 5 9 4 18
our sport and the overwhelming positives do not always ‘win’ (in this last case, I use
that flow through our sporting culture from the term ‘win’ as a Gold Medal result). There Athens 2004 7 5 4 16
top to bottom. Fundamentally, we have a is nothing wrong with aiming high and Beijing 2008 6 6 8 20
sporting system that few other countries daring to dream – these are the intangible
can match – this is not to say that we can’t 60 56 63 179
6 SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA
7
MEDAL MADNESS AS DOLPHINS BRING
HOME THE GOODS FROM BEIJING
Ian Hanson did not show any signs of stress or a weight
Hanson Media Group of a nation on their shoulders.
The swimming team contributed to almost half They handled themselves with a cool, race-
Features
Features
hardened look in their eyes and in many
of Australia’s overall medal tally in nine record cases a sense of enjoyment that they were
breaking days during the Games of the 29th Olympiad in Beijing to celebrate the Olympic Games.
in Beijing. There were tears of joy, achievement
and despair; of disappointment and of
The Australian pool team of 42, won 20 attack on the history-making swim meet satisfaction; smiles and laughter of relief
medals (six gold, six silver and eight bronze) like no other. and amazing sportsmanship.
two more than Sydney’s 18 (five gold, nine The Aussies were in the thick of the action The never-say-die fighting spirit of Rice
silver and four bronze) and five more than from day one when Stephanie Rice won the led the way for the Aussies with three gold
the 15 (seven, five and three) in Athens. first of her three gold medals and captured medals in the 200 and 400m individual
It was also the third most gold medals won the hearts of a nation. medleys before playing her part in the gold-
by an Australian team behind Melbourne medal winning 4 x 200m freestyle relay.
She became the first Australian female to
win two individual Olympic gold medals
since Shane Gould, who won three
individual gold medals (200m freestyle,
400m freestyle, 200m individual medley) in
Munich in 1972.
Rice, at 20-years of age, is now
regarded as the greatest all-round
swimmer in the world, represents
the new generation of Australian
swimmer.
• The emergence of Australia’s men to freestyle relay) and Emily Seebohm his preparation – it was faultless,” said Pope,
Supporting Rice’s triple gold performance win individual medals in the 100m (gold 4x100m medley relay) after their who took over from Hackett’s long-time
were some amazing highlights and here are freestyle (Eamon Sullivan, silver), 200m disappointments early in the week. coach Denis Cotterell two years ago.
just some as we look back over a history- breaststroke (Brenton Rickard, silver); Everyone certainly felt for Hackett who “I am so proud of the boy and proud of his
making week. 100m backstroke (Hayden Stoeckel, put everything humanly possible into his 100 percent dedication to training. He is
• Jessicah Schipper’s extraordinary bronze) and 100m butterfly (Andrew campaign for that shot at history – but it without doubt the most dedicated athlete I
togetherness, after being forced into a Lauterstein, bronze) and; wasn’t to be. have ever worked with.
second swim suit just minutes before the • The aplomb of 16-year-olds Cate His coach Ian Pope was proud of his charge. “His training, his attitude, his recovery was
100m butterfly final, in which she won Campbell (bronze 50m freestyle; 4x100m
bronze behind team mate Libby Trickett. “We could not have done anything more in all spot on and I could not have asked for
(The zipper locked on her original suit); anything more.”
(eight) and Athens (seven). IAN HANSON Hackett swam his way to exhaustion,
Over the next seven days, Australian • Leisel Jones’ first individual gold medal
reports on his seventh Olympic Games…. admitting he did not see the big Tunisian in
swimmers would collect a record breaking in the 100m breaststroke and her
The build up was as concentrated on the 20 medals and break six World, 16 the outside lane.
subsequent silver (200m breaststroke)
Australian swimming team as any team Commonwealth and 24 Australian Records “When he decided to go I didn’t react
and gold (4x100m medley) to take her
in the 100 year history of the sport and and 33 swimmers (75 percent) would take overall Olympic tally from three Games quickly enough and as hard as I tried I just
the team, under the guidance of Alan home a medal from the Water Cube. to eight medals; couldn’t reel him in,” said Hackett.
Thompson, delivered in the Olympic
For the first time in history an Australian • Trickett’s gracious over the lane-rope “It’s disappointing of course but I gave it my
spotlight.
team won a medal (two gold, one silver and congratulatory hug with Britta Steffen all and that’s all you can ask for.
The Australians, for so long the number two three bronze) in all six relays – one of the at the conclusion of the 100m freestyle
team in the world again finished second “Maybe the effect of two very fast 1500s
team goals. after Trickett scraped into the final in two days did take some toll – but no
to the Michael Phelps (eight gold – seven following a disqualification of a Chinese
That in itself is a major factor in the depth excuses.”
world records) led USA (12 gold, 9 silver, 10 swimmer Jiaying Pang. Steffen won gold
of talent in the Australian program and the That’s the attitude of the Australian captain
bronze: Total 31) on the overall medal tally and Trickett silver;
“alternate relay swimmers” who will form who has declared his 1500m freestyle career
with Great Britain third (two, one, one: total
the basis of the squad moving forward. • The anguish and agony on Grant over, but not his career… just yet.
four) and Japan (two, zero, three: total five)
The swimmers stood tall despite what Hackett’s face and body after he finished
in fourth place, with 19 countries winning There is every chance he will again
appeared to be a 24-7 scrutiny on Australia’s second in his quest to win three Olympic
medals. lead the team to next year’s FINA World
highest profile Olympic team. gold medals in the 1500m freestyle.
It was a week that for the first time in recent Beaten by Tunisia’s Oussama Mellouli; Championships, chasing gold in the 400m
memory featured morning finals which There is always an air of expectation freestyle and a possible showdown with
surrounding the Australian swim team from • The joyous celebration of the Australian
provided so much commentary in the lead Michael Phelps.
their “rock star” status arrival to their 300- 4x200m freestyle relay team of Kylie
up to the meet – almost, dare I say it, as Palmer, Linda MacKenzie, Bronte Barratt Now that’s worth waiting around for.
much as the Speedo LZR bodysuit. plus press conference. Although, the inside
and Stephanie Rice when they won a
of Alan Thompson’s talented group certainly
Along with the hype surrounding Phelps’ surprise gold;
8 SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA
9
Olympic swim wrap up
Ian Hanson
Hanson Media Group
MEN 100m freestyle Australia was not represented in the final final everyone thought the eight Gold This was billed as one of the great
GOLD: Alain Bernard FRA 47.21 of the 200m freestyle, an event dominated dream was over…..until the scoreboard showdowns of the Games and the
50m freestyle by Pieter van den Hoogenband and Ian showed us otherwise. The most amazing combatants certainly didn’t let us down.
SILVER: Eamon Sullivan AUS 47.32
Features
Features
GOLD: Cesar Cielo Filho BRA 21.30 Thorpe in 2000 and 2004. But it did not stop touch in Olympic history showed Michael It went right down to the wire as they say.
BRONZE: Jason Lezak USA 47.67 Michael Phelps from stamping his seal of Phelps first and Milorad Cavic second, The powerful French outfit looked to have
SILVER: Amaury Leveaux FRA 21.45
BRONZE: Cesar Cielo Filho BRA 47.67 approval on the event with an extraordinary with Australia’s Andrew Lauterstein on the it sewn up, until Jason Lezak grabbed Gold
BRONZE: Alain Bernard FRA 21.49 World Record of 1:42.96. podium for Bronze and a new Australian for the US on the final stroke. Phelps owes
4 Ashley Callus AUS 21.62 and Commonwealth record. Phelps looked Lezak a cigar when they start toasting his
1500m freestyle beaten until Cavic failed to get to the wall. eight Golds. This was close. As hard as they
6 Eamon Sullivan AUS 21.65
GOLD: Oussama Mellouli TUN 14:40.84 History was in the waiting. tried, the Aussies couldn’t quite match it but
SILVER: Grant Hackett AUS 14:41.53 they have the potential to win in London.
200m butterfly
BRONZE: Ryan Cochrane CAN 14:42.69 4x200m freestyle relay
GOLD: Michael Phelps USA 1:52.03 WR
This was to be Grant Hackett’s finest hour. GOLD: USA 6:58.56 WR
SILVER: Laszlo Cseh HUN 1:52.70
The king of the Olympic 1500m since 2000
BRONZE: Takeshi Matsuda JPN 1:52.97 SILVER: RUS 7:03.70
was supposed to wrap up his slice of Beijing
and win Olympic immortality. But Tunisia’s The power of Phelps was never better BRONZE: AUS 7:04.98
Ousamma Mellouli had other ideas and emphasised than in this event. The sheer The powerful Phelps led Americans were
denied Hackett’s dream. Just over half-a- strength and dolphin-like abilities of Phelps always going to be team to beat here and a
second separated Hackett from his place came to the fore over the final lap when new world mark under seven minutes was
in history. It was the first Olympic Gold in 200m breaststroke he swamped all challengers with another amazing, with the Russians grabbing Silver
swimming to Tunisia and the only medal in GOLD: Kosuke Kitajima JPN 2:07.64 World Record and another Gold medal. Full and the brave new-look Australian outfit
the pool for Canada. marks to the likes of Cseh and Matsuda for hung on bravely for the Bronze. Well done
SILVER: Brenton Rickard AUS 2:08.88 throwing down the gauntlet. to Pat Murphy, Nick Ffrost, Grant Brits and
100m backstroke BRONZE: Hugues Duboscq FRA 2:08.94 captain Grant Hackett for a job well done.
GOLD: Aaron Peirsol USA 52.54 WR 200m individual medley
Kitajima was again the benchmark here,
GOLD: Michael Phelps USA 1:54.23 WR 4x100m medley relay
SILVER: Matt Grevers USA 53.11 he has been the man when it comes to the
big competitions and the Olympics have SILVER: Laszlo Cseh HUN 1:56.52 GOLD: USA 3:29.34 WR
BRONZE: Hayden Stoeckel AUS 53.18
been his stage. Brenton Rickard went into BRONZE: Ryan Lochte USA 1:56.53 SILVER: AUS 3:30.04
7 Matt Targett AUS 48.20 5 Ashley Delaney AUS 53.31
these Games showing no fear for anyone BRONZE: JPN 3:31.18
After a huge build up to this final it was The Olympics will always throw up a Domination with a capital MP was the story
and again he showed he can mix it with
Frenchman Alain Bernard who took centre surprise packet and in Hayden Stoeckel this in the shorter of the two medleys – in the Could the Aussies spoil the Phelps party?
the best, finishing with Silver in a new
stage over World Record holder Eamon was the boy who jumped out of the box water, over the water, off the walls – he is As hard as they tried the youngsters from
Australian record time.
Sullivan in a helter-skelter finish with with a new Commonwealth record in the the man for all seasons. To win any race by Down Under couldn’t quite get there. The
Australia may not have reached the just 0.11 separating the pair in the end. heats to throw down the gauntlet to the 100m butterfly two seconds is hot. To win an Olympic final final candle on the cake was in place for
podium in this event but there was an The powerfully built Bernard, who has world’s biggest names. He came out in the GOLD: Michael Phelps USA 50.58 over two laps – extraordinary. Another Gold Phelps, as he and the remainder of the US
Australian heavily involved in the pool exchanged World Records with Sullivan all final and grabbed Bronze medal behind the and another WR. Had to feel sorry for Cseh quartet of Peirsol, Hansen and Lezak came
deck celebrations when Brazil’s Cesar US boys. Fellow Australian Ashley Delaney SILVER: Milorad Cavic SRB 50.59 and Lochte. together again to dominate in a new World
year, was just a fraction too strong. There
Cielo Filho won the 50m dash. Sydney and will be more enthralling duels in what will wasn’t far away. Their futures look rosy. BRONZE: Andrew LautersteinAUS 51.12 Record. The Aussies chased and chased but
4x100m freestyle relay couldn’t quite make it, finishing in a furious
Athens Olympic sprinter Brett Hawke was be a very exciting future for men’s sprinting. Could anyone halt the MP train? By the time
200m backstroke GOLD: USA 3:08.24 second place with Japan a well deserved
in Beijing as his coach. Hawke coaches the 100m fly came around there were some
Cielo at the University of Auburn. Retiring 200m freestyle GOLD: Ryan Lochte USA 1:53.94 WR doubts about whether he could maintain SILVER: FRA 3:08.32 Bronze medal.
triple Olympian Ashley Callus swam above GOLD: Michael Phelps USA 1:42.96 WR SILVER: Aaron Peirsol USA 1:54.33 the rage and with the final touch in the BRONZE: AUS 3:09.91
himself to claim fourth with World Record SILVER: Taehwan Park KOR 1:44.85 BRONZE: Arkady Vyatchanin RUS 1:54.93
holder Eamon Sullivan a disappointing
BRONZE: Peter Vanderkaay USA 1:45.14 6 Hayden Stoeckel AUS 1:56.39
sixth.
This was always going to be a tough ask
with the US pair Lochte and Peirsol on the
warpath. Make no mistake, Hayden Stoeckel
in his second final mixed it with the best to
finish sixth in another personal best time.
100m BREASTROKE
GOLD: Kosuke Kitajima JPN 58.91
SILVER: Alexander Dale Oen NOR 59.20
BRONZE: Hugues Duboscq FRA 59.37
Brenton Rickard mixed it with an all-
star field to finishes fifth in 59.74. After
becoming the first Australian to crack the
one minute in his heat in 59.89, Rickard
lowered the Australian Record again to
clock 59.65 in the semi-final.
SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA
WOMEN 800m freestyle The bridesmaid finally had her day in the 400m individual medley
GOLD: Rebecca Adlington GBR 8:14.10 WR sun when Kirsty Coventry, after three Silver GOLD: Stephanie Rice AUS 4:29.45 WR
50m freestyle medals, final cracked it for Gold in the 200m
SILVER: Alessia Filipp ITA 8:20.23 SILVER: Kirsty Coventry ZIM 4:29.89
Features
Features
GOLD: Britta Steffen GER 24.06 backstroke and in a new World Record time.
BRONZE: Lotte Friis DEN 8:23.03 Australian girls Meagen Nay and Belinda BRONZE: Katie Hoff USA 4:31.71
SILVER: Dara Torres USA 24.07
6 Kylie Palmer AUS 8:26.39 Hocking were ever-present and showed Australia’s Stephanie Rice became the first
BRONZE: Cate Campbell AUS 24.17 why they can be among the medals in the Australian since Gail Neal to win this event
The name Rebecca Adlington will be
4th Lisbeth Trickett AUS 24.25 one synonymous with Beijing after she years to come. in a remarkable World Record swim against
With the events of the week this was always destroyed the longest standing World two of the greatest swimmers in the world
100m breaststroke in Kirsty Coventry and Katie Hoff. Rice took
going to be a close one and anyone’s race. Record, set by American Janet Evans in
Steffan held it together the best to claim 1987, in the women’s 800m freestyle GOLD: Leisel Jones AUS 1:05.17 almost two seconds off Hoff’s mark and
the 50 and 100 for a rare Olympic double, clocking an amazing 8:14.10. It was one SILVER: Rebecca Soni USA 1:06.73 became the first female to break 4:30 for
with the ageless Dara Torres claiming Silver of the most amazing swims of the meet. 400IM.
BRONZE: Mirna Jukic AUT 1:07.34
and 16 year-old Australian Cate Campbell Australian Kylie Palmer swam 8:26.39 to 6 Tarnee White AUS 1:07.63 4x100m freestyle relay
winning Bronze. World Record holder Libby finish sixth after her Australian record
Trickett was a touch away in fourth. Finally….Leisel Jones gets the individual GOLD: NED 3:33.76
breaking swim in the heat, which came after
her Gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle Gold medal she has gone ever so close SILVER: USA 3:34.33
100m freestyle to in 2000 and 2004 with a dominant
relay Gold. BRONZE: AUS 3:35.05
GOLD: Britta Steffen GER 53.12 performance in the women’s 100m
breaststroke. Her fellow finalist from This was always going to be a tough
SILVER: Lisbeth Trickett AUS 53.16 encounter for the Australian girls who
Sydney 2000, Tarnee White, bowed out of
BRONZE: Natalie Coughlin USA 53.39 international competition with sixth placing have been the dominant force in the
Libby Trickett was lucky to be in this final after overcoming amazing injury hurdles to 4x100m free relay in recent years. The flying
after a disqualification saw her elevated make her second Olympic team. Dutchwomen and the USA were just too hot
from ninth to the final and gave her lane on the day for the Australian quartet of Cate
eight and a shot at redemption from four 200m breaststroke Campbell, Alice Mills, Melanie Schlanger
years ago when she failed to make the final GOLD: Rebecca Soni USA 2:20.22 and Libby Trickett.
as a World Record holder. She gave a great SILVER: Leisel Jones AUS 2:22.05 4x200m freestyle relay
sight, leading until the final few metres
BRONZE: Sara Nordenstam NOR 2:23.02 GOLD: AUS 7:44.31 WR
when Steffen took over to take the Gold,
with Trickett a relieved second and Natalie Rebecca Soni kept the US Olympic flag SILVER: CHN 7:45.93
Coughlin winning the Bronze. flying in this event with a powerful finishing BRONZE: USA 7:46.33
200m individual medley has an amazing inner drive to compete.
burst that not even Leisel Jones could
GOLD: Stephanie Rice AUS 2:08.45 WR Rice snatched the Gold and the WR from The “400 girls” came out to smash the World
200m freestyle combat. Jones followed up her Silver to
the determined Coventry with two of the Record and gate crash the Gold in an event
GOLD: Federica Pellegrini ITA 1:54.82 Amanda Beard in 2004 with another Silver, SILVER: Kirsty Coventry ZIM 2:08.59
sport’s biggest names, Natalie Coughlin and which Australia has promised so much and
SILVER: Sara Sakovic SLO 1:54.97 taking her Olympic tally to seven before the BRONZE: Natalie Coughlin USA 2:10.34 Katie Hoff in third and fourth. Australia’s delivered so little over the past decade.
medley relay.
BRONZE: Jiaying Pang CHN 1:55.05 5 Alicia Coutts AUS 2:11.43 big stage rookie Alicia Coutts gave a great This was their time to shine with the squad
100m butterfly When it comes to a dog-fight then account of herself and will be so much of eight – heat team of Angie Bainbridge,
7 Bronte Barratt AUS 1:57.83
Stephanie Rice is the top dog. Eye-ball-to- better for the experience. Lara Davenport, Felicity Galvez and Melanie
This was always going to be anyone’s race GOLD: Lisbeth Trickett AUS 56.73
100m backstroke eye-ball Rice and Kirsty Coventry swam Schlanger paving the way for the 400m
and the Italian Federica Pellegrini saved SILVER: Christine MagnusonUSA 57.10 specialists Bronte Barratt, Kylie Palmer,
GOLD: Natalie Coughlin USA 58.96 towards the finish and it was Rice who
the bacon for Italy, winning their only BRONZE: Jessicah Schipper AUS 57.25 Linda MacKenzie and Stephanie Rice to add
Swimming Gold medal of the Games. One SILVER: Kirsty Coventry ZIM 59.19
Libby Trickett won her first individual one Gold medal that came from left field,
of the finds of the meet, Slovakian Sara BRONZE: Margaret Hoelzer USA 59.34 and smashed the World Record by nearly 6
Olympic gold medal and started her week
Sakovic, was second and local star Jiaying Natalie Coughlin has been the dominant seconds.
on a high, while Jessicah Schipper took the
Pang won Bronze. Australia’s Bronte Barratt force in the women’s 100m backstroke for bronze after having to change her swim suit 4x100m medley relay
hung in well to finish seventh. the past six years but she had to work as just minutes before the start of the race.
hard as she has ever worked to keep Kirsty GOLD: AUS 3:52.69 WR
400m freestyle
Coventry and Margaret Hoelzer at bay. 200m butterfly SILVER: USA 3:53.30
GOLD: Rebecca Adlington GBR 4:03.22 Australians Emily Seebohm and Sophie GOLD: Zige Liu CHN 2:04.18 WR BRONZE: CHN 3:56.11
SILVER: Katie Hoff USA 4:03.29 Edington failed to qualify for the final
SILVER: Liuyang Jiao CHN 2:04.72 No other Australian relay team in Olympic
BRONZE: Joanne Jackson GBR 4:03.52 although, Seebohm’s relay split would have
seen her in fourth place BRONZE: Jessicah Schipper AUS 2:06.26 history had successfully defended their
7 Bronte Barratt AUS 4:05.05 crown until the team of Emily Seebohm,
This turned out to be quite a controversial
It has certainly been a long time between 200m backstroke race with Jessicah Schipper beaten by Zige Leisel Jones, Jessicah Schipper and Libby
Olympic swimming drinks (48 years in GOLD: Kirsty Coventry ZIM 2:05.24WR Liu, who also trained under Ken Wood at Trickett let loose on the Water Cube on the
fact) for the Brits, particularly the women, Redcliffe. Schipper, as in the 100m finished final night. The previous day the alternate
SILVER: Margaret Hoelzer USA 2:06.23
but the breakthrough came in the shape with the Bronze medal, a feat not to be team of Seebohm, Tarnee White, Felicity
of tall British blonde Rebecca Adlington BRONZE: Reiko Nakamura JPN 2:07.13 Galvez and Shayne Reese swam the second
sneezed at in two Olympic finals.
who claimed US starlet Katie Hoff in the 7 Meagen Nay AUS 2:08.84 fastest time in history to show the depth of
last stroke to claim Gold by just 0.07 with a 8 Belinda Hocking AUS 2:10.12 the Dolphins program. As hard as the US
second British girl Joanne Jacksons making mounted their chase they could not peg
it a double celebration taking the Bronze. back the awesome Aussie foursome.
12 SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA
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Women's 200m Backstroke (see WR)
2008 Beijing Olympic Games - swimming
Women's 100m Breaststroke: 1:05.17, Leisel Jones, Australia
Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
Women's 200m Breaststroke (see WR)
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USA 12 9 10 31
Women's 200m Butterfly (see WR)
AUS 6 6 8 20
Women's 200m Individual Medley (see WR)
GBR 2 2 2 6
Women's 400m Individual Medley (see WR)
JPN 2 0 3 5 Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay: 3:33.76, Netherlands (Dekker, Kromowidjojo, Heemskerk, Veldhuis)
GER 2 0 1 3 Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay (see WR)
NED 2 0 0 2 Women's 4x100m Medley Relay (see WR)
CHN 1 3 2 6 Note: Netherland's Inge De Bruijn's 100m Butterfly World Record of 56.61 from the 2000 Olympics was the ONLY women’s Olympic Record
FRA 1 2 2 5 not bettered in Beijing.
ZIM 1 3 0 4 Men’s World Records (11)
KOR 1 1 0 2 Men's 100m Freestyle: 47.05, Eamon Sullivan, Australia (semi 2) 47.20, Alain Bernard, France (semi 1) 47.24, Eamon Sullivan, Australia (relay
2
lead off ) (old= 47.50, Alain Bernard, France, March 2008)
ITA 1 1 0
Men's 200m Freestyle: 1:42.96, Michael Phelps, USA (old= 1:43.86, Phelps, March 2007)
BRA 1 0 1 2
Men's 100m Backstroke: 52.54, Aaron Peirsol, USA (old=52.89, Peirsol, July 2008)
TUN 1 0 0 1
Men's 200m Backstroke: 1:53.94, Ryan Lochte, USA (old= 1:54.32, Lochte-March 2007 & Aaron Peirsol, USA-July 2008)
RUS 1 0 0 1
Men's 100m Breaststroke: 58.91, Kosuke Kitajima, Japan (old= 59.13, Brendan Hansen, USA, August 2006)
HUN 0 3 0 3
Men's 200m Butterfly: 1:52.03, Michael Phelps, USA (old= 1:52.09, Phelps, March 2007)
RUS 0 1 2 3
Men's 200m Individual Medley: 1:54.23, Michael Phelps, USA (old= 1:54.80, Phelps, July 2008)
NOR 0 1 1 2 Men's 400m Individual Medley: 4:03.84, Michael Phelps, USA (old= 4:05.25, Phelps, June 2008)
SLO 0 1 0 1 Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay: 3:08.24, USA (Phelps, Weber-Gale, Jones, Lezak) finals; 3:12.23, USA (Adrian, Jones, Wildman-Tobriner, Grevers)
SRB 0 1 0 1 prelims (old= 3:12.46, USA, August 2006)
AUT 0 0 1 1 Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay: 6:58.56, USA (Phelps, Lochte, Berens, Vanderkaay) (old= 7:03.24, USA, March 2007)
DEN 0 0 1 1 Men's 4x100m Medley Relay: 3:29.34, USA (Peirsol, Hansen, Phelps, Lezak) (old=3:30.68, USA, August 2004)
CAN 0 0 1 1 Men’s Olympic Records (15)
Men's 50m Freestyle: 21.30, Cesar Cielo, Brazil
Men's 100m Freestyle (see WR)
Total 34 34 35 103
Men's 200m Freestyle (see WR)
Records Established in Beijing Men's 1500m Freestyle: 14:38.92, Grant Hackett, Australia (prelims)
Women’s World Records (10) Men's 100m Backstroke (see WR)
Women's 200m Freestyle: 1:54.82, Federica Pellegrini, Italy (old= 1:55.52, Laure Manaudou, France, March 2007) Men's 200m Backstroke (see WR)
[Note: Pellegrini broke the WR twice: prelims (1:55.45) and finals (1:54.82)] Men's 100m Breaststroke (see WR)
Women's 800m Freestyle: 8:14.10, Rebecca Adlington, Great Britain (old= 8:16.22, Janet Evans, USA, August 1989) Men's 200m Breaststroke: 2:07.64, Kosuke Kitajima, Japan
Women's 100m Backstroke: 58.77, Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwe (old= 58.97, Natalie Coughlin, USA, July 2008) Men's 100m Butterfly: 50.58, Michael Phelps, USA
Women's 200m Backstroke: 2:05.24, Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwe (old= 2:06.09, Margaret Hoelzer, USA, July 2008) Men's 200m Butterfly (see WR)
Women's 200m Breaststroke: 2:20.22, Rebecca Soni, USA (old= 2:20.54, Leisel Jones, Australia, February 2006) Men's 200m Individual Medley (see WR)
Women's 200m Butterfly: 2:04.18, Zige Liu, China (old= 2:05.40, Jessicah Schipper, Australia, August 2006) Men's 400m Individual Medley (see WR)
Women's 200m Individual Medley: 2:08.45, Stephanie Rice, Australia (old= 2:08.92, Rice, March 2008) Men's 4x100m Free Relay (see WR)
Women's 400m Individual Medley: 4:29.45, Stephanie Rice, Australia (old= 4:31.12, Katie Hoff, USA, June 2008) Men's 4x200m Free Relay (see WR)
Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay: 7:44.31, Australia (Rice, Barratt, Palmer, MacKenzie) (old= 7:50.09, USA, March 2007) Men's 4x100m Medley Relay (see WR)
Women's 4x100m Medley Relay: 3:52.69, Australia (Seebohm, Jones, Schipper, Trickett) (old= 3:55.74, Australia, March 2007) Note: Australian Ian Thorpe's 400m Freestyle World Record of 3:40.59 from the
2000 Olympics was the ONLY men’s Olympic Record not bettered in Beijing.
Women’s Olympic Records (15)
Women's 50m Freestyle: 24.06, Britta Steffen, Germany
Women's 100m Freestyle: 53.12, Britta Steffen, Germany
Women's 200m Freestyle (see WR)
Women's 400m Freestyle: 4:02.19, Federica Pellegrini, Italy
Women's 800m Freestyle (see WR)
Women's 100m Backstroke (see WR)
14 SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA
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THOMMO’S BEST MEN FOR THE
JOB ON ANY GIVEN DAY
Ian Hanson "A head coach is only as good as the people
Hanson Media Group around him and my team coaches and
home coaches delivered Australia some
Australia's National Head Coach and High Performance
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superbly prepared athletes.
Manager Alan Thompson knows what it's like to go "I feel very privileged to work with such
into the swimming trenches. a talented group."
Planning an Olympic campaign for Australia's highest Men like former Brisbane first grade rugby
league forward Vince Raleigh whose squad
profile team has been four years in the making. of Linda MacKenzie, Brenton Rickard, Ashley
Delaney, Pat Murphy, Nick Ffrost and Kirk
Travelling the world, travelling Australia, They were supported by a team of home
Palmer all returned home from Beijing
making sure every piece of the puzzle is in coaches; Tony Shaw, Peter Bishop,
with medals.
place. Glenn Baker, John Rodgers, Simon Cusack,
Peter Gartrell, Chris Urquhart and Raleigh's Olympic medal tally reads:
Making sure that he has the best possible
team, the best possible staff and the best John Fowlie who followed the team • Brenton Rickard - silver 100m
possible coaches doing their absolute all. into the KL Staging camp. breaststroke; 4x100m medley relay;
Thompson knows what it takes - he was the Rodgers, the personal coach of 4X200 • Linda MacKenzie - gold 4x200m;
head manager of the Sydney Olympic 2000 freestyle relay gold medallists Kylie Palmer • Nick Ffrost, Patrick Murphy, Kirk Palmer -
team under head coach Don Talbot. and Bronte Barratt, then followed his girls bronze 4 x20m freestyle relay;
onto the Beijing pooldeck.
He was back on the Olympic trail four years • Ashley Delaney - silver 4x100m
later as a personal coach under As did Shaw (Grant Brits 4X200 bronze), medley relay.
Leigh Nugent for Athens. Cusack (Cate Campbell - bronze 50m
The efforts of Raleigh and fellow rookie
freestyle and 4X100m freestyle) and Gartrell
Right from the start of the 2008 Olympic Olympic coaches Matt Brown (team coach
(Alicia Coutts - fifth 200m IM).
campaign, which started in Kuala Lumpur with Emily Seebohm - gold WR 4X100m
on July 26, the Australian troops were in the Thompson's team coaches provided the medley relay), Rohan Taylor (Leisel Jones -
best of hands. perfect lieutenants for his campaign. gold 100m breaststroke; 4x100m medley
There were the selected team coaches - "I'm surrounded by the best relay; silver 200m breaststroke) and Grant
Ken Wood, Vince Raleigh, Stephan Widmer, Stoelwinder (Eamon Sullivan - silver 100m
coaches in the world - they make freestyle; silver 4x100m medley, bronze
Rohan Taylor, Ian Pope, Michael Bohl,
Shannon Rollason, Grant Stoelwinder,
me look good," Thompson said as 4x100m freestyle) were outstanding and
he reflected on his team's record- places them in a great position for the next But there will be some changes to the
Greg Salter, Matt Brown and Greg Towle TEAM AWARDS
four years. coaching ranks, as so often happens after
(open water). winning medal haul of 20. SUSIE O'NEILL MEDAL MOST IMPORVED FEMALE IN A FINAL:
an Olympics.
(For most outstanding Female Swimmer): Stephanie Rice (400IM)
Grant Stoelwinder will make the big move
Stephanie Rice
from Perth to Sydney to set up under the
NSWIS banner with Eamon Sullivan, while KIEREN PERKINS MEDAL MOST IMPROVED MALE IN A FINAL:
Greg Salter - who has been synonymous (For most outstanding Male Swimmer): Ashley Callus (50m Freestyle)
with the NSWIS program at Kingscliff will Eamon Sullivan
take 12 months off from elite coaching.
DON TALBOT MEDAL BEST PERFORMED RELAY:
Stoelwinder will set up his own specialist
(For the most outstanding Coach): Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay
squad at the Ian Thorpe Pool and with
Michael Bohl
Sullivan, will provide another major elite
program in a city which has certainly
undergone some major changes
in recent years.
The next major campaign for Thompson
and his troops will be to Rome next year
for the FINA World Championships.
The majority of the 30 medallists from
Beijing - apart from Ashley Callus,
Adam Pine, Lara Davenport and
Tarnee White - including team captain
Grant Hackett will be back chasing more
glory as the countdown starts for
London 2012.
Now that's a scary thought.
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Our coaches had
a great Olympics
David Lyall “Since 1992 we have imported more
Hanson Media Group than 200 coaches from all over the world
into Australia to coach Olympic sports,”
It is a credit to our coaching structures that
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Thompson said.
Australia has such depth in that profession; 17 home “Swimming was no different and we
and team coaches were involved in the training and brought in experienced foreigners like
preparation of each swimmer winning a medal at the Gennadi Touretski, Jim Fowlie, Barry Prime
2008 Beijing Olympic Games. and a few others to help boost our overall
knowledge and skill set base.
That sort of statistic speaks volumes of the in the 200m Butterfly, and Rohan Taylor has “We changed our culture over time, sharing
levels of coaching experience that already been coaching young British swimmer more information amongst ourselves and
exists in our country and argues well for Ellen Gandy in Melbourne for some time. with friendly rivals overseas and over the
the future with elite coaching knowledge Michael Scott is the National Performance last 15 years or so we have developed
accumulating in a vast number of people. Director of British Swimming and half of his the most sought after coaches in the
Coaches as relatively new to elite coaching, sport science staff are Australian. The list swimming world.
such as Simon Cusack, stood side-by-side goes on. “It’s been a great asset for our swimmers
with distinguished professionals such as All this demonstrates what many in the as we have returned to near the top of
Ken Wood; their combined efforts helped swimming world already knew: that world swimming but if we don’t retain the
the Australian team to its greatest ever Australian coaches are very, very good. coaches that have built up this knowledge,
Olympic medal haul – 20 trips to the it will be a huge threat to our future success.
The question now is – will that be a
podium including six gold, six silver and “If we don’t find ways to keep improving
problem to the further development
eight bronze. our structure and retain these coaches, or
of coaches in Australia and in turn the
But the contribution of Australian coaches further improvement of our athletes? Have there will be a drain in coaches and a drain
to Olympic success doesn’t stop there – the Australian coaches become so good that in performance.”
pool deck at the Water Cube was littered they will be lured overseas to coach? To that end, Thompson and Swimming
with Aussie coaches representing other Australia are working with the Australian
Australia’s National Head Coach
countries – some with great aplomb. Sports Commission to set up funding and
Alan Thompson obviously hopes not and
Brett Hawke was on the Brazilian staff he is working tirelessly to ensure there is programs to maintain and even improve on
and coached Cesar Cielo Filho to the 50m a repeatable, sustainable environment for the country’s global standing in the pool.
Freestyle gold medal. Hawke, himself a coaches to maintain success in Australia. “We are working closely with the Sports
50m Freestyle finalist at the Athens Games Commission in a number of areas, particularly in establishing and maintaining “We have to move to the next level in "I've been coaching for two years but
four years before, is also the regular coach a Prodigious Talent Program for coaches and our coaching by identifying talent in the people don't realise I've been working at
of silver medal winning French 4x100m swimmers and our Centres of Excellence coaching ranks, finding new ways to secure this event for the past 10 years trying to win
freestyle relay swimmer Fred Bousquet. In Program to ensure security of tenure and the talent we already have, or bringing it," Hawke told the Australian Associated
his job as an assistant at Auburn University in turn financial security for our coaches,” in people from outside Australia. Press in Beijing.
Hawke has had plenty to do with dual Thompson said. “If there is someone out there who "I had so much knowledge that I wanted to
Australian relay medallist Matt Targett and “To achieve our goals of providing we believe can help us, we will look pass it on and I found the right person who
several other male sprinters competing at opportunities to attain repeatable, at those options.” was willing to accept that knowledge and
the Games. sustainable success we need to provide it's just happened pretty quickly but I'm
All of the coaches mentioned above, bar
Legendary veteran coach Denis Cotterell professional development prospects and Hawke, have spent years coming through glad it happened."
was part of the Chinese staff and personally international competitive opportunities the Australian coaching structure – Regan Hawke has said he would love to coach
coached Lin Zhang to the silver medal in to both coaches and swimmers.” and Cotterell leading swimmers to Olympic Australians in Australia but hasn’t had
the 400m freestyle. Zhang worked with But Thompson and National Youth Coach gold or coaching swimmers that would go the opportunity yet. He will surely be
Cotterell at his base on the Gold Coast Leigh Nugent are not prepared to rest onto win Olympic gold. a welcome addition to the Australian
before Denis looked after his Games on the laurels of those coaches already Hawke’s story is a little different; at just coaching scene if he does return,
build-up in Beijing.
contributing to the Senior National Team. 33 Hawke has never coached in Australia, something Thompson is keen on.
Mark Regan coached the Danish team and The pair are continually on the look out for having returned to his alma mater in “I would love to see Hawkey out here
was able to help Lotte Friis to a surprise coaching talent and new ways to improve Alabama USA after his own swimming coaching our swimmers,” Thompson said.
bronze in the 800m freestyle. the coaching structures and skills that career ended in 2006 to take up a role “He obviously has a lot of knowledge and
Otto Sonnleitner (consultant to China), coaches have. as an assistant. has learnt quickly. He will return to Australia
Paul Birmingham (head coach of Malaysia) “Leigh is always looking at developing the While he has clearly benefited from as an Olympic gold medal winning coach.
and Peter Churchill (coach of Singapore’s next generation of coaches and he held a swimming and undertaking his coaching That is a title not to be taken lightly, no
fifth placed 100m butterflyer Li Tao) all very successful camp for young swimmers ‘apprenticeship’ in the US college system, matter the circumstances.”
played roles at the Games. and coaches at the Australian Institute Hawke has no doubt benefited from the Getting Hawke back to an Australian pool
Adding another dimension was the of Sport while the Olympics were on,” Australian coaching structure too.
contribution of current Australian team deck will be a sensational coup to the
Thompson said.
coaches who have mentored foreign After his young charge Cielo Filho won the coaching ranks. Keeping all of those that
“We have started to bring developing gold medal in the fastest men’s swimming have helped build the Australian swim
swimmers training in Australia in recent coaches into our high performance
years. Wood helped Chinese butterfliers race of all time, Hawke said he had been team to what it is today will be an even
workshops and will continue to do so. building his coaching knowledge for years, bigger accomplishment.
Zige Lui and Liuyang Jiao, who won medals
even if it wasn’t with stopwatch in hand.
SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIALessons Learnt from
the Olympic Experience
Bill Sweetenham AM continually offering athletes and coaches country’s athletes rise to the occasion,
The results of the world’s greatest sporting event long-term career pathways. Formula One producing performances above what are
racing cars do not come off an assembly normally achieved. However, having said
are decided in a cut-throat, ruthless, pressure-
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line, they are produced by individual that, it is also very evident that successful
packed competition with just two swimmers per commitment to excellence – this is the athletes find it extremely difficult to carry
nation per event every four years. To some extent this analogy that most countries must live by. that success forward into four more years
disguises the planning and preparation that it takes After many years of both participating in of preparation. Having risen to the highest
the Olympic Games and observing them level – how does one set higher goals and
for countries to achieve consistent success from plan four to six years into the future?
in detail, it is quite evident that successful
one Olympic Games to the next. There will be some countries retain approximately 70% of It is evident that a great surge of effort,
exceptions when a talented and driven athlete/coach their staff from one Olympics to the next. emotion and resources are allocated by
combination comes to the fore. However, success This includes management, coaching, coaches, athletes and support staff in
sports science/medicine and support staff. their pursuit of Olympic selection. This
by chance and/or individual commitment to high Countries continually ‘blooding’ a significant results in an ‘over-committed’ attitude for
performance is the exception to the rule. number of new athletes and/or staff at a large number of athletes who will not
Olympic Games have not had a good track make their respective country’s Olympic
The lessons to be learnt from Olympic that the destructive and negative influence record in maintaining momentum and Team. The inevitable consequence is a
Games preparation can be widely applied to of a ‘down period’ or ‘rebuilding’ attitude having continued podium results. The significant period of let-down that results
strategies employed by successful coaches creeps into our thinking. This should same principle applies to Club coaching in premature retirements after an intense
working with athletes at any level – long- not be accepted by the leaders within – coaches must take the time and build period of preparation and expectation.
term athlete development, planning, and any organisation. their programs and support staff so that In other words, a coach with one or two
athlete retention are common concerns of Sustained success, in terms of depth of the environment they create will regularly swimmers who may have realistic Olympic
every coach. talent and a broad based program that produce the result they seek. Team aspirations may unknowingly and
Countries, Coaches, and Clubs who plan includes all events, is determined by Post Olympic slumps are becoming more unwittingly ‘burn’ some younger athletes
well can sustain continued and consistent the ability of coaches and staff to plan rare for countries who have analysed who falsely believe that they too might
high achievement – this is a fact that is a minimum of six years in advance. It and addressed the success matrix (i.e. realise their Olympic dream the first time
demonstrated at the World Championships should be noted that Olympic venues all the elements that contribute) and around. It is also important to note that
and Olympic levels. Repeatability of are announced seven years in advance. then implemented strategic plans. Some a post-event dip in the vast majority
performance at the highest levels of Why? This is the minimum lead-time countries do suffer post Olympic slumps of cases affects only the top 10-15% of
competition, particularly a presence on the countries need to prepare their coaching or dips, usually due to athletes and athletes involved in that particular level of
Olympic podium, is the ultimate challenge and athletic talent, as well as their venues coaches taking the ‘big break’ after the competition and in fact the next 20% of
in world sport. and infrastructure. Of course, planning event. This also occurs following a ‘home’ athletes actually experience the opposite
In sport, performance results are usually must be ongoing and not just for a six year championship event. If you compare a effect (i.e. they lift in performance the
linked to coaching innovation. Failure period prior to an Olympics. Few countries, home country’s Olympic performance with following season). Burnout usually affects
to move forward (in planning as well other than the United States of America the previous and following Games results, only a small portion of the squad, but they
as action) usually means that we move (USA), have the luxury of large participant it’s not uncommon to see this ‘home pool’ are logically the ones best positioned to
backward. Doing the same thing leads to numbers and coaching infrastructure. advantage. This same effect is often seen step up to the next level.
complacency, and ultimately to stagnation. USA is the exception in that it has a when the National Age Championships are There has to be a coordinated effort to
Following any major event (successful or large participation base, a focused Club held in a Club’s home state – the number motivate younger athletes to look four years
otherwise) there is always the possibility structure and over 300 University programs of qualifiers spikes in the year of the ‘home ahead (sometimes eight years) with the
championship’ and the Club struggles same excitement and enthusiasm that the
the following year to produce the same current Olympic Games creates. As stated
number of athletes to qualify and travel to a above, it is not unusual for ‘big event hype’
Championship across the country. to have the opposite effect in creating an
What are the reasons for post Olympic dips expectation and prompting a premature
and slumps in performance? Some experts end for those who feel they had their
might suggest: chance and didn’t make it (usually because
they didn’t give themselves sufficient time and pressure, without having to adopt a “do re-introduction of heats, semi-finals, and
(a) A reduction in funding from sponsors
to mature). It is often the case that we see one, prepare for one” Olympic mentality. finals format and in 2008 we experienced
and/or government sources. Successful
an ‘Olympic paradox’ (this is also true at This applies to coaches as well as swimmers. evening heats and morning semi-finals
results can often bring the opposite
National and State level) – sometimes you Good forward planning allows the athlete and finals. Coaches and athletes must
reaction to funding (i.e. we are doing
have to go to an Olympics and learn to deal and coach to pick and choose events that be far more flexible and adaptable than
well – so why change the amount of
with it before you can win, and it’s also true will contribute the right experiences. This ever before to deal with situations yet
resources going into that effort?).
that you don’t want to squander the current will maximise success and minimise the untried or tested. The successful athlete
(b) A reduction in momentum and the opportunity only to prepare for the next potential drop-off following a big event. and coach must be ready for ‘moving
waning of excitement after a big event. (that may never come). World swimming goalposts’ and lifting their game to meet
We have seen in the last two or three
Whilst there is no question that these has changed significantly because of the Olympics a massive increase in the number new challenges. Swimming is arguably
factors do play a part, they are not the massive increase in world youth events of countries competing, along with a far the most progressive sport in the world
core issues responsible for a post Olympic (perhaps over-kill?) along with a relatively wider spread of countries achieving podium today when one considers the number of
slump or dip in performance at the next ‘soft’ World Short Course Championships success. The swimming world has and records that have been broken. In 2004, we
Games. It is evident that there is no such every two years that allows young ‘elite will continue to see changes. We saw the saw the vast majority of best times swum
thing as a ‘bad’ home Olympics as each talent’ to gain exposure to big-meet hype during the Olympics achieved in semi-finals.
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