By David

I enjoy writing stories about the swimmers I help with their training. Sure, the stories of critical shortcomings in the administration of swiming in New Zealand are important. They aren’t fun to write though. In the past week I’ve been called the “most hated man in New Zealand swimming”. I’ve been warned that, “they will shoot the messenger”. I’ve been told the CEO of Swimming New Zealand “hates Swimwatch”. That’s unfortunate, but I don’t care. Any sport that attends a World Championships, an Olympic Games, a Pan Pacific Games and a Commonwealth Games and can’t win a race deserves to have someone push for an explanation; someone search for a solution. Swimwatch will continue to poke and prod until those responsible for the careers of New Zealand’s best swimmers do their bloody job.

The fun stories are the ones about swimmers; the real giants of the sport. People like Nikki Johns, who, by the way, had her reversal operation this week. She’s pretty uncomfortable right now, but she’s a tough nut and says she’ll be back training by the end of January. People like Jessica whose career is a model of what can happen to the talented. Who, but for a huge reservoir of stubborn determination and self belief, could easily have faded from the swimming stage.

At nine and ten years of age Jessica was among the best in New Zealand. At eleven she was the best; winning the New Zealand Junior 50 (30.61), 100 (1.05.18) and 200 (2.22.38) freestyle and the 200 (2.42.25) IM Championships. And her success was almost fatal. Her audacious talent was too much to resist. West Auckland Aquatics had a mini points scoring machine. At twelve she swam 17 races at the National Age Group Championships, at thirteen 22, at fourteen 18, at fifteen 16 and at sixteen 14. It was great for her coach, her club and her province. The points accumulated. They all looked great; but at what a cost. The sort of physical load that had been too much for many before Jessica was becoming too much for her as well. National medals were becoming 5ths and 6ths and then 7ths and 8ths. Perhaps Jessica didn’t have what it took. Perhaps she wasn’t good enough.

Fortunately, Jessica knew that wasn’t true. She knew there was a problem but didn’t know what or why. She didn’t appreciate that her physical resources were being used without being replaced. But she also knew the old talent was intact. If only she could find a way of getting it to work for her again. And then six months ago she was introduced to Lydiard. Not literally of course; but to the Lydiard idea of investing before you spend, of putting in before you take out. Perhaps that would work.

Like all athletes of intelligence and courage I had the feeling Jessica evaluated what she was being told and then committed to giving it a go. Of course there were no guarantees. There never are. But I think Lydiard made sense to her. I think Lydiard tied in with what Jessica instinctively knew; with what she had experienced and felt since she was ten years old.

And that is what she’s doing now. In the past three weeks she has begun her first genuine Lydiard type build up. Each week she has swum 90 kilometers of sound aerobic training and is heading to 100 kilometers next week. She’s done the distance in only ten sessions a week. And she hasn’t been swimming slowly. Her 400 sets are well under 5 minutes and her 1500 swims are under 19 minutes. She said today that midway through a set if 5x1200s she felt like climbing out and yelling at someone – probably me – and going home. But instead she swam on. The world’s best athletes will understand that moment. Those moments are when champions are found.

The plan is for Jessica to swim 90 to 100 kilometers a week for another six weeks. Then she will move on to three weeks of anaerobic swimming and finally to her race preparation period. Every day right now Jessica is improving. By the national meets in March, West Auckland Aquatics may have its aggressive eleven year old back. Sure as God made little green apples, she will have earned it.

And now for the bad news: Auckland Swimming has been holding a swim meet in our home pool this week. We’ve done a couple of training sessions at the Newmarket Olympic Pool in the City of Auckland. I’ve driven Jessica and a few other swimmers to the pool. Now, I have to confess, I’m not the world’s best driver. Alison says I fly an airplane far better that I drive a car. It appears that might be true. On the way into the town Jessica tells me about every driving error. “Use your indicators.” “You’re going to fast.” “Move over now.” “Watch out for the pedestrian.” Nothing, not the smallest indiscretion is missed. However either her standards are dropping or I’m getting better. On the way home tonight as I indicated early and moved over into a right turning lane, an authoritative but quiet voice beside me said, “Very well done, David.” I thought I’d won the Olympics.

No question, people like Nikki and Jessica make this a great job. In the coming weeks I’ll tell you about some of the other characters at West Auckland Aquatics.