Many of you may recall this photograph. It is the cover illustration on Swimming New Zealand’s 2015 Annual Report. I’m sure you will agree. It perfectly illustrates the fun of competitive swimming. And yet, ironically, the picture also graphically validates a disturbing feature that is characteristic of the 2017 version of Swimming New Zealand. Let me explain why.

When I was coaching in Florida my best female swimmer was Rhi Jeffrey. Before I knew Rhi she had won a gold medal in the Athens’ Olympic Games as a member of the American 4×200 relay. After five years in Florida in 2010 I returned to New Zealand and started coaching at the West Wave Aquatic Centre in Auckland. Back in Florida Rhi retired from swimming. In early 2011 Rhi emailed to say she wanted to come to New Zealand and possibly get back into swimming. I agreed and in February 2011 Rhi bounded off the flight from Los Angeles.

Everyone who knows Rhi will understand why I use the word “bounded”. An “on-form” Rhi doesn’t just walk anywhere. The term larger than life was invented for Rhi. She is bright, intelligent and has a super-sized personality. The American Olympic coach, Mark Schubert told me Rhi was as talented as any swimmer he had known. And from Mark that was high praise indeed. On a night out, at a party or over lunch Rhi was the very best of company – funny, interesting and entertaining. Her huge presence made her a leader of many and a frightening ogre to some. I enjoyed being her coach but I have had others ask how I managed. I think you either enjoy being around challenging, interesting people or you don’t.

Anyway, when Rhi arrived we were about to go to Sydney for the 2011 New South Wales Swimming Championships. I asked Rhi to come on the trip. She agreed on the condition that she would not have to swim. She had done no training for six months and was 30 pounds overweight. However the pull of competition was too much. On the second day of the meet she asked me whether she could attempt the 50 freestyle. I agreed. We went to the pool shop and purchased a swim suit, goggles and cap. Rhi managed the length – just. She was 144th in a time of 29.20 and she looked so done that a timekeeper on her lane asked if she needed assistance getting out of the pool. He would have had no idea that the object of his concern was an Olympic gold medallist.

Back in New Zealand Rhi, I think stung by the 144th, got into training. Several pool-deck experts, including employees of Auckland Swimming, told me Rhi was wasting her time and mine. I think they were looking at her current weight, her various tattoos and pink hair and, like small minded people everywhere, rushed to make a rash and baseless judgement.   

I did not agree. But then I was at the pool every day watching Rhi drag herself back into shape. The months went by. The improvements gradually came. In twelve months she was back. Her long course 50 free had improved to 25.59 and she could get out of the pool without help. Her 100 free was 55.65 and her 200 free was 2.02.31. The pool deck experts were wrong.

But the race I remember most was a 100 fly Rhi swam at the Anthony Moss meet on the 26 January 2012. Rhi came to me before the swim and asked if she could swim in a novel swim cap she had just bought. The cap was a bright red version of the blue cap pictured on the front cover of the 2015 Swimming New Zealand Annual Report. Same neat little fins on the back and big yellow eyes at the front. I said, “Yes, of course.” I thought it was fun. Only Rhi could carry it off. She clearly enjoyed the idea of the Olympic gold medallist having some fun and the younger members of our team loved it.

Rhi lined up for her swim and I became aware that all was not well. I went to investigate. One of the pool side experts was demanding that Rhi change her cap. Otherwise she would be disqualified. I asked why?

FINA Rule 10.8, I was told.

I discovered FINA Rule 10.8 says  “No  swimmer  shall  be  permitted  to  use  or  wear  any  device  or  swimsuit  that  may  aid  his/her speed,  buoyancy  or  endurance  during  a  competition  (such  as  webbed  gloves,  flippers,  fins,  power bands,  or  adhesive  substances,  etc.).”    

The fin on Rhi’s cap, this Swimming New Zealand god of justice announced, would provide “directional stability”. She would be disqualified. My immediate thought was to wonder about the referee’s sanity. My concern broadened when he told me he had consulted with the CEO of Auckland Swimming and they agreed the cap had to go. Somethings are just not worth the fight. I told Rhi the whole affair was the ridiculous ravings of small men who got a kick out of pushing around a high profile female Olympic champion. “Change the cap Rhi. It means more to them that it does to us,” I told her.

In a final act of defiance she pulled a plain cap over the red fins version. She would swim with the cap come hell or high water. Just over a minute later she finished the 100 fly. Her time was 1.01.70 a life-time personal best time. I guess he who laughs last does laugh longest.

So now you can see my interest in the picture on the 2015 Swimming New Zealand Annual Report. Swimming New Zealand is either advertising an item of swimwear banned by FINA Rule 10.8 or their official, responsible for the 2012 Anthony Moss meet, is in need of some retraining.

There is a serious side to this sort of paradox. Participants in a sport rely on a consistent set of rules. Recently Swimming New Zealand have imposed fees and withdrawn fees, have stopped final swims and introduced final swims and now they have banned a swim cap with fins and advertised the same cap.

PS – Rhi is now coach of her own club back in the United States. I see on Facebook that we agree not only on the New Zealand officials that ban fun caps but also on the lunatic running her country just now. Bring on the 25th Amendment.