Lauren Boyle’s decision to retire from competitive swimming was a significant event. For
years Boyle carried the reputation of New Zealand swimming. Many thousands of dollars
were paid into the Swimming New Zealand bank account on the back of her efforts. As she
added bronze and silver World Championship medals and world records to her personal
resume Swimming New Zealand administrators used her success to add to their income.
I don’t know Boyle all that well but my guess is she knew she was being used to feather the
head office nest but she carried on with dignity and class supporting her sport. She seemed
to me to always do what she thought was right; even if it meant putting to one side her real
feelings. She occasionally swam at the pool I coached at and would join in for photographs
with our club’s junior swimmers. There was sincerity about the way she participated in the
photographs. There was never any impression of the famous person doing their duty; a top
person.
But I have a Lauren Boyle story. Three years ago I was scheduled to have a routine
ultrasound scan at the Waitakere Hospital. The technician asked if I was David Wright the
swimming coach. I said I was and we got into a discussion on swimming. As I often do I
talked too much. He seemed interested in my views on Swimming New Zealand and so I
expanded my theory that New Zealand’s best swimmer, Lauren Boyle, was being exploited
by the organization. Boyle, I said, was a class act but was being let down by poor and
bloated administration. At that point the technician explained that it was probably time to
come clean. He was Lauren’s boyfriend and was interested in how I viewed her position. It
was a lovely moment and an enjoyable exchange of ideas.
Actually I should have known better. Many years ago I was doing a Sunday run around the
20 mile Waitakere circuit. I caught up to a runner ahead of me. We ran along discussing
training ideas. I was a Lydiard disciple and made it clear that, in my view, Lydiard was not
being treated fairly by the sport. Eventually we got back to Titirangi village and parted
company. My companion thanked me for the company and asked my name. I told him. He
said he was pleased to meet me. His name he said was Gary Lydiard; Arthur’s son. “Wow” I
thought “Just as well I was a loyal Lydiard fan.”
But back to Lauren Boyle. I see there is a report out today with her views on the funding of
New Zealand swimming. The report covered a number of factors affecting swimming in New
Zealand. As she usually does Boyle framed her views with care and diplomacy. She clearly

has an interest in getting her point across but in a way that causes the least amount of
turmoil.
I do feel her effort to say the right thing in ways that avoid upsetting those in power is a lost
cause. The power elite in Swimming New Zealand will not be changed by suggestions and
subtle arguments. Reform in this national sport’s organization requires open assault; a
sledge hammer wielded zealously. These are not people influenced by reason and debate.
These are people who only understand two things – money and power.
In the extract below I have copied key points from the Boyle interview; points that I believe
Boyle has identified correctly and presented especially well.
Lauren Boyle says rather than highlight a lack of funding, a spotlight could be shone on
sporting bodies instead. The money comes from High Performance Sport NZ into the NSOs
[National Sporting Organisations] and if there are problems at the NSO level, like a lack of
quality managers or decision-makers, then, I don't know, maybe.
"NZ sporting bodies seem to have the knack of building an infrastructure that serves the
institution at the very least as well as it serves the customers, who are the athletes.
"In my opinion, you cut managerial resources, not the pool-deck interface, but that's hard to
do."
What Boyle seems to be saying is that too much money goes on feeding the bureaucracy
and not enough gets spent on swimmers. If that is her point then I could not agree more. I
remember the day when Swimming New Zealand was one lady, called Donella Tait, working
part time out of two rooms in the old Dominion Building in Wellington. And there are several
important truths about Donella Tait and her sole charge time in Wellington.
1. I received far more communication from Donella Tait than I ever have from the
current Swimming New Zealand. Mind you that would not be difficult. I have had no
communication from the current management.
2. The standard of swimming when Donella Tait was on her own included world record
holders, Olympic medallist, World Championship medallists, Pan Pacific Games
medallists, Commonwealth Games medallists and world short course finals
medallists.
3. Today the Swimming New Zealand staff profile page has 20 names and with Lauren
Boyle retired the organization has no world record holders, no Olympic medallist, no
World Championship medallists, no Pan Pacific Games medallists, no
Commonwealth Games medallists and no world short course finals medallists.

4. In the case of Swimming New Zealand we are paying for 19 additional people for
what – a worse result. It seems Lauren Boyle is right “NZ sporting bodies seem to
have the knack of building an infrastructure that serves the institution at the very least
as well as it serves the customers, who are the athletes.”
Laruen Boyle’s swimming career as a competitor and as a person was an unqualified
success. She performed amazingly well and conducted herself with poise and control. With
this sort of quiet diplomacy it could be that Lauren Boyle may be about to do her sport in
New Zealand just as big a service in retirement as she did in swimming.