The previous Swimwatch post mentioned an American swimmer I used to help both in the USA and New Zealand. Before I knew Rhi Jeffrey she had won an Olympic Gold Medal for the 4×200 relay in Athens. Rhi is currently living and coaching Atlantis Aquatics in New Hampshire, USA. Those looking for a good coach could do a lot worse than contact Rhi.

When Rhi came to New Zealand I was concerned about how she would fit in. Rhi has a huge personality and being bright herself finds it difficult to tolerate idiots. She is also an Olympic Gold Medalist for a reason. Oh, of course she has talent. Of course, she has a feel for the water. Of course, she is naturally tall and very strong. But beyond her natural gifts she is prepared to work incredibly hard. No one becomes the best in the United States without working hard. Rhi had been raised in and had survived the world’s toughest swimming school. I remember her tearing strips off swimmers in our American team who failed to meet her exacting standards. I never took issue with her, mainly because she was always right.

When she came to New Zealand, I was concerned that some of the New Zealand squad might find her forthright views on their work ethic a bit overpowering. I need not have worried. She seemed to appreciate the cultural difference between swimming in Auckland and swimming for the United States in Florida. In fact, she went out of her way to gradually help lift the squad’s work ethic to what both of us had known as normal in the USA.

Her contribution was especially valuable in the gym. At the time women lifting heavy weights was frowned upon by many. Rhi soon sorted that out for me. In no time at all she had a real American swim team gym operating at the West Wave pool. The looks of horror from the Lycra clad gym staff were worth a million dollars.

There is a difference between some stretching exercises and beating your way through the dark and rain at the top of the Waitakere Ranges. Rhi was first class at the swimming Waitakere Ranges stuff.

Occasionally cultural differences did catch her out. On her first day in New Zealand as we drove away from Auckland Airport, I heard her say, “You could never put that on a car in the USA.”

I looked around and couldn’t see anything unusual. I said, “What do you mean?”

Pointing at a car full of Pacific Island New Zealanders she said, “Look what’s written on the side of their car.”

I looked across to see a large sign saying, “ALL BLACKS”.

It took a couple on minutes to explain that the sign referred to the national rugby team and not the ethnic origin of the car’s owner.

About six months into her New Zealand stay she decided to wear one of those fun swim caps with the big eyes and a small rubber fish-fin. The meet was a junior carnival at West Wave. The young swimmers and the coach thought it was huge fun – an Olympic champion racing in a fish-head cap.

But the New Zealand officials not so much. I was told if Rhi raced in the cap she would be disqualified.

“What for?” I asked in amazement.

“The rubber fin on top is a performance aid.” I was told.

That sort of BS gives officials here a bad name and is, in part, a reason SNZ membership has declined by 26% over ten years. Sucking the fun out of everything is no way to attract the next generation. Running a swim meet like some well drilled Waiouru army parade might fill a 60-year-old official with pride, but a fun swim cap has more appeal to youngsters in the sport. Off the subject but the effort to retain the fun of swimming was what I admired most about the way Geoff and Jeannie Sibun did things in the Counties Manukau Region. I hope wherever the Counties’ clubs end up preserve that same sense of tradition and fun. I hope but I do not expect. Sadly the “performance aid rubber fin” brigade is winning.

But, back to Rhi. She was not easy to coach. Her standards were above and beyond normal. But the hard work was hugely satisfying. I would not have wanted it any other way. I hope the team she is coaching now appreciates their good fortune. Swim well, Rhi.