Will The Dawn Ever Come?

I wanted this article to reflect on New Zealand’s performance at the World Championships. I wanted to tell you that New Zealand, under Head Coach Jan Cameron, continued its stellar run of winning nothing in global swimming events. Their average placing was 24^th in an average field of 88. I wanted to explain that this woman with the resources of a nation at her disposal, through nine years of trying, has coached another bomb. I wanted to ask whether her marriages to master coach Don Talbot and Sky Sport’s, Kevin Cameron provided coaching and PR advantages not backed by substance?

But, I’m not allowed to. Two of the four partners who founded Swimwatch have told me it’s an old record, it’s been said before and, in the US, no one cares. That’s probably true; so instead I’ll tell you about my week at the US Spring Nationals.

The simple process of getting to the US National Championships is different from New Zealand. We flew to New York on Delta who illuminated the seat belt sign at the slightest sign of turbulence and made announcements apologizing for the “unexpected bumpy ride”. That never happens on domestic Air New Zealand. Their pilots fly on silently ignoring the boiling coffee being spilt on their customers in the back. At first I thought the difference might have something to do with New Zealand’s turbulent air space. Now I think it probably reflects the very different attitudes to suing for damages in the two countries.

The simple process of staying at the US National Championships is different from New Zealand as well. I left booking our rooms too late but finally found accommodation at the Econo Lodge, 429 Duffy Ave, Hicksville. I mention the address only to warn you never to stay there. Rhi swears the rooms are normally rented by the hour. I wouldn't go that far. But on our first night my concern was heightened when I pulled back the covers of my bed and found a well used crack pipe lying between the sheets. How did that get there? I took it down to the Reception Desk and was told, "Oh, don't worry that sort of thing happens in hotels all the time." His attitude was almost a jovial "Wow, you got something extra." My suggestion that some compensation on the room rate might be fair met stony and rigid opposition. The moral, I suppose, is that if you are at all interested in your reputation as a swim coach, stay clear of the Hicksville Econo Lodge.

Even eating at the US National Championships has its moments. You may recall the debate generated by the Swimwatch article, “To Err is Human; To Forgive is Divine.” One disgruntled soul twice called me an asshole. He used the title “Anonymous” but I think the author of these insults is a coach on Florida’s west coast. If it wasn’t please deny the charge and I will apologize immediately. Anyway, my suspect was in New York and as luck would have it, on Tuesday, chose the same restaurant to have dinner. Even more unfortunately the staff put his party at the table next to ours. The challenge was too great. Rhi and I ordered water, to be served in martini glasses with two olives. There was more than a hint of disapproval from the next table as Rhi and I clinked glasses and sipped our “martinis”.

The meet was terrific. People I didn’t know greeted me with happy hellos. The meet referee politely asked each morning, “How’s Rhi’s coach.” The world’s best national championships felt warm and welcoming.

But, what about the swimming? I was pleased. With the exception of the 200 freestyle, Rhi swam season’s best times in the 100 freestyle (57.58), the 50 freestyle (26.12) and 100 butterfly (1.03.28). The butterfly was a lifetime best time. John swam season’s best times in the 50 freestyle (23.70), the 100 freestyle (53.43) and 200 freestyle (1.53.80). John’s time in the 50 freestyle was a lifetime best swim. Their highest placings were 4^th for Rhi in the 50 freestyle and 13 for John in the 200 freestyle.

All three of us know there remains much to do. Things were not going right over in California that will take more than the sixteen weeks we’ve had together to repair. Both swimmers now understand a Lydiard program and know it produces best times at the right time. Lydiard guaranteed that and he was right. Lifetime best times in their best events will not be far away. Next week the team begins a new season. Rhi and John have three training goals; to improve their aerobic fitness by swimming six weeks of as close to 100 kilometers per week as possible, to improve their strength by adding a program of heavy weights and to improve their diet.

Our team is still young; less than two years old. Rhi and John and three or four others make up a great senior group. For them the dawn is not far away.