NEED FOR INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING IN A WORLD CHAMPION

Safe, M. (1992). The loneliness of the long-distance swimmer. The Australian Magazine, July 11-12, 8-11.

Coach Graeme Carroll commenting on the coaching needs of Shelley Taylor-Smith (world champion marathon swimmer).

" . . . People say, 'It's great you've got the world champion; anyone could coach her.' But that's not true. You've got to have the right temperament. I can't see her at the Institute of Sport, for example, because they wouldn't treat her as an individual. The uniqueness of her event takes her into new realms. A lot of coaches when I was swimming had this tunnel-vision approach: "Get in the water and do what I say." Out of that, they eventually get someone who'll be a champion. But coaches have to get away from that and start being more individualistic with their swimmers." (p. 11)

Return to Table of Contents for Training for Swimming.