Famous swimmers...

[ktcute]

I've often wondered what its like getting to interview all these top British Swimmers...

Are they snooty or are they nice? Do you have trouble getting to meet them, or are they usually pretty willing?

[Steve]

As something of a swimming anorak it's great! :D

Generally speaking they are a great bunch, all very friendly. I've only had one bad interview out of the lot (when I think I caught the swimmer in question on a a bad day anyway; I've since interviewed him again and he was really helpful and friendly)

As for arranging interviews - usually via the ASA (who have been extremely helpful) who have media days at training camps etc, although I have contacted a few swimmers directly in the past. They are all normally very accommodating - with all due respect, they aren't exactly David Beckham, so I wouldn't imagine that they are inundated with hundreds of interview requests, which I'm sure helps!

[GettingFaster]

There was an article in the most recent edition of UK Swimming, aimed directly at swimmers who might be interviewed, which made quite interesting reading.

[ktcute]

As something of a swimming anorak it's great!

You steve, never :D.

When I'm in the right kind of mood thats just fine. Otherwise.... !
I have plenty of things I'm an anorak about...

[michael harvey]

My wife met Nick Gillingham at a recent Tony the Tiger promotion and said what a nice person he was, she also said he looked taller on TV.

[Bootie]

Originally posted by michael harvey
My wife met Nick Gillingham at a recent Tony the Tiger promotion and said what a nice person he was, she also said he looked taller on TV.

Quite agree, I saw him at the Nationals last November and he isn't that tall but still one hell of a fast swimmer!

[Bazza]

Yeah kicked my arse! :)

Actually did you know the times he swam there ranked him 11th in GB for both the 50m and 100m? That's at 35 and off little training I believe.

[Bootie]

Originally posted by bazzaroodoo
Yeah kicked my arse! :)

Actually did you know the times he swam there ranked him 11th in GB for both the 50m and 100m? That's at 35 and off little training I believe.

Yeah, but he didn't turn up for the 200 which is my event!

Was he scared? (I don't think so but it made me feel better and I won the bronze)

[nsswimmer]

haha lOL bootie!! ;)

congrats on the bronze!! wow that's INCREDIBLE!! :D

[Bootie]

Yes, his not turning up allowed an old bloke like me at the other end of the age group (39) to sneak his first ever National swimming medal.

Thankfully I have now moved up to the 40-44 age group and do not have an ex-olympic games swimmer to contend with!

[ktcute]

Congrats bootie...

And I remember reading an interview with him, in which he said he now did 3 hours a week training.

Placing 11th must give a few youngsters pause for thought!

[Chris]

Here's me and Ady ..... admittedly you'll note this was a few years ago :p

[Steve]

Originally posted by ktcute
And I remember reading an interview with him, in which he said he now did 3 hours a week training.

I think you mean this: http://www.pullbuoy.co.uk/nickgillingham.html

<b>How does the training you do now compare to what you used to do?</b>
These days I only swim three times each week for just one hour and enter the masters competitions to help with motivation. I now swim 9,000m each week instead of 30,000 - 70,000m! The furthest I ever swam in one week was 86,000m.

I mean come on, that's less training than I do...:eek:

[Aussiebabe]

What's everyone's furthest total for a weeks training?

My most in one week was 58,000m and I was gutted not to reach 60km!! (that wasn't even all the sessions available to us (it was 9 of the 11 but the 11th session is just race practice so only a couple of km's) so I was kicking myself that I didn't make the effort & get over 60km just the once!!)

[michael harvey]

I think my son now swims between 45 or 60 K,s a week depending on where he is in his training cycle.

Last weekend he swum on saturday 1 session of short course for 2 hours ,then i took him to Aldershot for another 2 hours long course.

Back to Aldershot on Sunday for another 2 hour session then a gala in the afternoon.

I dont know who was more tired, him or me.

[Martin-Y]

My son who is 14 and doing about 18k looks a bit paltry in this company, its over 3 two hour sessions which is all the time we have available.
Is there not a limit to which extra hours achieve diminishing returns?

[ktcute]

Yes there is... but I'm afraid that for most people, its a lot more than 6 hours a week.

Quality of training, and raw talent make a lot of difference, plus of course these people did years of training at a very high level, for many, many, many hours a week. The skill level will increase with more time in the pool, as will the fitness level. A lot of the effort is going into catching up on the skill front, and getting to a very high level of fitness.

I'm afraid to be realistic, there aren't many Nick Gillinghams around... which doesn't mean other people can't be good, just that they probably aren't going to be that good on so little.

[michael harvey]

I have to say that the increase in the training that my son is doing is having a large affect on his times.

Last year he only made 2 county swims.

since his training increased last september he made 9 county swims medalling in 3(not bad as he had a broken collarbone at the time) has swum 7 southern county times and has made the top 50 national long course rankings for the 1500 having only swum 1 competitively this year.

I have no doubt that the training has benefited him and also his confidence has increased, which I think is the most important ingredient of all.

Anyway he is swimming in the southern county relays this weekend so fingers crossed that the team make the nationals, certainly thats what they are hoping for.

[chlorine_babe]

Increasing just one session this year has made a big difference I fell more confident standing in the blocks saying I know I've done all the training.