I competed until I was 18 but was at a fairly low-level club and did not enter many competitions although I do have a very clear memory of being at a gala and seeing Sharon Davies compete (we are the same age). Despite that I was fast (at some strokes). I left the world of swimming when I went to university to focus on hockey but when my own children were old enough for lessons I got involved with their club. 15 years later they no longer swim competitively but I got the bug.
My coaching style is very much driven by quality over quantity. If you lack an efficient technique you can put in all the meters you want in training but you will never reach your full potential (I swam 56s for 100 free, 1:14 for 100 breaststroke on 2 hours training a week, we never did speed, it was warm up, kick, drills, warm down). Of course, I now understand how much faster I could have swum if I did all those hours in training.
During my time as a coach I have come across many talented young swimmers. Some I have taught and coached have gone onto win national medals and one has even been placed on the GBR junior team. Swimmers that I have been involved with have one a total of 12 gold medals at nationals. I have been closely involved with developing several young para swimmers and 2 of them went on to break British records.
As a coach I find it rewarding to work with young people who want to be the best they can. Sometimes things go wrong, or they cannot commit to the training. Sometimes they just don’t have what it takes but so long as they are enjoying themselves and doing the best that they can then I cannot ask for more. It is frustrating to see how some waste their talent but as coach it is my job to focus on the ones who try and not on the ones who want to sit out.