Anytime, Anywhere, Any Conditions

Between 1995-1998 I was National coach to the Greek Swimming Federation. It was idyllic; guaranteed sunshine every day between March and October (but damned cold between November and February), and the Meditteranean swishing gently in the background of the three, side-by-side, 10-lane, 50m outdoor pools we used every day.

One of the national team swimmers, a butterfly exponent named Georgios Diamantis (pronounced Thee-a-man-tees with the emphasis on the tees), used to ask a pointed question at the conclusion of a great set, 'Am I beautiful, Mister Clive?' It doesn't quite 'play' when translated into English but, basically, he was asking, 'How was that, Coach?'

I produced a programme guide for the 'permanent national team' (similar to the SNZ High Performance Group at MISH) which had as it's slogan, 'Beauty is the ability to perform anytime, anywhere, any conditions.'

Analysing the slogan I said,

To be prepared ... technically, physically, mentally, emotionally; having done the necessary work in an excellent manner.

To be prepared to perform ... to put together all your skills and abilities in the best combination possible given the circumstances of the day.

To be prepared to perform anytime ... morning, evening, November, July, Monday, Saturday, race , practice, tired, fresh.

To be prepared to perform anytime, anywhere ... the best pool in the world, the worst pool in the world, Athens, Atherton, Rome, Rochdale, Sydney, Chios. (Kiwis can substitute Sydney, Southland, Athens, Auckland, Beijing, Bluff, London, Levin)

To be prepared to perform anytime, anywhere, any conditions ... rain, sunshine, snow, wind, calm, indoors, outdoors, long-course, short-course, cold water, hot water.

Accompanying the slogan was a quotation from former world champion and world record holder Sandra Volker:
'I compete a lot because I am always confronted with different things. Maybe the water is too cold, or the blocks are slippery, or maybe the hotel is no good. I like to be put in these kind of situations because it helps me to learn. Then when I go to a World or European championships and something is amiss, I fel more sure of myself I know that I can perform anywhere.'

We hear a lot of whinging from swimmers and coaches these days about conditions and support, but the champions just get on with it. They can perform 'anytime, anywhere, any conditions.' It's a bit like the approach Tiger Woods uses; he isn't afraid to 'scramble' to get his par and, given a tight finish, who would you put your money on, Tiger or the opponent?