It all started in September 1991… I went to the pool for a nice recreational splash and saw a group of kids being shouted at by this frustrated looking bloke. I asked one of the girls what it’s all about and she said: “this is my coach” COACH !?!? WOW ! That sounded amazing! I wanted one as well!!!! I went to see him and said I would like to join the team and he asked my age.

When I said I was 9 he answered “no, you’re too old”…I went home and cried for the entire weekend. I was probably just as devastated (or possible even more!) than the ‘bride to be’ gets when her dress arrives and it looks like a potato sack.

At some point I overheard my dad saying to my mum “It looks like it’s important, never seen her like this. Maybe you could speak to them on Monday?”. She did and eventually he agreed to give me a trial. I started with two days a week, which was an option for those ambitious (but not quite up to the mark) kids :D. Four days was sort of a standard and 5 being for the elite. When after few weeks he asked me if I could do another two days it felt like Christmas had come early.

Fast forward 3 years and I was swimming 13 times a week. My morning session started at 6am and I was the first one in. In fact, every morning I had to wake up the security guy to let me in. I still remember the look on his face as he unlocks the doors and said “Hey kiddo, you know where to go” and then as he would go back to his room I would hear him say “That kid has some serious issues…”. (Yes Simon, you’re not the first one to think so).

I loved the pool in the morning. It was dark (with lights off in the summer and dimmed in the winter) and the water was perfectly still. I would always try to get in as slowly and gently as possible. That first length was just mmmm. With every stroke my hand would cut through this ideal surface and it just felt amazing!