tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post3228936862953612633..comments2024-01-13T00:38:28.549-08:00Comments on Southern California Aquatics SCAQ Swim Club: Herald Tribune: "Swimmer Libby Trickett breaks with longtime coach"Tony Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109365938555421509noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-49834716727844904312008-10-04T07:46:00.000-07:002008-10-04T07:46:00.000-07:00Great observation, I never thought about it that w...Great observation, I never thought about it that way though it still appears to me that Australians demand results from their programs most notably in their 20's.Tony Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00109365938555421509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-1149091973334827852008-10-04T01:18:00.000-07:002008-10-04T01:18:00.000-07:00One thing to note is that most American swimmers c...One thing to note is that most American swimmers change coaches when they start college. During the recruitment process, swimmers will visit many campuses and coaches, hoping to find one they will feel comfortable training under for four years.<BR/><BR/>In Australia, elite college swimming is non-existent. Australian swimmers will usually continue with their age group coach even if they go to university (which very few elite swimmers do). For example, Ian Thorpe was with Doug Frost for ten years before changing coaches at 20. Schipper was with Ken Wood for a decade before changing at 21. Hackett was with Cotterell from when he was 12 (not 100% on this) but only changed a couple of years ago. When Liesel left Ken Wood she was 18-19. Henry didn't change coaches until this year at 24.<BR/><BR/>It may seem odd that quite a few Australian swimmers change coaches in their early twenties, but I think they're just delaying a decision that American swimmers have to make when starting college.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com