1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:12,067 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,747 --> 00:00:14,307 Speaker 2: In the Pool this morning, I wanted to get a 4 00:00:14,387 --> 00:00:17,627 Speaker 2: view from our coaching guru, Wayne Goldsmith, who joins us 5 00:00:17,627 --> 00:00:20,227 Speaker 2: regularly on the show, and how she best puts this 6 00:00:20,387 --> 00:00:22,907 Speaker 2: behind her, given she has three more events to compete 7 00:00:22,947 --> 00:00:27,907 Speaker 2: in starting tonight and consultation with her coach, what strategies 8 00:00:28,227 --> 00:00:28,947 Speaker 2: could she use? 9 00:00:29,587 --> 00:00:30,067 Speaker 3: Wayne? 10 00:00:30,107 --> 00:00:32,707 Speaker 2: First of all, how challenging will it be for Erica 11 00:00:32,747 --> 00:00:36,187 Speaker 2: Fairweather to put this behind her and to almost immediately 12 00:00:36,427 --> 00:00:37,787 Speaker 2: refocus on her next event? 13 00:00:38,387 --> 00:00:40,707 Speaker 3: Well, first of all, we're going to say how proud 14 00:00:41,267 --> 00:00:44,067 Speaker 3: New Zealand should be of Erica. That man, she got 15 00:00:44,107 --> 00:00:49,787 Speaker 3: beaten by the current world record holder, by the Canadian 16 00:00:50,227 --> 00:00:53,707 Speaker 3: Son Macintosh, who broke the world four hundred im record 17 00:00:53,747 --> 00:00:56,547 Speaker 3: only a few weeks ago, and the greatest female distance 18 00:00:56,547 --> 00:00:59,627 Speaker 3: swimmer of all times. So it's I don't know, it's 19 00:00:59,627 --> 00:01:02,067 Speaker 3: like being beaten by the All Blacks by a point 20 00:01:02,067 --> 00:01:06,507 Speaker 3: in a final of the World Cup. I mean, it's 21 00:01:07,347 --> 00:01:10,307 Speaker 3: you know where I think all New Zealand should be 22 00:01:10,347 --> 00:01:13,747 Speaker 3: so proud of what she's done here. But you're exactly right. 23 00:01:14,347 --> 00:01:17,667 Speaker 3: The challenge is now as it is with so many 24 00:01:17,707 --> 00:01:21,707 Speaker 3: athletes that have got high expectations, either they're put on 25 00:01:21,747 --> 00:01:24,707 Speaker 3: themselves or people have placed on them to say, all right, 26 00:01:25,347 --> 00:01:27,867 Speaker 3: didn't quite get where I wanted to be, didn't get 27 00:01:27,867 --> 00:01:31,547 Speaker 3: the result that I quite expected. However, I need to 28 00:01:31,547 --> 00:01:35,467 Speaker 3: be at my absolute best and quickly. So the question 29 00:01:35,587 --> 00:01:39,427 Speaker 3: is really how do you move on? And I take 30 00:01:39,467 --> 00:01:42,467 Speaker 3: it back to an NRL story, believe it or not, 31 00:01:42,907 --> 00:01:45,547 Speaker 3: where I was sitting talking with Tobe Sexton, who's now 32 00:01:45,547 --> 00:01:47,747 Speaker 3: with the Bulldogs and at the time he was with 33 00:01:47,827 --> 00:01:50,867 Speaker 3: the Gold Coast Titans, and we're having a chat about 34 00:01:51,147 --> 00:01:54,427 Speaker 3: how do you get players to move on quickly after 35 00:01:54,427 --> 00:01:57,867 Speaker 3: a tribes being scored and he was talking about he said, look, 36 00:01:57,907 --> 00:02:01,147 Speaker 3: I noticed as the halfback that I'm in the ingyle 37 00:02:01,227 --> 00:02:05,107 Speaker 3: area and the players are talking about who missed the 38 00:02:05,147 --> 00:02:09,227 Speaker 3: tackle and how disappointed they were and talking about where 39 00:02:09,267 --> 00:02:13,227 Speaker 3: the gap was. And I said, Jobe, the bottom line 40 00:02:13,307 --> 00:02:16,547 Speaker 3: is we've got to ask the question, what do I 41 00:02:16,707 --> 00:02:19,627 Speaker 3: need to do now and what do I need to 42 00:02:19,627 --> 00:02:22,907 Speaker 3: do next? Because made as humans, we're all focused on 43 00:02:22,947 --> 00:02:27,267 Speaker 3: what's happened, what we know has gone before. The trick 44 00:02:27,387 --> 00:02:31,067 Speaker 3: is to get our brains focused on what do I 45 00:02:31,147 --> 00:02:34,427 Speaker 3: need to do now, what must I do next? Where 46 00:02:34,427 --> 00:02:36,467 Speaker 3: do I in their case, where do I have to 47 00:02:36,507 --> 00:02:39,987 Speaker 3: stand off? The kickoff? So to bring them into now, 48 00:02:40,107 --> 00:02:42,547 Speaker 3: to bring them into the moment and get them out 49 00:02:42,547 --> 00:02:44,027 Speaker 3: of their head which is living in the. 50 00:02:43,987 --> 00:02:47,827 Speaker 2: Past, and then I guess leads into the analysis of 51 00:02:47,827 --> 00:02:50,107 Speaker 2: what went wrong. I get the feeling what you're going 52 00:02:50,187 --> 00:02:52,187 Speaker 2: to tell me is that the analysis of the four 53 00:02:52,227 --> 00:02:54,907 Speaker 2: hundred freestyle can wait for now. 54 00:02:56,467 --> 00:02:59,587 Speaker 3: There's nothing and is a great liner like the pony, 55 00:02:59,587 --> 00:03:02,947 Speaker 3: which is there's nothing that you can do now from 56 00:03:02,987 --> 00:03:05,467 Speaker 3: a physical perspective that's going to make you any better. 57 00:03:05,707 --> 00:03:07,107 Speaker 3: But gee, you could do a lot of things to 58 00:03:07,147 --> 00:03:09,307 Speaker 3: stuff it up. And I think what a lot of 59 00:03:09,387 --> 00:03:12,707 Speaker 3: inexperienced coaches do. You know, first time coaches and the Olympics, 60 00:03:13,147 --> 00:03:15,627 Speaker 3: quite often what they do is they over analyze and 61 00:03:15,627 --> 00:03:17,627 Speaker 3: they say, you know what we've got to do. We've 62 00:03:17,667 --> 00:03:19,747 Speaker 3: got to swim it the way Fitmas swim at all. 63 00:03:19,787 --> 00:03:22,747 Speaker 3: We've got to play the way the French played in 64 00:03:22,787 --> 00:03:25,707 Speaker 3: the sevens. We're going to change everything because that's what 65 00:03:25,867 --> 00:03:29,427 Speaker 3: they're doing. Dumbest thing you could ever do is to 66 00:03:29,547 --> 00:03:33,027 Speaker 3: change what's worked for your leading up. She's a world champion, 67 00:03:33,067 --> 00:03:34,787 Speaker 3: you know, she is a hell of a good swimmer. 68 00:03:35,267 --> 00:03:37,587 Speaker 3: So the things that you've done to get to the 69 00:03:37,627 --> 00:03:40,467 Speaker 3: Olympics and the things that you've done to be that 70 00:03:40,707 --> 00:03:44,707 Speaker 3: good will hold you together right now. And may look, 71 00:03:44,867 --> 00:03:48,027 Speaker 3: I've been in these rooms, in Olympic villages and in 72 00:03:48,187 --> 00:03:50,067 Speaker 3: Olympic war rooms as you call them, and you sit 73 00:03:50,107 --> 00:03:52,787 Speaker 3: down and say, Wow, we've got to turn things around quickly. 74 00:03:53,547 --> 00:03:56,107 Speaker 3: The most experienced coaches that I've worked with, so the 75 00:03:56,147 --> 00:03:58,907 Speaker 3: Don Talbot's in swimming and some of the great ones 76 00:03:58,947 --> 00:04:01,667 Speaker 3: that have been there over and over again, they just 77 00:04:01,707 --> 00:04:03,547 Speaker 3: look at you and say, when you ask them what 78 00:04:03,587 --> 00:04:07,507 Speaker 3: are we going to do, they basically say, don't change anything. 79 00:04:08,187 --> 00:04:10,827 Speaker 3: If anything, I know it sounds really crazy, do less. 80 00:04:11,427 --> 00:04:15,507 Speaker 3: The general rule before Olympic game starts is work hard. 81 00:04:15,947 --> 00:04:18,627 Speaker 3: The general rule once it starts. Once you're in the 82 00:04:18,747 --> 00:04:23,947 Speaker 3: environment is rest more, recover or regenerate more. Look after 83 00:04:23,947 --> 00:04:27,387 Speaker 3: your mental health, sleep better. There's nothing you can do 84 00:04:27,467 --> 00:04:30,947 Speaker 3: physically to make yourself better once you're in the environment. 85 00:04:31,387 --> 00:04:34,467 Speaker 3: It's all about sticking to the things that have got 86 00:04:34,547 --> 00:04:35,667 Speaker 3: you there in the first place. 87 00:04:36,067 --> 00:04:37,867 Speaker 2: I'm sure that there would have been a routine in 88 00:04:37,907 --> 00:04:40,867 Speaker 2: place for Erica and for other swimmers who are involved 89 00:04:40,867 --> 00:04:44,947 Speaker 2: in multiple events, because she's certainly not the only one win, lose, 90 00:04:45,067 --> 00:04:47,547 Speaker 2: or whatever. After the four hundred, there would have been 91 00:04:47,947 --> 00:04:50,667 Speaker 2: a plan for her for the twelve twenty four hours 92 00:04:50,707 --> 00:04:53,067 Speaker 2: after that as she heads into the two hundred free. 93 00:04:53,187 --> 00:04:57,107 Speaker 2: So sticking to that is key from what I'm hearing 94 00:04:57,147 --> 00:04:58,587 Speaker 2: you say it is. 95 00:04:58,667 --> 00:05:01,307 Speaker 3: And look what you can do, and what some coaches 96 00:05:01,307 --> 00:05:05,107 Speaker 3: will do is you change something but change nothing. So 97 00:05:05,227 --> 00:05:08,227 Speaker 3: what I mean by that is you might change something 98 00:05:08,827 --> 00:05:13,027 Speaker 3: that is in reality testimony. I can't even say that 99 00:05:13,067 --> 00:05:17,627 Speaker 3: without my false teething. But you might change something, not 100 00:05:17,867 --> 00:05:21,067 Speaker 3: because it's going to make any physical or technical change 101 00:05:21,107 --> 00:05:24,707 Speaker 3: in reality, but the athlete goes, you know, okay, that's 102 00:05:24,747 --> 00:05:26,947 Speaker 3: going to make me better. Sometimes you play a little 103 00:05:26,947 --> 00:05:29,187 Speaker 3: bit of a mind game where you go, you know 104 00:05:29,227 --> 00:05:30,867 Speaker 3: what I've been thinking about the race. You know what 105 00:05:30,907 --> 00:05:34,027 Speaker 3: I think we should do. Why don't we change instead 106 00:05:34,027 --> 00:05:35,947 Speaker 3: of using your left hand, we'll use your right hand 107 00:05:35,987 --> 00:05:38,227 Speaker 3: on that? And they go, oh, yeah, that's good. Here. 108 00:05:38,707 --> 00:05:42,267 Speaker 3: See you're giving them something small to focus on. Where 109 00:05:42,307 --> 00:05:44,667 Speaker 3: they go, yep, I've made a change that's going to 110 00:05:44,747 --> 00:05:48,787 Speaker 3: improve me. In reality. It probably is here or there, 111 00:05:48,827 --> 00:05:52,467 Speaker 3: doesn't really make a difference, but sometimes with some athletes, 112 00:05:52,507 --> 00:05:55,427 Speaker 3: you give them a little thing, just a tiny, tiny 113 00:05:55,507 --> 00:05:59,267 Speaker 3: thing that they can focus on that gives them the 114 00:05:59,307 --> 00:06:02,427 Speaker 3: confidence to say, hey, okay, I learned from yesterday. My 115 00:06:02,507 --> 00:06:04,867 Speaker 3: coaches come up with an idea for me, and we're 116 00:06:04,907 --> 00:06:07,507 Speaker 3: going to change something to give them a little bit 117 00:06:07,547 --> 00:06:10,827 Speaker 3: of a boost if they need it. But again, it 118 00:06:10,867 --> 00:06:14,627 Speaker 3: would be very very small. You wouldn't change anything substantial. 119 00:06:15,387 --> 00:06:17,747 Speaker 2: Everyone's going to have an opinion. Obviously, there are only 120 00:06:17,827 --> 00:06:21,027 Speaker 2: certain opinions, very small number of opinions that will actually 121 00:06:21,867 --> 00:06:25,707 Speaker 2: count to Eric a fairweather. But in terms of athletes 122 00:06:25,707 --> 00:06:28,867 Speaker 2: in her position staying off their screens, is that something 123 00:06:28,907 --> 00:06:30,347 Speaker 2: that you would encourage as a coach? 124 00:06:31,107 --> 00:06:33,707 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, Look, I got up this morning and because 125 00:06:34,307 --> 00:06:36,867 Speaker 3: I'm into sport and swimming particularly or there were so 126 00:06:37,107 --> 00:06:41,267 Speaker 3: many emails and texts and social media posts and so 127 00:06:41,507 --> 00:06:44,387 Speaker 3: many of them. I don't know. They should apply for 128 00:06:44,427 --> 00:06:46,547 Speaker 3: a license to be able to use a keyboard because 129 00:06:47,507 --> 00:06:52,107 Speaker 3: some of the comments right across the board were just ridiculous. 130 00:06:52,147 --> 00:06:56,107 Speaker 3: There was a conspiracy theory about the Chinese team, for example, 131 00:06:56,147 --> 00:06:59,227 Speaker 3: that I read this morning that they deliberately swim slowly 132 00:06:59,747 --> 00:07:02,867 Speaker 3: to lose the final of the relay because they wanted 133 00:07:02,867 --> 00:07:04,507 Speaker 3: to catch people off guard. I mean, it was just 134 00:07:04,587 --> 00:07:07,787 Speaker 3: so much rubbish, you know. And if you're an athlete 135 00:07:07,867 --> 00:07:11,267 Speaker 3: in the village and you're going what I need is 136 00:07:11,947 --> 00:07:13,907 Speaker 3: I need a little bit of reassurance or I need 137 00:07:13,987 --> 00:07:18,267 Speaker 3: something to make me feel better. I need a quick 138 00:07:18,467 --> 00:07:21,347 Speaker 3: emotional hit to read something positive, and you go on 139 00:07:21,427 --> 00:07:25,467 Speaker 3: social media. It just doesn't work. And look what you said, 140 00:07:25,467 --> 00:07:28,147 Speaker 3: pin and is exactly right. You have a small group 141 00:07:28,187 --> 00:07:30,787 Speaker 3: of people that you listen to and trust and you 142 00:07:30,867 --> 00:07:33,387 Speaker 3: put your faith in them. So it could be for example, 143 00:07:34,267 --> 00:07:37,587 Speaker 3: your coach and your life partner, or your coach and 144 00:07:37,627 --> 00:07:40,227 Speaker 3: your mum and dad, or coach and your best friend, 145 00:07:40,387 --> 00:07:43,587 Speaker 3: or two members of your team. You have a very 146 00:07:43,627 --> 00:07:48,147 Speaker 3: small circle and if you want help and support, you'd 147 00:07:48,187 --> 00:07:50,707 Speaker 3: go to them one of the Again another I love 148 00:07:50,747 --> 00:07:53,227 Speaker 3: talking about this. Another thing you've got to be really 149 00:07:53,307 --> 00:07:56,347 Speaker 3: careful of is to have set all this up beforehand 150 00:07:56,387 --> 00:08:00,747 Speaker 3: with the team on how you'll deal with win, lose 151 00:08:00,827 --> 00:08:02,747 Speaker 3: or draw. So what I mean by that often say 152 00:08:02,787 --> 00:08:06,187 Speaker 3: to teams that are going to big competitions, it does 153 00:08:06,587 --> 00:08:08,827 Speaker 3: matter what happens, they're going to be on an emotional 154 00:08:08,907 --> 00:08:11,667 Speaker 3: rollercase to feeling great if they do well, feeling not 155 00:08:11,747 --> 00:08:14,667 Speaker 3: so good if they do poorly when they come back 156 00:08:14,707 --> 00:08:17,867 Speaker 3: to be part of the team, be their rock, be stable, 157 00:08:17,987 --> 00:08:22,427 Speaker 3: be strong, be positive, be helpful, be caring. Don't give 158 00:08:22,467 --> 00:08:26,267 Speaker 3: them too much advice, because if they're already trying to 159 00:08:26,387 --> 00:08:29,947 Speaker 3: sift through and figure out a simple, clear path forward 160 00:08:30,307 --> 00:08:32,507 Speaker 3: and they're getting one hundred and ninety two different voices 161 00:08:32,547 --> 00:08:36,627 Speaker 3: in their ear, it only makes things more complicated and 162 00:08:36,747 --> 00:08:39,867 Speaker 3: more difficult. And I think that's where the relationship between 163 00:08:39,907 --> 00:08:44,307 Speaker 3: coaches and their athletes become vitally important, because in moments 164 00:08:44,387 --> 00:08:46,947 Speaker 3: like these, you just want to hear one voice that 165 00:08:47,067 --> 00:08:49,147 Speaker 3: you know and trust, and you've got faith in. 166 00:08:49,827 --> 00:08:52,867 Speaker 2: So much wisdom. Way, just one final thing, and this 167 00:08:53,107 --> 00:08:56,187 Speaker 2: might be a hard question to answer, but in your experience, 168 00:08:56,267 --> 00:08:59,427 Speaker 2: when a swimmer, let's stay with swimming, when a swimmer 169 00:08:59,467 --> 00:09:02,427 Speaker 2: experiences disappointment but then has to get back in the 170 00:09:02,467 --> 00:09:07,627 Speaker 2: pull straight away, is that typically generally a good thing? 171 00:09:08,467 --> 00:09:13,027 Speaker 2: Or will someone's performance just naturally go down but because 172 00:09:13,027 --> 00:09:15,387 Speaker 2: of the disappointment of the first race, if you get 173 00:09:15,387 --> 00:09:18,547 Speaker 2: what I'm asking, Yeah, my view. 174 00:09:18,427 --> 00:09:22,307 Speaker 3: Is, as always, it comes down to preparation, and it's 175 00:09:22,307 --> 00:09:24,187 Speaker 3: the same as when you work on football teams. Isn't 176 00:09:24,187 --> 00:09:26,507 Speaker 3: it is that you go in thinking, yeah, I want 177 00:09:26,507 --> 00:09:29,027 Speaker 3: to win the game, but what happens if we lose 178 00:09:29,067 --> 00:09:31,587 Speaker 3: someone in the first ten minutes? What happens if we 179 00:09:31,627 --> 00:09:34,147 Speaker 3: get a nine to one penalty count, what happens if 180 00:09:34,147 --> 00:09:36,347 Speaker 3: all of a sudden it's eighteen mil at a half time. 181 00:09:36,867 --> 00:09:41,147 Speaker 3: You play out all those different possibilities and you prepare 182 00:09:41,227 --> 00:09:43,387 Speaker 3: for them, and you know, I know when I've been 183 00:09:43,587 --> 00:09:45,707 Speaker 3: in camps and when I've been in the villages with 184 00:09:46,267 --> 00:09:49,067 Speaker 3: athletes over the years, you get to this moment and 185 00:09:50,987 --> 00:09:56,587 Speaker 3: you want them to feel empowered and powerful and that 186 00:09:56,707 --> 00:10:00,067 Speaker 3: what happens to them next is their choice is that 187 00:10:00,787 --> 00:10:03,747 Speaker 3: yesterday was yesterday. I can't do anything about what happened. 188 00:10:04,067 --> 00:10:06,267 Speaker 3: All we're focused on is what do I do now? 189 00:10:06,507 --> 00:10:08,867 Speaker 3: And point it can come down some really simple things 190 00:10:08,907 --> 00:10:10,827 Speaker 3: like okay, what are we going to do now? We're 191 00:10:10,827 --> 00:10:13,467 Speaker 3: going to get in and do some easy laps, or 192 00:10:13,707 --> 00:10:14,987 Speaker 3: then we're going to do what We're going to go 193 00:10:15,027 --> 00:10:17,067 Speaker 3: to the village and have a really good meal. What 194 00:10:17,067 --> 00:10:18,507 Speaker 3: are we going to do and we're to have a 195 00:10:18,587 --> 00:10:24,467 Speaker 3: nice nap and asleep and sticking to simple practical things 196 00:10:24,467 --> 00:10:29,227 Speaker 3: that you can do and be focused on what comes next. 197 00:10:29,267 --> 00:10:32,227 Speaker 3: I mean that word next, and even more importantly, I 198 00:10:32,267 --> 00:10:35,307 Speaker 3: guess the word now. What are we going to do now? 199 00:10:35,427 --> 00:10:37,307 Speaker 3: What do we do here? What are you going to 200 00:10:37,347 --> 00:10:40,907 Speaker 3: do next? Bring it from the past into writing and 201 00:10:40,987 --> 00:10:43,347 Speaker 3: right now, because mate, as you and I know, I 202 00:10:43,387 --> 00:10:45,787 Speaker 3: haven't had breakfast even it's a little bit late, but 203 00:10:46,427 --> 00:10:49,787 Speaker 3: I'm about to choose what I eat for breakfast. And 204 00:10:50,267 --> 00:10:52,627 Speaker 3: because that's about to happen, I can't control what I 205 00:10:52,667 --> 00:10:55,267 Speaker 3: had to eat or drink last night, can't do anything 206 00:10:55,267 --> 00:10:58,347 Speaker 3: about what's gone. And to get the athletes in that 207 00:10:58,467 --> 00:11:02,867 Speaker 3: mindset to say, I choose to move on and swim 208 00:11:02,907 --> 00:11:07,707 Speaker 3: really really fast. I choose to be remarkable tomorrow. I 209 00:11:07,827 --> 00:11:12,027 Speaker 3: choose to warm up brilliantly. I choose to eat well. 210 00:11:12,067 --> 00:11:14,747 Speaker 3: I choose to sleep well. You give them that sense 211 00:11:14,787 --> 00:11:18,307 Speaker 3: of real empowerment, and it takes away a lot of that, 212 00:11:18,427 --> 00:11:21,827 Speaker 3: Well this happened yesterday. I have no control over the past, 213 00:11:22,227 --> 00:11:24,787 Speaker 3: but I can control what I do where I am, 214 00:11:24,867 --> 00:11:26,387 Speaker 3: and how do I approach it right now? 215 00:11:26,907 --> 00:11:29,107 Speaker 2: Well, I can only hope that Eric Afairweather has the 216 00:11:29,427 --> 00:11:31,667 Speaker 2: kind of wisdom wrapped around her that you've provided us 217 00:11:31,707 --> 00:11:34,987 Speaker 2: this afternoon. Wayne, Always love getting your insight thanks for 218 00:11:35,067 --> 00:11:36,947 Speaker 2: taking the call. We might see if we can catch 219 00:11:37,027 --> 00:11:39,547 Speaker 2: up again next week, because no doubt something will happen 220 00:11:39,627 --> 00:11:41,667 Speaker 2: in the week you hit at these Olympic Games that'll 221 00:11:41,707 --> 00:11:44,347 Speaker 2: be worth discussing, so please keep your phone on if 222 00:11:44,387 --> 00:11:44,907 Speaker 2: that's okay. 223 00:11:45,507 --> 00:11:47,387 Speaker 3: Always a pleasure, my friend, Always a pleasure. 224 00:11:47,427 --> 00:11:49,627 Speaker 2: Good on your Wayne. Thanks indeed, Wayne Goldsmith there a 225 00:11:49,707 --> 00:11:52,227 Speaker 2: regular contributor to the show and always with pearls of 226 00:11:52,267 --> 00:11:55,027 Speaker 2: wisdom on whatever topic we throw his way. 227 00:11:56,027 --> 00:11:59,187 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Faine, listen live 228 00:11:59,307 --> 00:12:02,587 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 229 00:12:02,627 --> 00:12:04,187 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio