1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,587 --> 00:00:15,987 Speaker 2: He's got a Paralympics. Three time Paralympic gold medalist, Paris 4 00:00:16,027 --> 00:00:18,227 Speaker 2: swimmer and member of the New Zealand Order of Merrick 5 00:00:18,307 --> 00:00:21,907 Speaker 2: cam Leslie has committed to the next Paralympic Games in 6 00:00:21,987 --> 00:00:25,867 Speaker 2: Los Angeles in twenty twenty eight. He won the means 7 00:00:25,907 --> 00:00:28,627 Speaker 2: one hundred and fifty meter individual medley at the two 8 00:00:28,667 --> 00:00:33,107 Speaker 2: thousand and eight, twenty twelve and twenty sixteen Paralympics. 9 00:00:33,547 --> 00:00:35,267 Speaker 1: The world record is coming close. 10 00:00:35,267 --> 00:00:36,027 Speaker 3: It's going to be close. 11 00:00:36,107 --> 00:00:37,707 Speaker 2: It's going to be a world record. 12 00:00:37,347 --> 00:00:38,027 Speaker 1: And he's done it. 13 00:00:38,147 --> 00:00:41,427 Speaker 3: Two twenty three twelve Cameron Leslie. 14 00:00:40,987 --> 00:00:43,907 Speaker 2: And cam Leslie doing something different to help us preparations 15 00:00:43,947 --> 00:00:46,907 Speaker 2: heading to Japan this week to train with his great 16 00:00:47,027 --> 00:00:52,147 Speaker 2: rival and friend taki Yuki Suzuki, himself a fourteen time 17 00:00:52,467 --> 00:00:56,467 Speaker 2: Paralympic medalist in cam Leslie spending ten days with take 18 00:00:56,587 --> 00:01:00,267 Speaker 2: Yuki Suzuki in Tokyo. Cam Lesley joins us on Weekend Sport. 19 00:01:00,307 --> 00:01:01,827 Speaker 2: Cam How did this all come about? 20 00:01:03,027 --> 00:01:04,987 Speaker 3: Gives came through a bit of a conversations my data 21 00:01:05,187 --> 00:01:07,827 Speaker 3: with some of New Zealanders looking after the development space 22 00:01:07,867 --> 00:01:11,507 Speaker 3: and was over in Queensland before Christmas at a competition 23 00:01:11,587 --> 00:01:14,027 Speaker 3: over there and hit Tucker and his coach were there 24 00:01:14,027 --> 00:01:15,307 Speaker 3: and I said to him, was like, mate, I'd love 25 00:01:15,347 --> 00:01:17,467 Speaker 3: to come and do some with you guys if you're 26 00:01:17,507 --> 00:01:19,147 Speaker 3: open to it. And he said, yeah, yeah, come whenever, 27 00:01:19,787 --> 00:01:21,627 Speaker 3: and I said, sweet, let's pick a date. And so 28 00:01:21,747 --> 00:01:24,107 Speaker 3: before we left Brisbane we'd had set a date down 29 00:01:24,187 --> 00:01:26,827 Speaker 3: to sort of move forward and start some planning to it. 30 00:01:26,867 --> 00:01:28,467 Speaker 3: And then yeah, helped the new year and we were 31 00:01:28,507 --> 00:01:30,307 Speaker 3: able to lock in a training plan with it. 32 00:01:30,347 --> 00:01:32,987 Speaker 2: Really, So what are you hoping to achieve during your 33 00:01:33,027 --> 00:01:33,747 Speaker 2: time in Tokyo? 34 00:01:34,787 --> 00:01:37,067 Speaker 3: I hope me and Tucker, you know, we're bribers for 35 00:01:37,067 --> 00:01:38,467 Speaker 3: a long time, but none of it now in either 36 00:01:38,467 --> 00:01:41,147 Speaker 3: of us spring chickens, and we're moving towards the sprint 37 00:01:41,227 --> 00:01:43,827 Speaker 3: races mainly. He's probably been a little bit more sprint 38 00:01:43,867 --> 00:01:46,747 Speaker 3: orientated his whole career more than me. I've been more 39 00:01:46,747 --> 00:01:49,387 Speaker 3: in the medley side of things and moving into the 40 00:01:49,387 --> 00:01:53,987 Speaker 3: sprint stuff a bit more, I guess purposefully now. So yeah, 41 00:01:54,147 --> 00:01:57,787 Speaker 3: hoping to essentially see what they do a little bit. 42 00:01:58,467 --> 00:02:01,947 Speaker 3: So they he had massive sort of transition with his 43 00:02:02,067 --> 00:02:06,027 Speaker 3: coach change and his like physique changed massively in the 44 00:02:06,067 --> 00:02:08,147 Speaker 3: twelve months leading into Paris, and he turned up a 45 00:02:08,267 --> 00:02:11,347 Speaker 3: very different athlete who we saw twelve months earlier. So 46 00:02:11,467 --> 00:02:13,307 Speaker 3: just keen to see how he approached it, what sort 47 00:02:13,307 --> 00:02:15,587 Speaker 3: of like sprint stuff they're doing in training, how they're 48 00:02:15,587 --> 00:02:18,987 Speaker 3: managing his body. Yeah, all of the above really get 49 00:02:18,987 --> 00:02:21,187 Speaker 3: guys in there. But I mean for me personally, every 50 00:02:21,227 --> 00:02:22,907 Speaker 3: single time you push off the wall, it's going to 51 00:02:22,947 --> 00:02:25,387 Speaker 3: be something that means something to you. So just looking 52 00:02:25,387 --> 00:02:28,307 Speaker 3: forward to having like ten days worth of super meaningful training, 53 00:02:28,347 --> 00:02:30,427 Speaker 3: you know, with the competition right, like we're friends, yeah, 54 00:02:30,427 --> 00:02:33,827 Speaker 3: but absolutely we're getting one over each other in training outstanding. 55 00:02:33,907 --> 00:02:36,267 Speaker 2: So as you look towards twenty twenty eight, are you 56 00:02:36,947 --> 00:02:39,987 Speaker 2: looking to do something similar to what taka Yuki did 57 00:02:39,987 --> 00:02:42,827 Speaker 2: in terms of the kindest form of that you turn 58 00:02:42,947 --> 00:02:44,387 Speaker 2: up in La looking. 59 00:02:44,267 --> 00:02:46,867 Speaker 3: Like, Yeah, I'm very different smim of now to what 60 00:02:46,867 --> 00:02:49,987 Speaker 3: I was in Paris, to be honest, just the training 61 00:02:50,107 --> 00:02:53,227 Speaker 3: is so so different, way more gym focused, a lot 62 00:02:53,267 --> 00:02:57,067 Speaker 3: more like consistency in terms of the decisions coming through 63 00:02:57,107 --> 00:02:58,907 Speaker 3: in the gym, and we've still got more things we 64 00:02:58,947 --> 00:03:00,667 Speaker 3: want to add in terms of the content of it. 65 00:03:01,787 --> 00:03:03,507 Speaker 3: So Yeah, long story short, you're definitely trying to be 66 00:03:03,507 --> 00:03:05,347 Speaker 3: a little bit different athlete what I was in Paris. 67 00:03:05,387 --> 00:03:08,307 Speaker 3: But it's also that's the sustainable way forward for me. 68 00:03:08,387 --> 00:03:10,707 Speaker 3: I can't and I'm not strong at those longer races 69 00:03:10,707 --> 00:03:12,827 Speaker 3: anymore I used to be when I was younger, and 70 00:03:12,867 --> 00:03:14,787 Speaker 3: it's just I guess it's time to let them go 71 00:03:14,907 --> 00:03:16,747 Speaker 3: and really focus in on the ones that we're good 72 00:03:16,747 --> 00:03:19,187 Speaker 3: at and the ones we've got true middle potential. 73 00:03:19,227 --> 00:03:24,107 Speaker 2: In a couple of fourth place finishers in Paris, how driven? 74 00:03:24,227 --> 00:03:26,347 Speaker 2: How motivated are you to get back on the podium 75 00:03:26,427 --> 00:03:28,987 Speaker 2: in La Pretty motivated? 76 00:03:29,067 --> 00:03:29,267 Speaker 1: Yep. 77 00:03:29,427 --> 00:03:31,867 Speaker 3: I can't say fourth place is a place I've enjoyed finishing, 78 00:03:33,067 --> 00:03:35,947 Speaker 3: particularly by those margins. I mean there's stupid margins, yeah, 79 00:03:35,987 --> 00:03:38,427 Speaker 3: point one point two, whatever they actually were. They were 80 00:03:38,667 --> 00:03:42,547 Speaker 3: so so close that I know I'm a better athlete 81 00:03:42,587 --> 00:03:44,747 Speaker 3: than that, and I don't want to finish a career 82 00:03:44,827 --> 00:03:48,347 Speaker 3: on fourth placings. I mean, I've had a pretty enjoyable 83 00:03:48,347 --> 00:03:50,427 Speaker 3: career with success wise it and I know him better 84 00:03:50,467 --> 00:03:53,027 Speaker 3: than what I was in Paris, and I've definitely set 85 00:03:53,027 --> 00:03:55,347 Speaker 3: out in these last six months to be different than 86 00:03:55,347 --> 00:03:56,947 Speaker 3: what I was there and leading in and it's been 87 00:03:56,987 --> 00:03:58,307 Speaker 3: really cool. It's been a little bit of the old 88 00:03:58,347 --> 00:04:01,507 Speaker 3: school athlete cam coming back and where that meets family life. 89 00:04:01,547 --> 00:04:04,507 Speaker 3: And we've made some big changes at home to make 90 00:04:04,547 --> 00:04:07,707 Speaker 3: it possible to be in LACE. So yeah, really looking 91 00:04:07,707 --> 00:04:10,187 Speaker 3: forward to it and just we're hoping that the body 92 00:04:10,227 --> 00:04:12,347 Speaker 3: can last it. I mean it's really good. Much more 93 00:04:12,387 --> 00:04:14,347 Speaker 3: in preferring the training nowadays, that's for sure. 94 00:04:14,467 --> 00:04:17,507 Speaker 2: Yeah, I understand you. You recently moved to a smaller property, 95 00:04:17,547 --> 00:04:19,667 Speaker 2: given you more time to focus on your training. Obviously 96 00:04:19,707 --> 00:04:22,107 Speaker 2: you're very busy at home. I think three kids under six, 97 00:04:22,227 --> 00:04:24,027 Speaker 2: I think anybody who's had one kid will know what 98 00:04:24,147 --> 00:04:26,467 Speaker 2: three might be like. So is that the kind of 99 00:04:26,547 --> 00:04:29,747 Speaker 2: changes that you're talking about in terms of lifestyle. 100 00:04:30,307 --> 00:04:32,827 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly. We've gone from ten hectares to half an acre, 101 00:04:32,907 --> 00:04:34,547 Speaker 3: like still weep, I go. Half an acre is a 102 00:04:34,547 --> 00:04:35,987 Speaker 3: big lot and I go if I hurt up man 103 00:04:36,027 --> 00:04:38,787 Speaker 3: Compared to ten hectares, it's a dream. 104 00:04:38,907 --> 00:04:39,107 Speaker 2: Yeah. 105 00:04:39,147 --> 00:04:41,947 Speaker 3: The no stock to manage, no water to manage, no 106 00:04:42,227 --> 00:04:45,787 Speaker 3: like we're just on town supply. It is so much different. 107 00:04:45,827 --> 00:04:47,667 Speaker 3: Like we go away for a training camp or a 108 00:04:47,667 --> 00:04:49,547 Speaker 3: weekend or whatever it is, and there's not a list 109 00:04:49,787 --> 00:04:51,347 Speaker 3: of a dozen things to do just to have the 110 00:04:51,387 --> 00:04:53,947 Speaker 3: animals and stock ready so they can survive, you know, 111 00:04:53,947 --> 00:04:56,507 Speaker 3: a week while you're away and you're not really having 112 00:04:56,507 --> 00:04:58,307 Speaker 3: them get out on the roads or anything like that. 113 00:04:58,307 --> 00:05:00,947 Speaker 3: It's just so much more of a simple life, which 114 00:05:00,987 --> 00:05:03,187 Speaker 3: is great. I mean, we need it as a family unit, 115 00:05:03,227 --> 00:05:05,347 Speaker 3: but having the three kids under six, like you say, 116 00:05:05,947 --> 00:05:08,907 Speaker 3: is different dynamic and different level of intensity and attention. 117 00:05:08,987 --> 00:05:10,267 Speaker 3: You want to be able to give it home, to 118 00:05:10,307 --> 00:05:13,307 Speaker 3: be present when you can be. So yeah, some big 119 00:05:13,387 --> 00:05:17,427 Speaker 3: changes really, So I wouldn't be serious about LA if 120 00:05:17,427 --> 00:05:19,587 Speaker 3: we hadn't just been like, well, let's bloody move house 121 00:05:19,627 --> 00:05:21,147 Speaker 3: to make this so we can actually do it, because 122 00:05:21,187 --> 00:05:24,027 Speaker 3: at the moment we can't do it on ten hectares indeed. 123 00:05:23,907 --> 00:05:26,387 Speaker 2: And you've got the power of Welshwiming Champs in Singapore 124 00:05:26,587 --> 00:05:29,027 Speaker 2: in September. So how big a goal are they and 125 00:05:29,067 --> 00:05:32,547 Speaker 2: how important to step along the way to LA are they? 126 00:05:33,667 --> 00:05:36,827 Speaker 3: Yeah? Pretty important? Just I think in my mind it's 127 00:05:36,827 --> 00:05:38,427 Speaker 3: a little bit of set in the record straight, you know. 128 00:05:38,427 --> 00:05:41,507 Speaker 3: I want to turn up there and put some pretty 129 00:05:41,747 --> 00:05:44,867 Speaker 3: important performances on the board that I'm proud of. We've 130 00:05:44,867 --> 00:05:47,587 Speaker 3: done some test events so far and racing's going really well. 131 00:05:47,627 --> 00:05:50,387 Speaker 3: We're only point three I think it was across fifty 132 00:05:50,387 --> 00:05:52,507 Speaker 3: three style and fifty backstrip off what I did in Paris, 133 00:05:52,507 --> 00:05:55,587 Speaker 3: and that's off only in twelve week training block. So 134 00:05:55,667 --> 00:05:58,147 Speaker 3: that's bloody good shape to be in this early into 135 00:05:58,147 --> 00:06:00,947 Speaker 3: a cycle and leading into worlds. So looking forward to 136 00:06:00,947 --> 00:06:02,747 Speaker 3: that and some of most of the guys who beat 137 00:06:02,747 --> 00:06:05,307 Speaker 3: me in Paris slower than me right now, So I'm like, 138 00:06:05,427 --> 00:06:07,427 Speaker 3: if it we're tracking, well, well let's keep pushing. 139 00:06:07,547 --> 00:06:10,267 Speaker 2: Absolutely. And so you're talking about La. You said you 140 00:06:10,307 --> 00:06:13,907 Speaker 2: don't want to finish on fourth places? Are you like? 141 00:06:14,187 --> 00:06:15,427 Speaker 2: Is La definitely it? 142 00:06:15,547 --> 00:06:15,587 Speaker 3: Or? 143 00:06:15,627 --> 00:06:17,547 Speaker 2: I mean, can you swim into your forties at the 144 00:06:17,667 --> 00:06:19,867 Speaker 2: twenty thirty tosches across the pond in Brisbane? May you 145 00:06:19,867 --> 00:06:21,947 Speaker 2: could do it? You could do that? Surely? Oh? 146 00:06:21,947 --> 00:06:23,587 Speaker 3: I know it's as good as the home games, right, 147 00:06:24,827 --> 00:06:26,867 Speaker 3: long story short, Yeah, I've raced against people who are 148 00:06:26,907 --> 00:06:29,387 Speaker 3: forties and fifties before, and like that's the difference with 149 00:06:29,467 --> 00:06:32,347 Speaker 3: Paris sport, right and the lower classifications. Age isn't such 150 00:06:34,067 --> 00:06:36,587 Speaker 3: a factor, if that makes sense, So potentially yep. 151 00:06:36,627 --> 00:06:36,907 Speaker 1: Could. 152 00:06:37,307 --> 00:06:39,347 Speaker 3: I'm just really focused on leading into La and then 153 00:06:39,387 --> 00:06:43,467 Speaker 3: reassessed after that. I mean, young kids, life's going to change, 154 00:06:44,347 --> 00:06:46,467 Speaker 3: whether or not I'm able to buy into it as 155 00:06:46,507 --> 00:06:47,787 Speaker 3: much to the level that there needs to be. And 156 00:06:47,907 --> 00:06:49,587 Speaker 3: I don't want to be the guy who just carries 157 00:06:49,587 --> 00:06:52,067 Speaker 3: on swimming because I'm finishing fifty and sixth and stuff 158 00:06:52,107 --> 00:06:55,387 Speaker 3: like that. And you know, I like performance, I like winning. 159 00:06:55,427 --> 00:06:57,987 Speaker 3: I don't want to be just you know, making up numbers. 160 00:06:58,147 --> 00:07:00,227 Speaker 2: Yeah, here's me trying to ask you what you're going 161 00:07:00,267 --> 00:07:02,067 Speaker 2: to be doing in seven years from now. That's probably 162 00:07:02,107 --> 00:07:05,027 Speaker 2: me getting a bit carried away. Let's get let's get. 163 00:07:04,547 --> 00:07:07,107 Speaker 3: Out, say a long way way. I've really got a 164 00:07:07,267 --> 00:07:08,107 Speaker 3: five seven years. 165 00:07:08,587 --> 00:07:11,067 Speaker 2: That's right, that's right. Well, it sounds like Japan's going 166 00:07:11,107 --> 00:07:12,907 Speaker 2: to be an awesome experience for you with some really 167 00:07:13,107 --> 00:07:15,267 Speaker 2: really key things to achieve over there. Thanks for taking 168 00:07:15,307 --> 00:07:16,587 Speaker 2: the time for a chat, mate. Hope it goes well 169 00:07:16,627 --> 00:07:17,347 Speaker 2: in Tokyo for you. 170 00:07:17,907 --> 00:07:19,387 Speaker 3: Yeah, cheers, mate, much appreciate it now. 171 00:07:19,427 --> 00:07:21,587 Speaker 2: Thank you for joining us. Jam cam Leslie their eyes 172 00:07:21,667 --> 00:07:24,627 Speaker 2: on twenty twenty eight the next Paralympic Games for a 173 00:07:24,987 --> 00:07:28,947 Speaker 2: three time Paralympic gold medalist, hoping to add to those 174 00:07:29,387 --> 00:07:33,707 Speaker 2: in two years three years time. At the Paralympic Games 175 00:07:33,747 --> 00:07:34,747 Speaker 2: in Los Angeles. 176 00:07:35,187 --> 00:07:38,347 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 177 00:07:38,467 --> 00:07:41,747 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow 178 00:07:41,787 --> 00:07:43,387 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio