Adam vs Tatjana
The Paris Olympics are in full swing.
Lots to learn from the Games so far for the enterprising swimmer.
If you are paying attention.
Case in point:
The men’s 100m breaststroke at the Paris Olympics were decided by a sliver.
- Gold – 59.03
- Silver – 59.05
- Silver (Tie) – 59.05
- Fourth place – 59.11
- Fifth place – 59.30
- Sixth place – 59.32
That… is a close race.
Less than 3/10ths of a second between gold and 6th place.
The next time you think something doesn’t matter in the water…
- A tight streamline.
- Finishing races on a full stroke.
- Clean start.
- Not decelerating out of the breakout.
- Faster tuck when turning.
- Slightly better body position.
- A faster kick tempo.
- Putting your head down into the finish.
Remember that the little things have an oversized impact in the pool.
They add up. Compounding across each stroke and each lap in the pool.
And while few of us are competing for gold on our sport’s biggest stage, a mindset that is perpetually on the hunt for improving the simple, basic, and little things is a championship mindset we can all benefit from.
Something to think about at the pool today.
Olivier Poirer-Leroy
olivier@yourswimbook.com
Best Example of “The Importance of the Small Things”
Tatjana Smith came into the final as the favourite, having swum identical heat and semifinal times of 1:05.00, faster than any of her adversaries.
Her time in the final was a slower 1:05.28 which was only just quick enough for victory.
The final in the La Défense Arena in the French capital was less than straightforward for the breaststroke queen. She was slow out of the blocks and was fourth at the halfway stage.
However, Smith, who is a 200m breaststroke specialist, found her groove in the final 25 metres when it looked like she might miss out on a medal altogether.
China’s Tang Qianting led from the get-go and at one stage held a one-metre lead while Mona McSharry from Ireland proved a valiant opponent next to Smith.
However, it was all Smith in the final few metres as she ate up the distance between her and the two women in front of her when it seemed like there was not enough pool to make up the distance.
But catch up she did with a sublimely timed lunge for the wall as she took the win, 0.26 ahead of Tang who took the silver medal. McSharry closed out the podium in 1:05.59.
Smith’s reaction to the victory was characteristically emotional. She could barely look up from the water after touching the wall before realising she had won.
“I don’t think anyone can explain it. It took a village to get me to where I am today,” Smith said after her race. “I know they would have been proud even if I didn’t have a medal.
“I swam for everyone that believed in me and for the country as well.
“Our team hashtag is “for my country” and it really is. We just want to inspire somebody at home to know that they don’t have to disqualify themselves from any race, and that they can also potentially be an Olympic champion.
“There is always something to learn out of every race. I wanted to focus on my own race and really just did that. Even if I didn’t get a medal I would’ve been happy because there are things that you want to do based on your plan.
“I gave it my best and I’m so grateful I’m walking away with the gold medal.
“It is challenging having the morning off and then coming back for the final, so it’s really about getting the recovery right.
“In a final, if you have a lane, you have a chance and we were all really fighting. I just tried to enjoy the race. In the heats and semis I really go for good times so that when I get to the final I know I can do it, enjoy it and take in the experience and not have to stress about times.
“I didn’t focus on anyone else. I knew that to do well I had to be the best version of myself and focus on my own race. I’m grateful that my hands touched the wall first.”
Smith still has the 200m breaststroke to go which, historically, has been her stronger event.
If Smith does medal in the 200m breaststroke she will become South Africa’s most decorated Olympian, tied with Chad le Clos with four Olympic medals.
