I was in Zimbabwe doing a swimming clinic in 1996 for WORLD AQUATICS - FINA as it was.

The hosts took me to a local swimming program.

Run down pool, no lane ropes, no backstroke flags, no starting blocks. Cold water.

The sides of the pool had green scum on them.

One of the kids told me they were toad eggs and they had to be careful not to swallow them.

Coach - a very good guy - was a butcher - very limited high level swimming coaching knowledge but a very decent, hard working, dedicated coach.Overall pretty terrible environment.In one lane however was an 11 year old skinny little blonde kid. She just plowed up and down the pool relentlessly.

She swam like she was angry at the water: she just worked and worked and worked. In between repeats she smiled, laughed, joked with her friends - then boom - back into it - lap after lap after lap to a standard that would have seen her fit in nicely to any age group program in Australia, USA, UK - anywhere.

At the end of the session the coach introduced her to me and me to her. “Coach Wayne. I’d like you to meet Kirsty Coventry”.

That’s Kirsty “First Woman IOC President, 7 medals (2 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze) across five Olympics (2000-2016)” Coventry.

Environment doesn’t make champions. Character does.

Toad eggs, green scum, no lane ropes. Seven Olympic medals.

Tell me again that being great at sport is all about facilities.

Wayne Goldsmith

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