REVOLUTIONARY: Bobbi Gichard tests the new adizero XVI swimsuits in Auckland this week. PHOTO/Simon Watts
HAWKE'S BAY swimmer Bobbi Gichard is talking little things these days.
"Everything going to plan those little things will lead to the big outcome ... qualification for the Rio Olympics," Gichard said.
Those "little things" have been falling into place for the 16-year-old since she was crowned Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools Sportsperson of the Year in November. They include a permanent move to Auckland to allow greater access to Swimming New Zealand's High Performance training programmes, a new club in Howick Pakuranga, a new coach in Jana Korbasova and a new adidas swimsuit, the adizero XVI which is due for global release next month.
"I know all these little things can help and it was pretty cool and such a privilege to be among the first three New Zealand swimmers to trial the new suit," Youth Olympic medallist Gichard said referring to the trials she had along with world junior champion Gabrielle Fa'amausili and national record holder Nathan Capp earlier this week,
The trial was made possible with Swimming New Zealand's new partnership with Teamsport adidas Swimming. Adidas, which produced cutting-edge technology in the development of the playing gear which helped the All Blacks win the Rugby World Cup last year, have turned its attention to swimming.
Adidas Director of Future, Deborah Yeomans, said the product has been over three years in the making, working with biomechanics, physiologists, fabric and pattern experts, plus a global pool of elite athletes.
"Elite swimmers know that to create their best race, every millisecond counts," said Yeomans.
"Correct body positioning, water flow and a smooth aerodynamic fit all combine to make the difference between a medal on the world's stage and disappointment. With the adizero XVI we have built a swimsuit to optimise the natural movement of the human body. We look forward to seeing the swimsuit propel our athletes onto the podium in Rio," she added.
"The suit is a lot different to what I've used in the past ... hopefully it will help me take 0.2 of a second off my times for the two events I'm hoping to race in at Rio," Gichard said.
The multiple gold medallist at last year's Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, Gichard, will tackle the 100m backstroke at the New Zealand Open Championships in Auckland on March 31 and the 200m backstroke the following day. Her respective personal bests for the two events are 1m00.42s and 2m10.08s.
"The opens will be at the Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre at the AUT Millennium where I train every day. That familiarity will be an advantage ... another one of those little things which should work in my favour," Gichard said.
Initially Gichard found the High Performance training programmes a lot tougher than those she was used to at her Greendale club.
"The big difference was all the other swimmers being in their 20s. I was the youngest but I'm finally starting to adapt to the day-to-day programmes," Gichard explained.
"I knew Jana [Korbasova] from previous meets I had been to overseas.
"She is a really good coach and that's why I chose her and her club ... now is a good time for a fresh voice.
In saying that Noel will still coach me when I'm back in Napier," Gichard said referring to Greendale's Noel Hardgrave-Booth who had coached her since she was 7.
Gichard, who already boasts two junior World Champs and one senior World Champs on her swimming CV, has just completed a high intensity training stint as part of her preparation for the Auckland Opens at the beginning of March. She will again be racing in her new home pool and competing against some of the rivals she will face in March.
A nominee for the Emerging Talent award at the February 18 Halberg awards, Gichard, will also tackle the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle for extra racing.
"Obviously the 2020 Olympics are my main focus but I still want to go to Rio to get a feel of the Olympic experience," Gichard said.
While in Auckland she is staying with a host family.
They have a 10-year-old swimmer who Gichard has become a role model for.
The former Napier Girls' High School student is about to start her year 12 studies and is weighing up whether to continue with fulltime correspondence.
Once again it's another one of those little decisions which she hopes will contribute to the big outcome.