Swimmers' manners impress new coach

SHANE HURNDELL
Build good people first and watch them become champions later on ...
That's the approach of Swim Heretaunga's new coaching director, Canadian Darin Muma, who recently started work as Olympian Jon Winter's replacement at Flaxmere. And if one of the key attributes he has already noticed about his swimmers is any indication it shouldn't be too long before he can add some new champions to his impressive CV.
"The swimmers here are the most polite I've had in my 25-year coaching career," said Muma, 43, who is on his first visit to New Zealand.
"That politeness and their basic skill level is what has impressed me the most so far," he said.
Muma's swimmers should be polite to him because if his CV is any indication he's got plenty to offer. He coached Canadian Liz Warden to a silver medal in the 400m individual medley final at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and has also coached swimmers who made Canada's World University Games teams in 2003 and 2005.
Without naming the Sundevils - "I don't want to put any extra pressure on them," he said - Muma believes he has a couple of swimmers who have the potential to make the 2012 Olympic Games. Of his younger ones he believes there are several who will go on to the 2016 Olympics.
"I'm impressed with the size and skill of the young athletes here. I mean there are young girls who are 1.7m tall and that's pretty impressive," he said.
It's obvious that although he's signed on for three years Muma is here for the long-term if he's already looking ahead to 2012 and beyond.
"Everyone here has been so welcoming and the lifestyle is great," he said before taking a group to Waipukurau for a weekend training camp.
Muma doesn't feel under pressure to try and match the feats of Winter in terms of producing national champions and Kiwi team members.
"I trust the programmes which have been successful for me over the years. Success will come when it comes," said Muma who has seen young coaches try to push young swimmers too soon.
"I want to build a strong team foundation. I want to focus on the process and how to get there as opposed to the end result. Medals and records are great and they will happen when the athletes are ready physically and mentally," he said.
The father of two children aged 13 and 11 wants to have the best team in Hawke's Bay and the best team in New Zealand.
"It takes time and it takes good people working in the right direction," he said.
Muma will have his wife Nicole Parent working as his assistant with his Learn to Swim youngsters and she will also coach a Masters group. That Masters group won't include Muma.
"My days of swimming are long gone. When I'm not coaching I like to play golf although it's pretty bad.
Muma is definitely here for the long-term, particularly if those young swimmers stay as polite as they have been since he arrived.