Swimming: Voice of experience to help young competitors

New Zealand's young swimmers can pour their problems into a famous ear if they need help to settle their nerves ahead of hitting the Commonwealth Games pool.

The country's greatest swimmer, Danyon Loader, flew into Melbourne on Tuesday, part of the New Zealand Olympic Committee's ambassadorial staff working out of New Zealand House during the Games.

And the double Olympic champion of 1996 is happy to offer a word of encouragement, if it's sought.

"I've been to one or two of these before so maybe I can give an insight into it," Loader said.

And when they sidle up, he'd say: "Enjoy it. It's no different to competing back home. The pool is the same 50m, it's got a block at the end, timekeepers and it's just a different city, competing against different people.

"And all anyone can ever ask is they try their best."

It's all mental at this stage, as Loader pointed out there's nothing more than can be done physically.

Loader is a relaxed man now that his competitive days are years behind him. The ponytail is a distant memory as are the pre-dawn alarm calls and hours of repetitive training. He's relishing the chance to view a Games from a different perspective.

"Usually [as a swimmer] you go away six to eight weeks beforehand. You don't see what's being written or said so in that regard it's quite good.

"To have the freedom to walk down the street is quite cool."

He admits he might get a competitive twinge when he's watching the finals but, patting a stomach which seems pretty trim to all eyes but his own 10 years on from his 200m-400m freestyle triumphs in Atlanta he said he "wouldn't subject anyone to me wearing Speedos at the moment".

Loader is dismissive of Australian boasting of how they'll dominate in the pool. He remembered at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada 12 years ago, hearing the same yak.

"It fired the rest of the teams up. I remember the first women's final and a British swimmer went out and won.

"With those sort of bold statements, you set yourself up for a fall and I hope that happens," he added.

Loader will have the chance to catch up with his old coach, Duncan Laing, who is winding down his career. This is his last major event.

The pupil admits he owed much to the coach's guiding hand as he climbed to the pinnacle of his sport. Farewelling the big, amiable Dunedin bloke will be emotional.

The bond between the two is strong. On the eve of Loader's 400m final in Atlanta, Laing was asked if his man had a chance.

After half a minute of stock wait and see lines, Laing fixed the inquirer with a beady eye and said, with Australian-like confidence: "Tell you what, if the boy's within half a length of the leader when they turn for home they won't catch him."

Loader reckons New Zealand swimming is in good heart.

"It's definitely the strongest it's been for a while. You see that with the number of people making finals at the world champs.

"I believe you've got to forget about the past and use what the team has now. It's been building up for the last couple of years and it's a matter of keeping that ball rolling."