Swimming: Boyle's overseas plunge pays off

Lauren Boyle. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Before she walked the halls of the University of California, Berkeley for a final time Lauren Boyle stood and reflected in front of a plaque that summed up New Zealand's swimming history at the college.

The tradition of excellence is reflected on a large marble frame on the wall of the pool of the Spieker Aquatic Centre where all Olympians' names are engraved in bronze plaques.

Boyle had added her name to the list that includes legendary Kiwis Danyon Loader, Anna Simcic-Forrest and Paul Kingsman as students of Berkeley.

"After representing New Zealand at the 2008 Olympics it was a huge honour to have my own name posted on the Olympian wall along with other such accomplished Kiwi athletes," said the 23-year-old who broke two New Zealand swim records recently in her preparation for the FINA World Championships from July 16 to 31.

She has come a long way in four years. Before she left, the Auckland- born freestyler was at a fork in the road after making her Commonwealth Games debut aged 18.

Boyle decided to take a scholarship in America in January 2007 after the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

"I had quite a rough time after the games, training on my own and not really having a team around me or anyone I could turn to," she said.

"I was in quite a bad space mentally. I faced the choice of either giving up swimming altogether or doing something totally different with it, so I chose to move overseas."

It proved an inspirational move as Boyle joined a special club of Kiwi swimmers at UC Berkeley. She regards her Kiwi Berkeley alumni and Anthony Mosse as her swimming heroes.

"I admire them most, and feel a slight connection to these particular athletes, because they each had their own experience of swimming in the US."

Boyle graduated in May with a business degree from one of the best business schools in the world - the Haas School of Business at Berkeley - and is now excited about her build-up to London.

"It was a huge time commitment and I am hopeful that with less academic pressure I will be able to improve further as a full-time athlete."

Her time in the US helped her experience some of the best short-course racing in the world.

"I was pushed out of my comfort zone in ways I had never imagined. The experience forced me to mature as a person and an athlete and has helped me become an independent individual.

"I was exposed to cutting edge training techniques and coached by one of the head coaches of the US Olympic team. I learned a lot from Teri McKeever, who has influenced my swimming career very positively."

She has returned home in fine form. Last week she smashed the second oldest short course record in winning the 800m freestyle in 8:16:91, nearly eight seconds under the record set by Phillippa Langrell at the World Cup in Paris in 1992.

"I feel pleased to have broken the record held by Phillippa Langrell because I have always looked up to her and respected her for her outstanding achievements. It is a real honour to take her record."

In the 400m Boyle clocked 4:02:13 to break 4:03:31 set by Melissa Ingram at the World Cup in Sydney in 2008.

Boyle's maturity impressed US Olympic swimming coach McKeever who described her growth as an athlete and a young woman as phenomenal since her arrival at Berkeley in 2007.

"I so admire and respect making the decision to come to the States to challenge herself academically and athletically," she said. "I personally have such great pride in Lauren's journey at CAL and it has been an absolute joy to work with her. I truly miss not having her here on a daily basis.

"She is a tremendous asset to the team environment and holds herself to a high standard of personal excellence.

"I wish her nothing but the best in the next year and in her years after her swimming career concludes. She is an exceptional young woman."

McKeever hopes Boyle will qualify for the NZ Olympic team in at least one individual event and help the Kiwis qualify for a relay that will final at the Games.

A bonus would be qualifying for an Olympic final.

Boyle knows that it has been a long time since New Zealand enjoyed Olympic glory in the pool. But with her journey, being on the brink of giving up the sport, there is no pressure on her to deliver.

"It is not my personal responsibility to turn swimming around. I prepare and compete to the best of my ability every time I represent New Zealand. I will be content with my results, and most satisfied with myself, when I know that I have done everything I can to reach the best of my ability."