Local swimmers get Olympic for a day

Three-time gold medalist trains young swimmers at Metuchen YMCA

BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

Sixty-eight swimmers from the Metuchen-Edison, Fanwood, Raritan Valley, and Red Bank YMCAs got the chance to train like an Olympian after spending about four hours in the pool with five-time Olympic medalist Josh Davis over the weekend.

Top: Youngsters listen to a motivational speech from five-time U.S. Olympic medalist Josh Davis (above) during the Mutual of Omaha Breakout! Swim Clinic at the Metuchen YMCA on May 10. Davis delivered inspirational speeches and taught proper technique and fundamentals to the youngsters ranging from 7 to 18 years old. Right: As his mom, Vanessa, watches, Gregory A. James, of East Brunswick, receives an autographed T-shirt from Davis. Top: Youngsters listen to a motivational speech from five-time U.S. Olympic medalist Josh Davis (above) during the Mutual of Omaha Breakout! Swim Clinic at the Metuchen YMCA on May 10. Davis delivered inspirational speeches and taught proper technique and fundamentals to the youngsters ranging from 7 to 18 years old. Right: As his mom, Vanessa, watches, Gregory A. James, of East Brunswick, receives an autographed T-shirt from Davis. “This was great for [Davis], who has so much experience, to come here and teach us technique,” said Billy LaPorta, 15, who has been swimming for seven years and has been on the Metuchen YMCA’s swim team (Manta Rays) for five years, after the clinic on May 10.

LaPorta won the award for having the best streamline in the water. Danica Lindsey, 16, also won the award for having the best streamline.

“It felt pretty good to be recognized,” said LaPorta.

Davis, 35, who is also a master clinician, motivational speaker and broadcaster, came to the Metuchen-Edison YMCAon May 10 as part of the Mutual of Omaha Breakout! Swim Clinic, which was developed by Davis and Mutual of Omaha to inspire and motivate a new generation of swim stars.

As an official sponsor of USA Swimming, Mutual of Omaha actively supports the sport on all levels, from local clubs across the country to the national team.

Kristine Sinram, director of competitive aquatics at the Metuchen-Edison YMCA, said she never heard about the clinic before.

“I checked it out and it looked important [for the kids],” she said. “I then sent a mass e-mail to the local area clubs to see who would be interested in attending the clinic. This is the first time that this clinic has been held at the Metuchen-Edison YMCA. Another clinic is tentatively set for Nov. 15.”

Davis, in a USA Davis swim cap and black goggles, gave technique tips to the competitive swimmers – ages 7 to 18 – on the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.

The former Olympian, who continues to train and race for his personal enjoyment, made history in 1996 when he was the only man in any sport from any nation to win three gold medals – 400 meter freestyle relay, 800 meter freestyle relay and 400 meter medley relay – at the Atlanta Olympic Games.

Davis made his second Olympic appearance in the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, where he was elected captain of the USAMen’s Swim Team and took home two silver medals in the 400 meter freestyle relay and in the 800 meter freestyle relay. He went on to break the American record three times in the 200- meter freestyle in other competitions.

After two Olympic Games and five medals, Davis established himself as an ambassador for the sport and is pioneering the road for the next generation of professional swimmers.

On his Web site, joshdavis.com, Davis, who grew up in San Antonio, Texas, reveals that his first swim coach in eighth grade saw how bad he was and told him he should switch sports because he would never make it in swimming.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN ” … I wonder if I listened to my first coach and never got back into the pool again,” he said.

Throughout the clinic, Davis was heard saying, “Swimmers, take your mark” as he raced the 25-yard length of the pool with the swimmers in the four strokes only after he offered the “secret” techniques of the Olympians.

“It’s important to never cheat,” said Davis. “I was so excited to be training with the best when I entered the (University of Texas) on a scholarship. Some of them were doing one-handed turns off the wall, which is illegal. I couldn’t believe it … I vowed that day to do the fastest twohanded legal turns and never cheat … cheating never made sense to me.”

Davis said that in the end, those who did the one-handed illegal turn were disqualified from races.

Techniques involved keeping straight arms during the butterfly stroke, and treating the wall as a “hot stove” when doing a turn.

Davis, who said it is important for swimmers to learn all four strokes, divulged that his least favorite stroke was the butterfly, which he said was the most difficult out of all the strokes.

“Also the backstroke is the easiest out of all the strokes, and there is no reason why a [swimmer] should not perfect the stroke,” he said.

Davis ended the program with a motivational talk involving seven habits of highly effective athletes that help everyone develop an Olympic lifestyle of discipline, pride and teamwork. He has reached out to thousands of young swimmers as the embodiment of the sport’s values.

Katie LaCava, 14, who has been on the Metuchen YMCA swim team since she was in kindergarten, said Davis is one of the swimmers she admires.

“He really motivates you and [the best advice] he gave, I think, is when he said you only live once so make good choices,” she said.

For more information about the Mutual of Omaha Break Out! Swim Clinic visit www.breakoutswimclinic.com. For more information about Josh Davis, visit joshdavis.com.