Jonty Skinner didn't get to swim at the 1976 Olympics because South Africa was banned. But a few weeks after the Olympics ended, he broke Jim Montgomery's world record in the 100 Free by over half a second.
Jonty left South Africa to swim for the University of Alabama where he was an NCAA Champion under Don Gambril. Over the next decades he would have several coaching stints at Bama as well as time spent with USA Swimming as the National Team Head Coach and Director of Performance Science and Technology. He was inducted into the ASCA Hall of Fame in 2017.
If you've never been to Alabama before...nothing is more important than War Eagle vs. Roll Tide.
The former rival coaches in the great state of Alabama discuss...
In 1976, you were not allowed to compete at the Olympics. How'd that feel? South Africa had been banned since 1964.
"It didn't bother me that much...I knew growing up it wasn't going to happen." - Jonty Skinner
Don Gambril told me I needed a year to adapt to the training. "I was a 2."
Being relieved after breaking the world record. What helped me remember was listening to Mel Stewart interview BJ Bedford.
Finding each athlete's motivation. Improving each athlete on a holistic level. Really get to know them.
Creating a seasonal plan and understanding what goes into that. One of the best pieces of advice Brett got as a young coach from David Marsh.
When does the book come out?! Maybe next summer.
Zane Waddell calls Jonty a wizard. How do you get wizard status?
What are the must haves, the must dos for a swim coach?
1. understand them as a person
2. study them as a swimmer
3. educate them about the sport of swimming
I love speed and I love freestyle: so how do we get faster? Can we go 20.0 and 46.0 in the 50 and 100?
The evolution of freestyle. Stuck in high elbow. Tech suits came around and blew that out of the water.
Caeleb Dressel.
How do you coach an athlete to believe they can beat the unbeatable?
Never met Nick Saban.
And much more!
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