Mental Prep: Before the Beep with Allison Schmitt
In total, Allison Schmitt has eight Olympic medals: four gold, two silver and two bronze. After an 18-month hiatus—a sample retirement from swimming post-Rio—Schmitt started coming to Arizona State University practices with her long-time coach Bob Bowman a few times per week…“to stay in shape.” But as weeks turned to months and a few practices turned into a full week of practices, there was no denying that Schmitty was ready to be a pro swimmer again.
Schmitty is well known in the swimming community for her effervescent joy. According to Bowman, Schmitt had lost some of her childlike passion for swimming in 2016. The break was needed, and now she’s back with a fun-loving sparkle in her eyes—even more so after she earned a ticket to Tokyo in July to represent the United States at the Pan Pacs last month.
Schmitt’s approach to racing is different from 99 percent of swimmers…unless you’re comparing her to summer league swimmers. Schmitt seems to have somehow held onto the summer league “swimming-is-fun, there’s-no-reason-to-get-nervous” mentality. She attributes her healthy perspective of the sport to her parents, Ralph and Gail, who made it crystal clear early in her life that swimming really was for fun. It was something she chose to do, not something to lose sleep over.
To learn more about how Schmitt preps for her races at the hotel, in the ready room and behind the blocks, check out the September 2018 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!
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[PHOTO COURTESY: POLLY LINDEN]
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FEATURES
017 A YEAR TO REMEMBER
by David Rieder
North Allegheny High School won its first national title in school history, defeating Carmel High School (Ind.), 168 to 142.5, to capture Swimming World’s 2017-18 boys’ national high school championships.
021 “…NEVER THIS GOOD!”
by Annie Grevers
Forty years since Harpeth Hall School (Tenn.) finished second in Swimming World’s National High School Championships, the Bearacuda girls finally made it to the top, outswimming Buchholz High School (Fla.), 170.5 to 135.5—and ending Carmel’s (Ind.) five-year reign as national champions
027 TOKYO TAKEAWAY
by David Rieder
For Team USA, their performance at the Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo was cause for some concern. For Australia, it was reason to be excited. For both, it wasn’t the end game.
029 PROJECT 56
by David Rieder
At the European Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain’s Adam Peaty—the best sprint breaststroker in history—took aim at an unfathomable boundary: swimming the men’s 100 meter breast under 57 seconds.
030 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH ALLISON SCHMITT
by Annie Grevers
040 AROUND THE TABLE WITH MARIAH DENIGAN—A LOOK INTO TEENAGE NUTRITION
by Annie Grevers and Dawn Weatherwax
COACHING
010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: JOHN COLLINS
by Michael J. Stott
014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMAL MODEL FOR TECHNIQUE: PART 3—HEAD POSITION AND MOTION
by Rod Havriluk
This month’s article examines the effect of head position and motion on body rotation, and consequently, body size and shape. The head is critical because a slight variation in the non-breathing position or excess motion during breathing can impact resistance from the rest of the body.
032 SPECIAL SETS: EARLY FALL SEASON TRAINING
by Michael J. Stott
Coaches Ethan Hall (Crow Canyon Sharks) and Brian Elko (Egg Harbor Township) share some insights and actual sets that they offer athletes, ages 15-18, as they resume aquatic training.
034 PREHAB/REHAB VIA THE SWIM BENCH: STAYING FIT
by Michael J. Stott
This installment is the third in a multi-part series and explores the role of the swim bench in injury prevention and rehabilitation.
042 Q&A WITH COACH MIKE NOVELL
by Michael J. Stott
043 HOW THEY TRAIN DANNY KOVAC
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
026 DRYSIDE TRAINING: STROKE AND DISTANCE STRENGTH SERIES—INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
036 GOLDMINDS: SETTING GOALS…AND HOW TO ACHIEVE THEM!
by Wayne Goldsmith
Exchange your hopes for “actions,” trade in your wishes for “commitment” and swap your dreams for “goals”—and you’ll be on your way to realizing your full potential!
045 UP & COMERS: MAGGIE WANEZEK by Taylor Brien
COLUMNS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
013 BEYOND THE YARDS
016 THE OFFICIAL WORD
039 MOMS AT MEETS
046 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
047 GUTTER TALK
048 PARTING SHOT