Mental Prep: Before the Beep with Natalie Coughlin
By Shoshanna Rutemiller
Mom. Entrepreneur. Author. Broadcaster. Natalie Coughlin’s personal biography has expanded and diversified since her explosive emergence on the international swimming scene in the 1990s. In 1998, she became the first high school swimmer to break the 53-second barrier in the 100 yard backstroke.
She progressed to become one of the most famous female swimmers in history, competing in three Olympic Games and collecting an astounding 12 Olympic medals in the process. While a double-decade-long career might be enough for some people, Coughlin clearly isn’t “some people.”
Less than a year after the birth of her daughter, Coughlin announced her return to competitive swimming. It was nearly three years between her missing to qualify for the 2016 Olympic team and her recent June announcement, and it’s now official: Coughlin will compete for former Olympic teammate Kaitlin Sandeno at DC Trident in the International Swimming League.
With more than two decades of elite experience, Coughlin knows a thing or two about mentally preparing for high-level racing. Yet, even with world records to her name, Coughlin still admits, “I can’t think of a single perfect race—none of them were perfect.” Her focus, tenacity and attention to detail allowed her incredible success. However, Coughlin admits that an athlete’s approach to racing is fiercely individual, and what works for her might not work for everyone. To her, racing is executing what you practice. Her race-day preparation starts long before competition.
To read about how world-renowned swimmer Natalie Coughlin prepares for a race,
check out the September 2019 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!
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Swimming World Magazine September 2019 Issue
FEATURES
016 TEST RUN FOR TOKYO
by Craig Lord, John Lohn and David Rieder
With the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo a year away, this summer’s World Championships, July 21-28, in Gwangju, South Korea was a global meet of watersheds, with pioneers refusing to yield to youth and youth seizing their day to overtake pioneers. It also served as confirmation that we live in a new age of longevity and strong dynasties.
18th FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MINI-FEATURES:
018 CAELEB DRESSEL: ALWAYS STRIVING TO GET BETTER AND FASTER
020 ADAM PEATY: MAKING “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE” POSSIBLE
021 REGAN SMITH: SUDDENLY, AN OLYMPIC FAVORITE
022 KATIE LEDECKY: DESPITE ILLNESS, LEDECKY REMAINS CONFIDENT
024 DOPING: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
026 RISING TO TOKYO
028 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PHOTO GALLERY
030 EMERGING FROM THE SHADOWS
by David Rieder
The Carmel High School girls swimming team has won six national titles in the last nine years. But at the end of the 2018-19 season—and after finishing national runner-up the last two years—it was the Carmel boys who seized the spotlight as the best swimming team in the country.
033 SWIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE’S BOYS’ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS MOCK HEAT SHEET
by Bob Klapthor
035 REPEAT CHAMPIONS
by Dan D’Addona
Coach Polly Linden’s Harpeth Hall (Tenn.) swimmers have dominated the last two Swimming World girls’ national high school championships, winning by 35 points last year and nearly 50 this year over Santa Margarita Catholic, 168 to 118.5.
038 SWIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE’S GIRLS’ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS MOCK HEAT SHEET
by Bob Klapthor
042 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH NATALIE COUGHLIN
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COACHING
010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: PHIL MORIARTY
by Michael J. Stott
014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: RISK FACTORS FOR SHOULDER INJURY IN SWIMMING
by Rod Havriluk
The most common risk factors for shoulder problems are overuse, muscular imbalances and harmful technique. Fortunately, there are also options to minimize risk.
044 SPECIAL SETS: EARLY AGE GROUP TRAINING—GETTING STARTED
by Michael J. Stott
Megan Hughes, an Aquajets Swim Team lead age group coach, offers insight on what a youngster with some summer league success can expect when deciding to try a year-round program.
046 KNOWING THE BASICS OF AGE GROUP SWIMMING
by Michael J. Stott
Here’s everything parents need to know about age group swimming.
051 Q&A WITH COACH ALICIA KEMNITZ
by Michael J. Stott
052 HOW THEY TRAIN: JESSICA MACDONALD
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
013 DRYSIDE TRAINING: FALL STRENGTH—BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
049 GOLDMINDS: NEVER SAY NEVER
by Wayne Goldsmith
When success doesn’t come easily or early—relax! Success will come if you give everything you have to the achievement of your goals, and if you work tirelessly to be all you can be.
055 UP & COMERS: TRISTAN PRAGNELL
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
009 BEYOND THE YARDS
040 THE OFFICIAL WORD
041 MOMS AT MEETS
054 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
056 GUTTERTALK
057 PARTING SHOT