World Champion Maggie MacNeil Focused on Technique in Backyard Pool

Maggie MacNeil. Photo Courtesy: Joseph Kleindl

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Maggie MacNeil is patiently waiting.

As other countries prepare to re-enter the water as cases of COVID-19 wane, Canada is a little behind, since the virus didn’t hit there until later in the pandemic.

When it started in the U.S., MacNeil, who swims for the University of Michigan and had tied the NCAA record in the 100 butterfly, went across the border to her home in Ontario.

Separated from her Michigan teammates and isolated from her national team, the world champion butterflier did all that she could — she got to work.

“Canada is behind most of the world, but most places are in phase 2 right now,” Maggie MacNeil told Swimming World. “Pools are starting to open, but we can’t get in them yet. We are definitely seeing things happen. I am pretty optimistic. I think Canada will open up soon.”

MacNeil has enjoyed the benefit of having a backyard pool, though it is only 13 meters long. It isn’t easy to find any kind of rhythm when three strokes gets you to the other side.

“It has been fun getting into the water. I have some equipment, so I can do most of the things I need,” she said. “You just can’t do a lot of yards because there are so many turns, so that is a challenge. I am hoping my home pool will open up soon. I am looking forward to doing a bunch of meters just to get back to some sort of normality.”

That has changed MacNeil’s training focus.

“I have been doing technique and power mainly. When I push off, I can get only two or three strokes before getting to the wall,” she said. “I have been keeping up my cardio on my elliptical and doing a lot of modified pull-ups and things like that.”

Leading up to 2021, Maggie MacNeil is still focused on making the team and representing Canada.

“I don’t think it has changed my mindset. It is just another year to get better. Seeing what people post on social media as far as working out is motivating. I have been keeping in touch with my Michigan teammates and the national team,” she said.

But she is ready to get back to training with her goals in focus.

“It definitely has been hard. Working out by yourself is always more challenging. The limited resources are tough, too,” Maggie MacNeil said. “It is definitely going to be interesting moving forward, something that we are going to be talking about for a very long time.”

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