{"id":406330,"date":"2019-12-10T06:23:46","date_gmt":"2019-12-10T13:23:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=406330"},"modified":"2019-12-10T08:23:15","modified_gmt":"2019-12-10T15:23:15","slug":"mel-marshall-you-spend-a-lot-of-days-in-the-dark-for-a-few-really-specials-days-in-the-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/mel-marshall-you-spend-a-lot-of-days-in-the-dark-for-a-few-really-specials-days-in-the-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Mel Marshall: “You Spend A Lot Of Days In The Dark For A Few Really Specials Days In The Light”"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the third time in as many weeks, Mel Marshal,<\/strong> mentor to Adam Peaty, Luke Greenbank<\/strong> and other speedy swimmers, has been honoured for her work.<\/p>\n

The Action Woman Awards<\/strong> celebrate what the title suggests. Marshall collected the Lifetime Achievement Award<\/strong>, the oddness in the accolade for a 37-year-old not escaping the notice of Clare Balding<\/em>, BBC presenter and Mistress of Ceremonies as she handed over the prize.<\/p>\n

“Mel, you’re very young to be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award… you’re only, what, 37 or something like that,” said Balding, famous beyond British shores for superb handling of a diversionary “more tea vicar?” moment in an interview with an elated Bert Le Clos<\/strong> back in 2012 after his ” beautiful boy” (Chad<\/strong>) had just claimed Olympic gold over 200m butterfly a fingertip ahead of a certain Michael Phelps<\/strong> (G.O.A.T).<\/p>\n

There was no bleep to blot out Bert’s expletive of joy (before he asked ‘is this live?’). Balding steered the conversation masterfully clear of \u00a0the !*$& off to calmer waters in which the sensitivities of the shire wallow.<\/p>\n

“But,” justified Balding as the young Marshall with decades of achievement ahead of her stood before her on stage not much more than a decade beyond her own racing days, “It’s because you’ve done so much in such a short period of time.”<\/p>\n

Or so it may seem for those who haven’t lived it. Gracious words of acceptance from Coach Marshall were followed by these gems:<\/p>\n

“In sport you can spent a lot of days in the dark for a few really specials days in the light and so, today’s one of those days where you’re in the light, so it’s just a real honour – and thanks very much.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Balding nails the obvious when she notes that Marshall’s relationship with her swimmers is “based on trust”, two-way trust. Says the winner of six medals for England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games:<\/p>\n
“It’s like a marriage. We spent a lot of time together and a lot of time disliking each other… I say it’s like climbing Everest. Some days you need an oxygen mask, some days you need a tent, some days you need support and some days you just need somebody to listen to you. And we work through this challenges every single day and I’m incredibly lucky.<\/span><\/p>\n
“When I left swimming in 2008, I wanted to work at the highest level with the best possible athletes and I really, honestly, get to live my dream every single day. They are a true privilege – and they have their moments, don’t get me wrong, but most of the time we’re all striving for the same thing and that’s a really special place to work.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n
“In sport, you can spend a lot of days in the dark, for a few really special days in the light.”<\/p>\n
“I get to live my dream every day, my athletes are a true privilege.”<\/p>\n
An inspiring speech from @massivemel<\/a> after she won the #ActionWoman<\/a> Lifetime Achievement Award ? pic.twitter.com\/VrYInncnGa<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 BT Sport (@btsport) December 9, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n