{"id":513323,"date":"2022-09-22T21:20:46","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T04:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=513323"},"modified":"2022-09-23T15:02:57","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T22:02:57","slug":"preparing-the-next-generation-olympians-with-legendary-gold-medal-coach-laurie-lawrence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/preparing-the-next-generation-olympians-with-legendary-gold-medal-coach-laurie-lawrence\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing The Next Generation Olympians With Legendary Gold Medal Coach Laurie Lawrence"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Invitation To An Olympic Master Class From Legendary Gold Medal Coach Laurie Lawrence<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is always a sense of excitement, anticipation and a certain smell whenever you roll through the doors of a Laurie Lawrence Swim School<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a name synonymous with Olympic gold in Australia and saving kids lives \u2013 teaching young Aussies how to swim with his award winning safety program KIDS ALIVE DO THE 5<\/a><\/strong> ringing in their ears and for some taking them on the ride of their lives.<\/p>\n

At 80 years young Olympic gold medal coach Laurie Lawrence<\/strong> has never lost the energy, the drive and the enthusiasm of a 40-year-old Laurie who prepared a teenage Jon Sieben <\/a><\/strong>for the journey that would lead him to Olympic gold in 1984.<\/p>\n

And coaches who attended this year\u2019s SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia \u201cSwimCon Unleashed\u201d <\/a><\/strong>on the Gold Coast had the opportunity to see the master in action, up close and personal when he opened his doors for a special session with his emerging squad of youngsters.<\/p>\n

\"Laurie

PRECISIONED TIMING: Laurie Lawrence on deck at Banora Point. Photo Courtesy: Hanson Media.<\/p><\/div>\n

A session to observe and listen to one of the most iconic voices in Australian swimming history \u2013 a rare opportunity to see the master in action and he didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n

The bus left Sea World at Southport on the northern end of the Gold Coast at 5.30am for the 40 minute trek south across the border to the small northern NSW village of Banora Point and the Laurie Lawrence Swim School.<\/p>\n

These coaches all wanted to witness this master in action as 30 youngsters aged from eight to 12 swam their laps in regimented lane order and Laurie didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n

Dressed in an Olympic polo shirt signed by some of the greats including Australian Olympic champions John Konrads<\/strong> and Bob Windle<\/strong> and two time US Olympic gold medallist Brian Goodell<\/strong>, he was in his element.<\/p>\n

The ring master in his tent \u2013 in charge of a show that he had presided over on so many early mornings on a path that has produced a who\u2019s who of Australia\u2019s greats.<\/p>\n

Laurie, prancing up and down the deck of his five-lane 20m indoor pool, sidestepping his assistants and turning to chat to parents watching the morning proceedings, Laurie directing traffic.<\/p>\n

It was clockwork timing to perfection, precisioned coaching as “Gen Next”\u00a0 listened to every word from Laurie, carrying out his instructions to a tee.<\/p>\n

\"Jon

OLYMPIC GOLD: Jon Sieben shows off his Olympic gold medal from LA in 1984, Photo Courtesy: Russ McPhedran (Hanson Media Collection).<\/p><\/div>\n

Lawrence singled out one father, nursing a baby as his wife watched on, saying: \u201cYour daughter (in the pool) has got a motor…..you have got to give her an opportunity…<\/p>\n

\u201cYou had an opportunity..she\u2019s got to have one…and seriously she\u2019s got a motor your kid….I understand the logistics and I understand the problems….but the most important thing is to keep her interested which is what you are doing with her surf competitions….she\u2019s got a motor and she loves the ocean…maybe the 5 and 10km open water…..we\u2019ll see….\u201d<\/p>\n

On the walls surrounding the pool were signs of encouragement and motivation:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • NEVER FORGET HOW YOU BECAME GOOD<\/li>\n
  • THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND GREAT IS A LITTLE EXTRA EFFORT<\/li>\n
  • BE PROUD, PERSIST, WORK HARD, STAND TALL, DON\u2019T QUIT, DON\u2019T BEND, DON\u2019T BREAK, DON\u2019T FALL<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Laurie arrives up on the viewing platform, photos of his good kids who became the greatest Olympic champions Jon Sieben<\/strong> and Duncan Armstrong<\/strong>, hang proudly on his wall of fame.<\/p>\n

    \u201cKids will get there if they hang in and if they\u2019ve got good technique…you cannot have a kid go to the Olympic Games if they can\u2019t swim properly..that\u2019s the secret, they must learn to swim properly,\u201d said Lawrence, who explains the session the kids are doing and points to the pool below.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe are trying to teach these kids to have a bent arm swimming backstroke…when they start we might let them pull and turn their hands over and not quite get the bend but she should be getting a bit more push there….rolling into their turns and streamling.<\/p>\n

    \u201cKids have got to be persistent and the parents have got to be persistent…….if you don\u2019t get good technique early in all strokes you are not going to keep up.<\/p>\n