sarah price
When we started our poll for the pullbuoy female swimmer of 2001, one name really stood out. As it turned out, there was only ever going to be one winner, with Barnet Copthall's Sarah Price receiving 60% of the votes. Sarah has now established herself as the premier women's backstroker in Britain following a very successful 2001. This status was confirmed when she recently broke the 200m long course record to complete her collection of every British backstroke record both long and short course. pullbuoy caught up with Sarah to talk about 2001 but more importantly her aims for 2002.
Congratulations on winning the swimmer of the year poll and on your
performances last year - you must have been delighted with the way 2001
went for you
2001 was a great year for me with world, European, Commonwealth and
British records. I have just been training really hard and because of that
my confidence and self belief have grown
You've just come back from a training camp in Florida - how do the
facilities over there compare to those back home? The weather must have
been better for a start!
Well the weather was definitely a plus (I am a secret sun worshiper!) but it was great to
be able to have a 50m pool and a new gym in the same place. It was really good to be able to learn how to swim outdoor backstroke as it is very different from swimming indoors with just blue sky to focus on. It was a good two weeks of training.
You set a world record shortly after Fukuoka - before the two swims that
day did you think that the record was on?
I was curious of what I could do as I'd been training as a 200m
swimmer but hadn't been able to swim it fully rested and tapered. But to be honest, I never thought I could go that fast! After the heats I thought 'maybe it's on' and just stayed calm all day. My coach and I worked out what splits I would have to do to get the record and they weren't too scary, so by the swim I was raring to go. The rest is history!
Before the latter part of last year you'd perhaps been better known as a 50 or 100m
swimmer, but you've since made quite an impact in the 200 - how have you managed
to make the step up in distance so successfully? Which do you prefer, the
sprints or the distance events?
Ever since returning to Barnet Copthall I have been training as a 200
swimmer but it just took me a while to realise that was probably my better
event. Once I started to believe in myself and realised that I wouldn't die on the
last 50m, I really have enjoyed them. The 100 and 200 are my favourite events - I'm not too fussed about the 50m.
We've not seen you in action during the world cup series, and you're not
going to Moscow for the world short course champs - can we take it from that you are
focusing on the long course season and Manchester? Would you have liked another
crack at getting your record back?
I didn't compete in the World Cup series and have done some hard
training instead. I would have loved to be involved in the World Short Course but made
the tough decision not to swim it as it was just too close to the commonwealth trials. It is important
I swim fast at the trials and set myself up for the Commonwealths. It is a little
disappointing that I couldn't give the record a bash but I think I have made the right decision.
Britain seems to have quite a few world class women's backstrokers at the
moment, what do you put this down to? Does having competition at home help to keep you motivated?
We seem to be doing very well in that department and I do think it a lot
of it comes down to the constant competition - we all make each other swim fast at
all times of the year.
|
Sarah celebrates her world record in PerthYou must be looking forward to the Commonwealth Games? How do they compare
to the other global championships?
I will treat the Commonwealths as important as the rest, as this is what I
have trained hard for all year. Of course, I would love to swim well and bring home a
few medals in my home country as well.
Are you planning on going for all of the backstroke events in Manchester?
Yes, all three. At the trials, I am also swimming in the 200m freestyle as a warm up
event, as it is on the first day.
What do you make of the impact that Bill Sweetenham has made on British
swimming?
Very positive! I seem to be swimming well from his approach. He is
a tough man but also extremely fair. I think that was something we have lacked in the past.
In the pool how much time do you spend on technique?
All our aerobic work concentrates on technique and we do drill sets but you should be
looking to perfect your stroke all the time in training
What are your favourite drills?
Double arm backstroke
Do you enjoy racing or training best?
Definitely the racing I get such a buzz from it.
Do you have any particular race rituals?
No real rituals as such, but I always do the same warm up and stretching before every race.
Do you like to know what a training session is before you get in the water?
Yes - stupid I know because its usually hard but it gives me a little time to
prepare myself.
Do you 'hate' your coach sometimes? Do you also laugh with him?
I 'hate' the sets but deep down I know my coach wants the success as much as I do and he
is only doing it for me. I don't always have a laugh with him, but we do have a good partnership and understand each other well. He has done so much for me and I respect him a lot as a coach.
Which is your favourite pool and why?
I love Manchester and the Perth pool [where Sarah set the 200 back WR] they both have special memories for me
Finally, if you had one piece of advice for an up and coming swimmer what would it
be?
Train hard and smart - that is where your race confidence will come from.
If you know you have done the work you can be unbeatable.
pullbuoy would like to thank Sarah for her help in preparing this article, and wish her well for the coming season.