Cameron Leslie after winning Gold in the Men's 150m IM SM4 Final with a new World Record. Photo / Rogan Thomson/SWpix.com
Cameron Leslie after winning Gold in the Men's 150m IM SM4 Final with a new World Record. Photo / Rogan Thomson/SWpix.com
A few weeks ago, swimmer Cameron Leslie was asked what he thought about the fact his main rival, Russian Roman Zhdanov, would not be travelling to the 2016 Rio Paralympic games.
The Russian had shown up at the World Championships in Glasgow in 2015 and beat Leslie, and broke hisworld record as well.
In 2012 Paralympics, Zhdanov wasn't in the pool. The only person with a Russian accent who got wet in that final was 25 seconds behind Leslie in last place.
But in three short years a world record-breaking Russian came out of nowhere and defeated Leslie. It proved to be a catalyst for Leslie, who was contemplating how he was going to structure his life - and it's a busy life - in the lead-up to Rio.
Leslie chose to focus on swimming. And on winning gold and going fast.
So when the Russians were barred from Rio, Leslie's reaction was sought.
He said nothing. A journalist, Leslie isn't short of an opinion. But he also knows how to give a "no comment" quote by saying something, when you're actually saying very little.
Leslie's response was along the lines of "I'm not focusing on the other swimmers - I am focused on my training and my times."
But it must have been a psychological boost for the Whangarei swimmer.
Unusually for Leslie, a week out from his specialist event he predicted he would break the world record, which suggests that he had been hitting some quick times in training, and was feeling good physically and mentally.
His prediction was correct - and he didn't just break it, he smashed it by two seconds.
It was a pleasure watching a Northlander do well on the international stage, and seeing Leslie's gold-medal grin beaming across the planet into our homes and offices. And the pride of the Team Cameron support crew up in the stand.
