Dreams of Olympic gold drive Bouzaid

Donna Bouzaid had a smile in her voice when she said she was starting to have second thoughts about being guest speaker at the dinner this Saturday night which will be a highlight of Masterton Swimming Club's 100th birthday celebrations.
Speaking from Auckland yesterday where she is head coach of the powerful West Auckland Aquatics Club, Bouzaid recalled her days in Masterton in the mid to late 1970's when she was an enthusiastic member of the swimming club here.
"There were probably a few people about who thought I was a worry then & maybe they'll be there to see if things have changed any," she quipped.
Bouzaid makes no secret though of the fond memories of the times she had with the Masterton club, memories she admits probably mean more to her nowadays than they did then.
"It's when I look back that I realise just what a big part the Masterton club played in my swimming career, I owe a lot to the people down there," she said.
Winning Masterton club and Wairarapa provincial titles became very much a matter of course for Bouzaid and being named as Wairarapa Swimmer of the Year remains one of her proudest moments.
As does her selection in a northern regional swimming team to compete against the southern and central regions, the first time a Wairarapa swimmer had ever been accorded such an honour.
Bouzaid said she always enjoyed competing for Masterton or Wairarapa against swimmers from the bigger centres like Auckland and Wellington.
"There's was always something special about beating them, a bit like rubbing their noses in the dirt," she said. "It didn't happen often but when it did it gave you a great feeling."
As her swimming career progressed Bouzaid became a fan of long distance events and after winning the Lake Wairarapa swim she set her sights on conquering Cook Strait, something she managed in 1985.
"I had got really sick and had to pull out of a previous go at it so it was wonderful to finally make it," she said.
Coaching is a sphere which attracted Bouzaid in her early 20's and she has made a huge impact there as well, not only for West Auckland Aquatics Club but also at national level. In fact, she was part of the coaching unit with the New Zealand team at the last world championships.
But it won't be until she has coached a swimmer to an Olympic medal that Bouzaid will consider she has reached the pinnacle of that aspect of the sport.
"It's what every coach aspires to and hopefully that time is not too far off for me," she said.