Swimming: Loader appointment a stroke of genius

When Danyon Loader packed up his togs and left swimming he gave the distinct impression that if he ever saw lane markings at the bottom of a pool again it would be too soon.

Alarm-pierced early mornings and a freezing daily commute to Dunedin's Moana Pool will do that to you.

But last week the double Olympic gold medallist was back beside the pool at North Shore's Millennium Institute, casting his eye over a crop of swimmers who could do a lot worse than aim to be the 'next Danyon Loader'.

It's unlikely he was barking out orders in the manner Duncan Laing once did with him, verbosity has never been a big part of Loader's personality, but a quiet word here and there from Loader could be the difference between the likes of Corney Swanepoel and Moss Burmester going from very good to excellent.

"When Danyon speaks, they listen," said North Shore coach Jan Cameron.

"He's another piece of the puzzle as we move into a very important phase and we are very fortunate to have him working for us."

Loader decided to become a piece of the puzzle after a couple of "casual chats over a coffee" with Swimming New Zealand chief executive Paul Veric.

"I moved to Wellington about eight months ago and told him that if there was anything I could do to use my skills and help out I would give it a go."

Loader saw his role as a technical assistant for free and fly swimmers, his specialist strokes.

"Duncan Laing and his sons always placed a heavy emphasis on technique," Loader said. "But there was also stuff I had to nut out myself and I hope that I can relate that experience back to the swimmers.

"You can always improve. I had a very good technique but looking back there were always things about my stroke I could have refined."

Loader will have no input into individual swimmers' programmes so will almost act as a poolside consultant.

He said it was too early to say whether he'd be used at the Commonwealth Games in March but it is clear SNZ want the commercial diver in Melbourne. "At this stage we would love to have him involved," Veric said. "We'll have to talk it through with the NZOC [Olympic Committee] but any involvement would be great."


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