By Retta Race on SwimSwam
Australian coach Dean Boxall is one of the most electrifying personalities on a pool deck today. The St. Peters Western head knows how to motivate and get the best out of his athletes, as we’ve seen in the form of his proteges Ariarne Titmus, Elijah Winnington and more.
While in a pre-Olympic training camp in Cairns, Boxall was mic’d up, giving us a glimpse into his coaching philosophy and motivational delivery to his athletes with Tokyo on the horizon.
“Two weeks, no excuses” is the theme of this particular practice, which Boxall says is crucial since lane space will be difficult to obtain once all the nations arrive at the site of this year’s Games.
To help keep his athletes on task, Boxall reminds them to ask themselves, “[Between you and your competitors] who did the better job? Who did this [preparation] better? I know that you have.”
Boxall also describes how Titmus and Winnington coming into Tokyo as two of the top mid-distance freestyles is a blessing of sorts in terms of the pair feeding off of one another.
“Pressure is a privilege. They’re embracing it and they both want it.”
Speaking more in general terms with what he’s trying to accomplish in this last bit of training, Boxall says, “Catching momentum is the hardest thing. You can put in really good training blocks but it’s really the confidence that comes with it.
“So you’re catching confidence and great work together and that’s the recipe for success. Trying to hold momentum is probably the most difficult part of my job.”
Read the full story on SwimSwam: “Pressure Is A Privilege” – Aussie Coach Dean Boxall Gets Mic’d Up