Some swimmers appear to have the natural talent it takes to succeed right off the bat. Other swimmers, however, may need time to develop before they start to show their true potential. Hard work and the right attitude can go a long way in surfacing a swimmer’s abilities.
For swimmers who don’t thrive at first, having a coach that will stick with them and dedicate time to them can help inspire them to grow into the swimmer they want to be. The bond between a coach and swimmer is an important part of their process.
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Thanks to Agustin Artiles Grijalba for contributing this report.
Never undervalue the ability of your swimmers even if, at first glance, they seem to lack the qualities needed to succeed – you might be pleasantly surprised.
Appearances can be deceiving and athletes change over time. It is more important that they have the right attitude to achieve their goals and, of course, the dedication you offer and inspire; they need to see you are with them all the way, regardless of what they can do, and will help them reach their targets.
If they feel they matter to you, they will trust your ideas and believe you will help them enhance their performance regardless of all else. You will gain their respect while they will be happy and more efficient.
You are the setter of goals and builder of passion. You are responsible for enhancing the confidence and knowledge reflected in each stroke they make. You are the professional providing them the best training resources for each situation.
“Sometimes, the key to success does not lie in being the tallest or even the best at what you do, but rather in the effort you make and knowing how to best harness your abilities”
Agustín Artiles Grijalba has more than 35 years of experience as the head coach of some of the most important Spanish swimming teams. He has been the coach of the Spanish Swimming Team from 2008 to 2012, and has trained the 50 breastroke Spanish National Record Holder, Hector Monteagudo Espinosa, from 2002 to 2013. Agustín has also trained several international swimmers from the Spanish National Team and europe, as well as paralympic athletes with world records in all different categories. In 2006 he was honored as the “Best Competition Swimming Coach” in Spain. You can read his blog here.