TALENT POOL STILL NEEDS TEAMWORK

Junior Pan Pacific Games team that went to Hawaii (in 2007),” Ashby said.

“I came second in the 100m butterfly but we won the 4x100m medley relay and we won the overall gold medal count.”

Now the head coach with Geelong Swimming Club, Ashby, 31, said winning as a team was what drove him during each session from the side of the pool. Winning individual races or recording personal bests are important, but it’s the hard work as a team that gets swimmers to the line in the first place.

“That’s why I love the sport so much. There are individual aspects to it but it takes a team to get there,” Ashby said.

“The teams that I’ve been involved with my whole life have been incredible. From age group swimming to when I was training for the world championships, we had elite teams training together and they are still some of my best friends to this date.

“I wouldn’t have enjoyed it and I wouldn’t have gotten to where I did without great, friendly teams.

“That’s what I’m trying to create with the Geelong Swimming Club.”

The club’s swimmers will be working away from the group up as part of a training shutdown wn due to coronavirus. Ashby is working on dry land programs ms to keep members fit and advoocates heading down to the e coast to have a dip, as long as it is safe to do so.

“We are lucky to be so close to the beach that people can go out and swim by themselves or with their mum and dad,” he said.

“We are lucky compared to maybe people from the city ty that don’t have that luxury, so I’m hoping that our kids utilise se what we have.