Scooter dives right in
AFTER MISSING A PLACE AT THE RIO PARALYMPICS, THIS BLOKE DECIDED TO SIMPLY WORK HARDER
After the disappointment of missing the Australian team for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Cairns swimming star Grant “Scooter” Patterson decided to overhaul his training regimen. Having already tasted life at the top level at the 2012 London Games, Patterson decided to use the disappointment as motivation and set his sights on the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. To do so, he needed to make some big changes.
AFTER the disappointment of missing the Australian team for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Cairns swimming star Grant “Scooter” Patterson decided to overhaul his training regimen.
Having already tasted life at the top level at the 2012 London Games, Patterson decided to use the disappointment as motivation and set his sights on the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. To do so, he needed to make some big changes.
“I was training hard, but all I was doing was swimming,” he said. “I sat down with my coach (Herbie Howard) and we talked about some options. I didn’t do any gym work so we decided that getting a personal trainer might help.
“Now I combine swimming training with gym work and still maintain my good nutrition.”
In just a couple of years, the work has started to pay off.
Earlier this month at the Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships, Patterson claimed gold in several events and produced personal bests.
The 29-year-old shaved just over two seconds from his career-best time in the 50m breaststroke and almost a second from his previous best in the 50m backstroke.
Patterson said the gym work made a huge difference.
“I’m able to hold my technique for a lot longer because I’ve increased my core strength,” he said. “It’s hard work, but I love it most days.”
Personal trainer Korina Jones agrees. She’s been training athletes for 12 years and said she marvelled at Patterson’s determination.
“Scooter is one of those guys that puts in 110 per cent every time he trains,” she said.
“He never complains that he’s tired, even though he is a lot of the time. He never misses a session. He’s got to be dead or dying.
“On days he thinks he’s buggered and is going to put in a bad swim (because of his gym session), he actually swims fast times.”
Jones, who is part of the Cairns Personal Trainers team, said Patterson was her first para-athlete and she had enjoyed the challenge of working with the unique character.
“Some of it has been trial and error,” she said.
“He can’t grasp dumbbells and there are other exercises he can’t do, but we’ve managed to improvise. The fact he can chest press 80kg is very impressive.”
Patterson said he relished the challenge, combining his 40-hour per week job with six days of training.
“I think the hardest thing is the nutrition. I didn’t have a drink all year leading into the Pan Pacs,” he said. “My mates can go out and party and have a good time and I’m watching what I eat and drink.”
Before Tokyo in 2020, Patterson will look to represent Australia at next year’s World Para Swimming Championships, to be held in Kuching, Malaysia in July/August.
“If I’m not there I won’t be able to win a medal at Tokyo,” he said.
Veteran coach Howard believes his protege will be a contender over the next couple of years.
“Scooter’s not afraid of hard work and even at 29 he is still improving,” he said.
“I think he still has more PBs up his sleeve.”