Solitary start to long-term career in sports psychology
The 1998 Commonwealth Games were a lonely time for Gary Hermansson. The team’s sports psychologist for the Malaysian games, Hermansson would sit next to athletes for a meal only to find them speeding up their lunch or dinner. Some would not look in his direction.
‘‘I was wandering around trying to find someone who wanted to talk to me but nobody did.’’
Talking to a psychologist then was perceived as a sign of weakness. That has all changed and sports psychology is now as much a part of an athlete’s preparation as physical conditioning.
By the time Hermansson, 80, travelled to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, he was in demand. His long career in sports psychology, including attending five Olympics and five Commonwealth Games, as well as his onfield prowess – he played one game of first-class cricket and more than 100 games of first-class rugby – have been recognised with his inclusion into the Palmerston North Boys’ High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Hermansson and seven other school old boys were inducted during a function on Friday evening, joining the initial intake of 12 named in 2019.
Twenty-nine-year-old freestyle motocross rider Levi Sherwood was the youngest inductee this weekend. The two-time X Games and Nitro World Games gold medallist ended his career two years ago, having started riding aged 4.
Sherwood customised his bikes and was known as a tinkerer. ‘‘It says he even made his own crutches,’’ MC James Oliver said of his notes, referencing the rider’s impact injuries.
One of the most versatile sportsmen introduced was Bryan Yuile, 79, the New Zealand test cricketer who, along with fellow Boys’ High old boy Vic Pollard, bowled the Kiwis to victory over Australia in 1967. The left-arm spinner and lower-order batsman played for Manawatu¯ while still at school, and made the New Zealand secondary schools hockey team, narrowly missing selection for the 1960 Rome Olympics.
At school he was a boxing and athletics field event champion, and a handy rugby player.
His cricket days ended in the early 1970s, when Sunday play was introduced – something he did not believe in.
Fellow jack of all trades and master of many All Black Bob Burgess, like Yuile, was known for his principles.
He declined to be considered for the 1970 tour to South Africa because of the apartheid regime and on the marathon 1972-73 tour through Britain, Ireland, France and North America he received a letter from Irish republican group Sinn Fein telling him to keep his political views to himself. Burgess, 71, said the length of that tour and the scheduled Springbok visit to New Zealand in 1973 prompted his international retirement. He spent several seasons playing in France.
The No 10’s most memorable game was when he scored two tries against the British Lions in Christchurch in 1971.
Squash maestro Don Burmeister was at the top of his game when the sport was strong in Palmerston North and New Zealand in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
New Zealand cricketer Mathew Sinclair and All White footballer Stu Jacobs could not be at Friday’s event, while tennis champion Eskell ‘‘Buster’’ Andrews died in 1981. He was New Zealand’s best player between the world wars.
Hockey international Nick Wilson was part of 2019’s Hall of Fame intake but could not be at the ceremony then. On Friday, the 30-year-old said that after recovering from injury he was focused on a final crack at Olympic gold in Japan this year.