Andrea:
When did
you first learn that you had been chosen for the Pan Pac Games? How did it make
you feel?
Michelle:
Just to clarify – this competition was the Junior Pan Pacific
Swimming Championships, held every second year, and involved only the sport of
Swimming, for countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. The Pan American Games are
a multi-sport event, just like the Olympic Games, between the North and South
American countries, and held once every four years, in the year before the Olympics.
I
first found out that I made the team in August 2008, when I was in South Africa
visiting family. Murray had sent me a one line email with the news. I was so happy
and excited, and also relieved, because up until that point I had been trying
not to get my hopes up, and not think about it too much. So it was a big weight
off my shoulders knowing that I wouldn't have to worry about whether or not I
had made it.
Andrea:
What was the travel experience like? How did Swim Canada stage this
meet: did the entire team travel together on one flight - at what point were you
together as an entire team. Were new friendships formed?
Michelle:
The team members are from all over Canada, so everyone started out
on different flights, and the whole team met up in Vancouver. From there the team
flew together for the 11 hour flight first to Seoul, Korea, and then for 4 hours
to Guam. It was obviously a very long and exhausting trip and everyone was relieved
to finally arrive. When we stepped out of the airport I was overwhelmed by the
heat and humidity – a big change from our minus 20 weather. We arrived in
Guam at 3 am their time, got our rooming arrangements and went straight to bed.
I roomed with Ashley McGregor, a breaststroker from Point Claire. We got along
great, and that definitely counts in the tally of new friendships. Actually, everyone
on the team got along very well and had fun together.  Photo:
Rick Pelletier - Swimming Canada
Michelle Williams (third from left) with a
few other members of
Team Canada at the 2009 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
in Guam
Andrea:
Tell us a little bit about the venue in Guam: temperature, pools,
training facilities, accommodations.
Michelle:
The pool, hotel and all accommodation took place at a resort called
the Leopalace Resort, which is about a 30 min drive from the airport, and from
the beach. The resort has several hotel buildings, and a main hotel where we ate
every day, buffet style. We stayed in La Cuesta B, along with all the other athletes
from the other teams, however Canada was the first team to arrive, at least 5
days before anyone else. The pool was a five minute walk from where we slept,
which was quite ideal. There
are two 50 metre 10 lane outdoor pools, along with a 3 lane 50 metre pool which
we never used. For the first week that we were there, we had a staging camp, in
preparation for the meet. Canada pretty much had the pools to ourselves for that
time. All the athletes were divided into groups of 4 or 5 and assigned to a coach
who we would work with for the camp and meet. I was with Alan Swanston from the
Newmarket Stingrays, along with swimmers Frank Despond, Dominiqe Massie-Martel,
Matthew Swanston and Curtis Lutsch. For
the most part it was very sunny, and swimming outside gave us some great goggle
and cap tans. There were the occasional rainy and cloudy days. The rain would
be very unpredictable according to the locals, sometimes raining for 10 minutes
or less and stopping abruptly. There were shuttle vans driving around the resort
and we often hitched a ride to breakfast or back to the hotel, if we didn't feel
like walking. It felt like luxury service, because the shuttle drivers would open
the doors for us when we were more than capable of doing so ourselves.
Andrea:
What is it like to be coached by coaches of Team Canada rather than
your NYAC coach?
Michelle:
It was a great learning experience to be coached by people other
than Murray, because I was exposed to new perspectives of training, and new and
interesting approaches, all with the common goal of swimming fast.
Andrea:
How much interaction did you have with teams from other countries?
Michelle:
Canada was the first team to arrive for at least five days, so we
were pretty much on our own in the hotel and pool. We were very excited when the
first teams started arriving, Australia, USA, New Zealand, China, Japan, etc.
All the teams had their meals together in a large ballroom, each with tables assigned
to their country. All the athletes stayed in the same hotel building so we often
came across each other in the elevator and on the walk on the way to the pool.
The most interaction I got with the other teams, was on the last day when everyone
were trading their team gear with other countries. Until about 10 pm, the hotel
hallways were full of athletes running around looking for people to trade with.
I scored an Australian t-shirt, Japanese shirt, USA swimming shorts, an Aussie
cap, a China cap, and several pins.
Andrea:
What advice can you give to young swimmers aspiring to make tour teams?
Michelle:
Never give up. Always keep striving for your goals. The ones who
aren't always successful the first time are usually the ones who want it even
more, and therefore are the most motivated to make a team. I came very close to
making teams several times in the past, and this only made me more eager to make
it the next time. It's a great and fulfilling experience to represent Ontario
or Canada and worth all the hours of toil.
Andrea:
What feedback did the Team Canada coaches give the Canadian team regarding
their overall performance as a touring team?
Michelle:
We've been told that this team made history, for being the best performing
team for Canada at the Junior Pan Pac Championships. Just being a part of it,
a part of all the team cheers, and cheering on deck makes me feel more drive to
make another team so that I can continue to be a part of such an inspiring experience.
Andrea:
What aspect of your participation on this tour team will be most memorable
for you?
Michelle:
The most memorable aspect of this tour team was how much support
I received from everyone on the team. The cheering was outstanding, and Canada
was by far the most supportive team around. Especially in finals, but for every
race, the whole team got together to support whoever was behind the blocks with
a “Let's go ------, LET'S GO CANADA!” Also,
I celebrated my 18th birthday a few days after our arrival in Guam, and my door
was decorated with balloons, and I was given a card signed by everyone on the
team, which I'll always treasure.
Andrea:
Compared to previous racing opportunities at home here in Canada,
were you more or less nervous when you were on the blocks in Guam?
Michelle:
I was very nervous for the first race, because I was Canada's very
first swimmer to compete. I realized that I was wearing a Canada cap, which meant
that I was representing the whole country. It's all a learning experience, and
now that I have my first Canadian team experience under my belt, I look forward
to making more teams so that I can continue to move forward. 
Photo:
Rick Pelletier - Swimming Canada
Michelle Williams (in the front row fifth
from the left ) with Team Canada
at the 2009 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
in Guam
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