Andrea:
As Head Coach of NYAC, what was your greatest or most memorable moment?
Murray:
There are changes from year to year, but the one that stood out last
year was Michelle Williams making her first Jr. National Team.
Andrea:
Taking NYAC's Julia Wilkinson out of the equation, who is/was the
greatest Canadian swimmer at the Beijing Summer Olympics?
Murray:
Ryan Cochrane's 1500 Bronze medal swim. Way to go rooky!
Andrea:
So fresh and recent are our thoughts and emotions regarding the outstanding
performances of Julia Wilkinson at the Summer Olympics. Can you tell us what it
feels like to see one of your swimmers achieve this success. Having trained Julia,
how is she unique compared to other aspiring young athletes?
Murray:
Julia is naturally very gifted but has a special desire to achieve.
Her best quality is that she really rises to the occasion in competition. She
really loves to race. We call her the rabbit.
Andrea:
After spending the majority of your career coaching young age-group
swimmers, what have you learned about getting the most out of your athletes?
Murray:
You really have to be sensitive to what the kids are not saying sometimes.
You do this by looking at their body language and by trying to figure out what's
going on in their head. Getting them to trust you and feeling like you are interested
in them as people goes a long way.
Andrea:
Swimming is a sport that requires athletes to train intensively over
a very long period of time, sometimes upwards of 11 months of the year. Does your
coaching style change over the season? How important is the summer "break
from the pool" with regards to athletic development?
Murray:
My coaching style is one that reflects the period of training that
we're in. Sometimes you need to be harder on the swimmer when you're trying to
work hard and break down barriers in the training environment. You also need to
just be patient with swimmers when you know they're giving 100%. This
sport is mentally very challenging so you need to cycle in some down time when
you're not in the pool such as in March Break and over the summer. The best athletes
stay in shape regardless of not being in the pool.
Andrea:
Most NYAC'ers are aware of your love of music. What are your Top Five
songs on your play list and can you tell us a bit about why you have made these
selections.
Murray:
I have a wide variety of tastes in music (except for Country and Western
Music). Right now I'm playing the 'oldies' which include: Edith Piaf, Nat King
Cole and the Ink Spots. There's a lot of music out there and my choices vary according
to whatever I'm into in a period of time.
Andrea:
What is your most annoying habit?
Murray:
The swimmers would probably tell you that I always wear team colours…
mostly black.
Andrea:
What is your biggest extravagance in your life?
Murray:
I drove a Honda Accord for the last 15 years and this year for my 50th
Birthday, I bought my friend's 1980 Corvette…. I kept with the team colours
theme as it is black with while leather seats.
Andrea:
Having hosted 8 weeks of Swim Tech Camp this summer, what attributes
do you see in young swimmers that help you to identify young talent? When should
children be encouraged to start competitive swimming?
Murray:
I look for their enjoyment for the sport more than anything. Secondly
their ability to concentrate and pick up new things. When kids show an interest
in it and are keen to do it, then that's the time to enroll them in competitive
swimming.
Andrea:
What will be your first words spoken when you address your National
Training Group on September 16th?
Murray:
My swimmers have been previously sent an email asking them to think
about their responses. The question I posed was "What were their top 5 things
that they wanted to change or improve upon from the last season".
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