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Training like a mad woman

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Jenny Thompson made headlines at the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships when she broke the 18-year-old world record in the 100-meter butterfly. A world record-holder in four events, Thompson has won five Olympic gold medals and is tied with Bonnie Blair for most Olympic gold medals by an American woman. The 26-year-old is now training for the 2000 Olympic Games. Check out Thompson's diary every month on CNNSI.com.

Thanks for checking in with me :) I've been training like a mad woman, getting ready for the upcoming season. My favorite training activities of the moment are pilates and spinning. I never used to like stationary bike, but the music and the variety of the moves makes spinning so much fun. My friend Dara Torres, one of my training partners, leads us with the spinning because she is a bit of an exercise guru!

Pilates has become so important for my flexibility and core body strength. This past week I was out of town and I missed it so much! The swimming workouts are picking up steam -- I finally feel in shape again after taking September off. My shoulder is finally feeling great for a change, so that's very encouraging!!

I have some meets coming up in the next couple of months -- the US World Cup (Nov. 17, 18) in College Park, MD, and the US Open (Dec. 2-4) in San Antonio, TX. I haven't raced since the Pan Pacs in August (unless you count the Stanford Alumni meet), so I'll probably be a little nervous for that first swim! I believe they will both be on TV, so be on the lookout. Well, Best wishes to you and I hope you're enjoying the fall!

I am 12 years old, have been swimming for about 2 years now, and I am on the Senior group in my swim team. My goals are basically to make Nationals, maybe Olympics, and to go to or get a scholarship to Stanford. What is your advice for me to try to reach these goals, besides to work my hardest?
Heather, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Dear Heather, The best advice I can give you is to take the whole swimming process one step at a time, but keep your dreams in the back of your mind. First thing is first -- you have to make nationals. Before that happens you can't really think about the Olympics or a swimming scholarship to Stanford. If you really want to do these things, you can do them, but you have to prioritize your life to achieve these goals. Hard work and consistency are the number one ingredients -- that and a positive, "I can do anything and no one is going to stop me" attitude. While you are in work out, think a lot about technique and ways that you can improve. Also, try not to get too emotionally tied up in your performances, just think about what happened and how you can improve in the next practice or meet. Also, surround yourself with positive people and people who also have high goals. Good luck! I hope to one day see you in the Olympics.

What is the key to your great fly? I just can't seem to get it right. Maybe a tip from a pro will help.
Lauren Smith, Newark, New Jersey

Lauren,
Fly for me is funny because I really don't do to much of it in practice. This is partly due to the fact that my shoulder had been hurting for a while, but also I feel like my stroke can get burned out pretty quickly with overkill. Consequently, I focus a tremendous amount on butterfly drills and kick. I also focus a lot on thrusting my whole body forward in the water and forgetting the notion that kick comes from the legs. It really is a matter of undulating your entire body to create the greatest possible forward movement. I also try to eliminate any up and down movement and concentrate on forward movement and streamline as much as possible.

I'm an elementary school phys. ed. teacher and am planning a display of famous women athletes. What would you tell my students about women in sports? What do you like about competing? What do you miss by the time you spend in practice? What makes it worth it?
Davene McFalls, Lancaster, Pa

Davene,
I would tell your young students that they are very fortunate to be growing up in an age where women's sports are standard and very much encouraged. My mother didn't even have sports opportunities in her high school. Title IX, the act that made it illegal to deny women equal priveleges as men, gave women college scholarships for sports and basically revolutionized women's sports. It is important for girls to know this history and make the most of their bodies and their ability because women before us did not have this opportunity.

I would also tell them that the rewards that you get out of sports FAR outweighs the small sorrow of missing an occasional birthday party or whatever. Actually, I started swimming when I was eight and I had more friends and a way better social life than I ever would have had without sports. Besides tons of friends, you gain a great sense of self-worth, good health, more energy, a far greater chance of going to college and being successful with a career, and a far smaller chance of getting into drugs or getting pregnant. Basically there is everything good about sports and nothing bad! Besides, it's REALLY fun.

What music do you listen to while training & getting ready for competitions?
Pat Fitzgerald, Chesterfield, Missouri

Pat,
I like to listen to upbeat fast music that gets me fired up. Three particular favorite songs at the moment are Chumbawumba's "I get Knocked Down, But I Get Up Again" and Ricky Martin's "Cup of Life" and "La Vida Loca". Call me crazy.

Do you still have heroes and idols now that you are one for so many kids?
Yvonne, Brunswick, Ga.

Yvonne,
There are several people whom I admire very much, but I wouldn't ever say that I've had a hero. The closest thing I've had to a hero is Dawn Fraser, an Olympic swimming star from Australia who competed in the 50's and 60's. I also really admire Hellen Keller, Hillary Clinton, Madonna, Wonder Woman and Miss Piggy. Pigs in Space!!

My daughter is 7 years old. Which age should she start to train for the competitive swimming like you?
Jyhda Wang, Costa Mesa, Ca.

Jyhda,
I didn't start swimming until I was eight years old, which I believe is the average starting age on the US National team. Any younger than this is fine, as long as it is the child's idea and the parents aren't pushy AT ALL. Actually, not being pushy is a good rule of thumb for any time in a child's sporting experience. I would only have them swimming three or four times a week at this age, only for an hour or so a day. Make sure that the experience is mainly technique oriented and purely fun.

That's all, folks! Until next time...

-- Jenny

 

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