Below is a second excerpt from Chuck Warner's "recipe book". Great stuff!
Author’s Note:
The book …And Then
They Won Gold: Stepping Stones To
Swimming Excellence Volume I was
inspired by a conversation with Coach Eddie Reese suggesting that swimmers,
coaches and parents could use a “recipe book” for how to reach their potential.
The book contains eight short stories, about eight great swimmers that
collectively won 28 Olympic gold medals. Each story reveals the experience that
the athlete had from their very first swimming experiences to progressing to
the Olympic gold medal. Each story also has inserted training programs that
they used for each step in the swimmers’ development.
A second Volume is planned to tell the
story of great women swimmers. The remaining athletes in Volume I are Matt
Biondi (sprint free), Mike Barrowman (breaststroke), Josh Davis ( mid-distance
free), Lenny Krayzelburg (backstroke), Ian Crocker and Grant Hackett.
Dave
Berkoff excerpt and authors note: Dave Berkoff
changed backstroke as we know it, extended underwater dolphin kick to more than
30 meters on his start. He improved his best time by more than two seconds in
1988 and broke the world record.
The
younger swimmers’ practice at the cavernous Germantown Academy pool started
precisely at 6:30 pm, and Head Coach Dick Shoulberg patrolled the pool deck. It
was his domain, his classroom—every inch of it. His beard shielded his face
from his swimmers’ eyes. He could stare you down when he looked out of his
glasses, but it was difficult for a swimmer to catch a clear look into his
eyes. His voice could sound like a growl when he wanted it to. He let you know
who was in charge, and when it was time to start practice, you were in the
water or you heard his growl.
Hmmm
… let’s see … yes, the large red fiberglass starting block behind lane six was
a perfect spot. David had used such a hiding place before at times just like
now when he wasn’t yet ready to take the plunge into the cool water. Even Coach
Shoulberg couldn’t outsmart him. David tucked himself into a small ball and
cuddled up behind the side of the starting block near the corner of the pool.
“I
want a 300 individual medley in reverse order,” the coach barked. “First length
is drill, second is swim and the third is kick. Go on the 57.” Shoulberg liked
innovation too. Why start on a round number? Anybody could do that.
The
swimmers entered the water precisely on the 57 and every five seconds
thereafter—that is all except for 11-year-old David Berkoff. David pressed his
cheek and shoulder flat against the fiberglass block. His heart raced. He heard
all the other swimmers turning and stroking but didn’t move a muscle for fear
it might expose him to the sight of his new coach. Beyond the normal sounds
that accompanied a collective of swimmers moving through the water, David
sensed a stillness, a silence-like sensation that roared in his ears.
Where
was Coach Shoulberg?
Shoulberg
saw a foot sticking out from the side of the red block number six? Quietly, he
bent over and picked up two hard Styrofoam kickboards and then tiptoed over
near the block. He slapped the two boards together with all his might. “WHAACK!”
The crack sounded like lightning had struck the very spot David was hiding.
David scrambled to his feet and raced down the pool deck in the opposite
direction as fast he could.
“BERKOOOFF!!!”
the coach screamed in his loudest growl. Underneath the beard he couldn’t help
but smile as he watched the chubby little boy scoot down the deck. “Berkoff, in
the water noooow!!” David made a leaping dive into the pool and slithered into
the group of swimmers.
Later
that night Shoulberg met Judge Elaine Berkoff in the hall after her son’s first
session at Germantown. The coach relayed the events of the evening.
“He’s
a pistol,” Elaine said.
“We’ll
look after him.” And Dick Shoulberg did.
Charles
and Elaine Berkoff had every right to smile at the thought of their 11-year-old
running on the pool deck. There was a time they worried about him running at
all. In kindergarten David had such trouble coordinating his limbs in such
simple activities as skipping that the school suggested he stay back to develop
some coordination. It wasn’t that he was tall and gangly; as a matter of fact,
he was short and quite chubby. At just a year old he weighed 17 pounds. The
Berkoffs were a cerebral couple and David was a bright child. Charles had a Ph.D.
and was an organic chemist who worked for a pharmaceutical company. Elaine had
been an attorney and a district judge for 20 years. David seemed too bright to
stay back in school just to gain some coordination.
Using his "Berkoff Blastoff", where did David Berkoff first break the men's 100 LCM back world record?
*Only if you've not won in the past seven (7) years.
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