Before the Australian Team put a media blackout in place SwimSwam had a chance to catch up with Alicia Coutts
It is always an adjustment for an athlete going into a new Olympic cycle, especially for an athlete who was as successful as Alicia Coutts was in London, winning five medals; gold in the 4 x 100 freestyle relay, silver in the 200 IM, 4 x 100 medley relay and 4 x 200 freestyle relay and bronze in the 100 butterfly.
Coming into the year Coutts and her coach John Fowlie decided to change some elements of her preparation, the first being to add some different events to her in season racing schedule, “(We have done) a lot of work on my backstroke and breastroke by racing them as individual events to gain confidence.”
“That has been alot of fun, to race events I don’t normally do.”
In a previous interview with SwimSwam Fowlie talked about the decision, “One of the things about swimming the other strokes starting in this preparation is that we got some easy wins, she won the 50 backstroke in the Victorian State and got a huge pb in it. For her it wasn’t an easy win in a competition sense, but in a motivational sense.”
“She got a huge thrill out of that and challenging herself in other events. I think at trials she had medaled in every single 50 except for the 50 freestyle and going into the last night one of the sub goals we had was trying to see if she could pick off a medal in every single 50.”
This year Coutts put up lifetime bests in every 50:
- 50 butterfly – 25.78
- 50 freestyle – 24.95
- 50 backstroke – 28.12
- 50 breaststroke – 31.45
In fact for Coutts has swam three events, 50 backstroke (28.12), 100 backstroke (1:01.03) and 100 breaststroke (1:09.08), that she has not swum in several years.
They have also worked on developing her strength, “(We have) worked alot on building my strength in the gym,” said Coutts.
“Just worked on getting stronger in and out of the water.”
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Reflecting on 2012 Coutts was very satisfied with how she swam in London and was excited to have fulfilled a childhood dream, “Winning an Olympic medal of any colour is an amazing feeling and especially coming home with a gold from the relay is something I had dreamed of since I was 6 years old,” commented Coutts. “I definately feel like I could walk away from the sport, when I do decide it is time, and be happy with my achievements.”
For many athletes success at the Olympics means big changes in their lives, it can put them in the spotlight in their home country and even make them into celebrities. For Coutts the biggest change has been being seen as a role model by a younger generation of swimmers and a greater opportunity to give back to the community, “I don’t feel like my life is much different. Although I think alot more of the younger swimming generation know who I am now and thats a great feeling to be a role model.”
“I grew up aspiring to be just like Susie O’Neill and I know how it feels to be inspired by her.”
When SwimSwam asked her about her involvement in the community, with such organizations as the RSPCA and the Special Olympics she explained, with a great deal of passion, how much it means to her to be able to do those things,”I love getting out and doing things for others, it’s just my nature. I love the RSPCA and animals.”
“As for Special Olympics and county towns I just love to show my support to a broad range of people. It was great to be involved with Special Olympics and meet some of the athletes and great to see them enjoying their sport as much as I enjoy it.”
Her greatest passion away from the pool is her love of animals and as discussed in an interview with her coach John Fowlie it gives Coutts the opportunity to focus on something outside of the pool, which in turn has a positive effect on her training, “I love being involved with the RSPCA. I love animals and am glad to be associated with such an amazing organization that is the RSPCA.”
“It’s great to get away from swimming and not have to focus on it 100% of the time. The RSPCA helps me to get away from swimming and do something I love, looking after animals.”
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As for Barcelona she is heading into the World Championships ranked number one in the world in the 100 butterfly and the 200 IM and is also ranked number two in the 50 butterfly. There is no doubt that after her Olympic success the expectations of the Australian public has increased, but Coutts is not letting that effect how she is approaching the competition, “At this stage I’m just looking to see what I can do. No real expectations that’s just how I operate. I like to think whatever happens, happens.”
There was also an interview with Alicia Coutts in the Aussie press where she was quoted as highlighting the new role of the strength training in her workout schedule. According to her she’s added four kilograms of pure muscle since the London Games. Inferring from her times so far this season, the new approach may prove to be fruitful.
Coutts set PBs across all 50m events. The 50m free is Coutts’ more regular 50m swim, not the butterfly. She did a huge personal best time in the 50m fly at trials. She went in with a 26.36 as her PB and came out with a 25.78.
Don’t let BoboGigi see this article! According to him, Coutts should be swimming one event, and she should swim as few times as possible! Or rather, that’s his opinion about all swimmers.
Bobo is right to a certain extent. Not every swimmer is Phelps and Franklin and able to recover quickly and fully between events (witness the failure of Lochte to recover quickly last year after 200 back, resulting to a disappointing 200 IM for him), although Bobo takes it to the extreme and thinks that even Franklin should swim only 2 events.
I need to see the psych sheet when it’s out, but I hope Coutts does not swim the 50 back. Swimming 50 fly is already an addition of 3 races to her London schedule.
I agree, in other era, Coutts would be a shoo in for 200 IM gold, but Ye is the most effortless IM swimmer probably ever. There is still hope that Ye breaks 200 IM WR, which was unthinkable just a year ago.
Kukors’ WR along with Zige’s WR were the two women’s WRs that I thought would last in to the next 2 decades at least.
Coutts seem to have the killer instinct that many of the other top Aussies seem to lack. And she’s probably swimming hungrier than the women who finished ahead of her in 2012, so I’m liking her chances next week.
Can Coutts and Vollmer just tie at worlds? They are both such great swimmers AND people.
Given those 50 stroke times, Coutts would be a shoo-in for a 2IM gold in any other era, but Ye’s dominant closing speed from being so strong in the 4IM still gives her the edge.