Dean Boxall Says Once-Banned Shayna Jack Wants Revenge In The Pool

by Retta Race 58

September 25th, 2021 Australia, International, News

Earlier this month we reported how Australian sprinter Shayna Jack‘s doping ban appeals filed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Sport Integrity Australia were dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

That ultimately means that Jack’s 2-year-ban ended on July 12, 2021, meaning her legal ordeals are over and she can now compete and attempt to gain a spot on the Aussie national team.

One man in her corner is coach Dean Boxall, the animated presence on-deck at St. Peters Western and the man who helped guide Ariarne Titmus to historic 400m freestyle gold this past summer in Tokyo.

Boxall told The Sydney Morning Herald recently regarding 22-year-old Jack, “She’s hungrier, she’s a lot more determined.

“She’s thick-skinned, she has good body armour on her now. There were just so many delays but when I spoke with her (after the CAS decision), it was a different girl at the end of the phone.

“She’s certainly better than she was two years ago. How good can she be? I don’t know. We just don’t know. When she was younger, she was just a prodigy, she looked like the real deal. Now we get a wiser, stronger, determined Shayna, a girl that is fearless. She wants some revenge in the pool.” (SMH)

In the past, Jack has competed primarily in the sprint freestyle events and was a member of four medal-winning relays at the 2017 FINA World Championships.

With the likes of Emma McKeonCate Campbell still gunning for Paris 2024 at this time, as well as young guns such as Mollie O’Callaghan in the mix, Jack will have her work cut out for her with just 3 years left to the next Summer Olympic Games.

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Ol' Longhorn
3 years ago

If I were coming off a drug ban, the last person I’d want to train with is a guy who should be drug-tested himself. I mean, there’s not enough caffeine or Dressel pre-workout in the world to produce some of his responses.

Joel
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
3 years ago

Why is pre workout allowed? And why does Dressel take sooooooo much of it?

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Joel
3 years ago

Because it’s not performance-enhancing. Oh wait… As for Dressel, he drinks so much of it he becomes Ricochet Rabbit.

Aussie swim fan
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
3 years ago

I suggest you be careful about that type of insinuation. This man is a very talented passionate & caring coach who achieves excellent proven results. I am speaking from personal exoerience as he trained my grand daughter to Olympic Gold & Bronze. He may be tough & eccentric but he is also very sensitive & caring & kept his swimmers safe at all times during Covid leading up to Tokyo responding very promptly to the ever changing situations. He was very supportive of Shayna as were her club mates who believed in her & welcomed her back.

Robbos
Reply to  Aussie swim fan
3 years ago

Firstly congratulations on your Grand daughter, I presume is Meg on winning Olympic Gold & Bronze.
Thanks for the insight on Dean Boxall from someone in the know instead of some randoms living 14-15 thousand kilometers away, who’s disturbed view on Boxall was based on his celebration after one of his swimmers win & the fact that he coached Titmus to defeat Ledecky not once but twice.
So don’t worry about these small minded people.

Bill
Reply to  Robbos
3 years ago

Do the opinions of “randoms” who live 5 kilometers away–and are the parents of young women who swam for Boxall at SPW and are now in therapy–mean anything? Insinuation isn’t needed when Boxall’s “Hell Months” and his militarism and inappropriate statements have been reported on and even videotaped. Boxall himself boasts on audio to Whateley about taking Ariarne Titmus to a “dark place” and a “dark place of pain”. Sick. And that’s just a small part of the public record created through Boxall’s own statements and actions.

https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=891325

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/olympics/shayna-jacks-swim-club-under-fire-for-militarystyle-program/news-story/942f2dd7dc9a6b59cfde27fb13f89558

Robbos
Reply to  Bill
3 years ago

No, this is a completely different accusation to the one above. So am not sure how it relates.
The first accusation is performance enhancement illegally & your one is on a very tough regime & as you can see outside of Titmus, from Aussie swim fan, it’s very positive comments on his methods from him & his grand daughter.
He (Boxall) does not hide from these allegations & there is currently an investigation going on, I would rather wait & see what comes from these allegations.
I feel sorry for those who are under therapy, but would rather wait & see then judge now.

I think many would break too if they tried the the Ledecky regime.

Tonka
Reply to  Bill
3 years ago

Dark place in training is not abuse.
Its taking your body and mind to a level that only a few elites can handle.
And that’s why ppl want to train with him.
And if you don’t like it you can always leave. Nobody is forcing athletes to train with Dean.

Alyanhal
3 years ago

BTW, does anyone know anything about the status of the independent all-female commission led by Chris Ronalds examining the swim culture in Australia? I hope the panel members seek to interview writer David Riccio of the Daily Telegraph who published a significant amount of information claimed to be sourced from parents at SPW, the club at which Boxall coaches the revenge-seeking Shayna.

Corn Pop
Reply to  Alyanhal
3 years ago

Just hang on , the Doctors are open tomorrow.

Last edited 3 years ago by Corn Pop
STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
3 years ago

The CAS found the banned substance in her system was “pharmacologically insignificant”. Previously hair samples had been sent to a Swiss lab which uses cutting edge technology and it was found she could not have been a long term user of that substance. All indications are she took something inadvertently and it didn’t help her performances. Why not give the poor girl a break? She’s gone through mental anguish, incurred many thousands of dollars in expenses and missed two years of her career, including an Olympic Games. There are numerous serious drug cheats who have had much leaner penalties. She deserves to get on with her swimming career and not be dogged by speculation.

Joel
Reply to  STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
3 years ago

Thank you for your comment. Some common sense.

Aussie swim fan
Reply to  Joel
3 years ago

Agree. At least someone is showing some common sense. Shayna had negative tests right up until this test in camp prior to the event & there was a minimal amt in her system as previously stated. I personally do not believe this was intentional. How easy it would be for someone to slip something into food/drink when travelling & in camps/communal accomodation etc. Can anyone prove the Chinese (considering the animosity between Mack H & Sun Y) or competition/opposition mischief maker didnt slip a bit of Grannies Ligandrol into her food or drink. Shayna was always a very conciencious & dedicated athlete who was very helpful & kind to younger team mates.
I give her the benefit of the… Read more »

commonwombat
Reply to  STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
3 years ago

Perhaps she’s somewhat unlucky at being the next Aussie to front the tribunal for such an offence after a number of others were probably lucky to get light sentences or “got off”; and thus copped a tough sentence; but it was her carelessness that got her there. They are all fully educated to take care with supplements/OOC meds as well as testing regimes but too many seem to have zoned out given the evidence of certain AUS cases over the past 4-5 years.

Drama King
Reply to  STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
3 years ago

Fair to say, they way she fought for herself and her career throughout this saga, i haven’t seen such courage from anyone. Even the bigger names like Efimova, Sun Yang and other haven’t made out to public openly on the doping issue. But she did.

HJones
3 years ago

She could win 9 gold medals and set 4 world records in Paris, but that doesn’t change the fact that she is a drug cheat. There isn’t a shred of evidence that this was done in negligence or from cross-contamination other than her word.

She tried to blame a gym blender for the substance, which is scientifically possible, as Ligandrol is quite orally bioavailable. But I SARMs are a Schedule 4 drug, so I doubt any gym a national team swimmer is going to would have that stuff out in the open or putting in peoples’ protein shakes.

Greg Peter
3 years ago

I bet Sun Yang wants revenge in the pool too.

Just give the trophy to the condors already
Reply to  Greg Peter
3 years ago

He will SMASH the records in Paris

Drama King
3 years ago

I thought she was at Campbell’s training group. Not Boxall’s.

commonwombat
Reply to  Drama King
3 years ago

She was …… until the Campbells relocated with Cusack to Sydney. She wasn’t willing to relocate so switched to Boxall at SPW.

HJones
Reply to  commonwombat
3 years ago

Even if she wanted to make the move, would they take her back? Ik some Aussie groups don’t allow people who’ve served a doping suspension to train with them.

Troyy
Reply to  HJones
3 years ago

The move happened before the doping ban.

Corn Pop
Reply to  HJones
3 years ago

She was with Boxall in 2018. No one has moved to train with Cusack as his role in NSW is likely training other coaches in his philosophies & methods.

nlm78
Reply to  Corn Pop
3 years ago

Cusack actually went back to QLD when he returned from Tokyo and going by Bronte’s post when she returned, he would be staying there. Not sure he’ll stay in QLD when they reopen the borders, since we’re in lockdown here in Sydney, or if he’ll come back to Knox.

Troyy
Reply to  nlm78
3 years ago

I recall reading somewhere that Cuask and Cate are staying in Brisbane which makes me wonder what Bronte’s future is given she’s said she’s not retiring quite yet and her coach is now 900km away.

John
3 years ago

Can I sign up for the next Dean Boxall motivational speech. I love hearing this guy talk about athletes, very inspiring!

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  John
3 years ago

“The animal!” Quote from Dean at the Aussie OLY trials.

Joe
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
3 years ago

That is Laurie Lawrence

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Joe
3 years ago

Just checked out Laurie Lawrence – I now see what you’re saying – & totally agree! The guy is quite animated – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qReUKC9QV2c

Boxall video – ” https://twitter.com/i/status/1403677222070849537

Last edited 3 years ago by Coach Mike 1952
Ledecky will go under 8 minutes in the 800
Reply to  John
3 years ago

Nah he’s slightly terrifying and also gives off Shane Tussup energy

About to get attacked by Aussies for this again

John

I used to think that but the last Boxall article or the one before had a good video clip of him interacting with his squad in practice and it was refreshing to see the way he spoke with them. His podcast with Hawke was quite revealing from a coach standpoint at least.

Eric the eel > Phelps
3 years ago

That’s doope

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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