There aren’t many athletes who had a better 2015 than Australian Mitch Larkin. Larkin won World Championship gold in both the 100 and 200 backstroke, in early November he set Commonwealth records in both events and later that same month set a new Commonwealth record in the short course 100 backstroke and a new world record in the short course 200 backstroke.
Once an athlete achieves that level of success great expectations most often follow. Larkin has felt exactly that this season and because of it started to put a lot of pressure on himself to perform each time he hit the water, “I swum consistently so fast at the back end of last year I felt I had to replicate it every swim I did this year even when I was in hard work,” Larkin told SwimSwam. “At the beginning of this year I was disappointed because I was only swimming 53 lows when last year I was able to swim sub 53s at the drop of a hat.”
Changing how he evaluates his performances has helped him manage the increased expectation, “Bohly (coach Michael Bohl) and I sat down and compared apples with apples. I compared times I was swimming this time last year with the swims I’ve done now and not with times I swum at the end of last year. It’s been really comforting to see what I was doing into the lead up to worlds.”
When measuring his results in this manner Larkin has a reason to be confident. The one time he raced in June of 2015 at a Swimming Australia Grand Prix event he posted a 54.35 in the 100 backstroke and a 1:57.04 in the 200 backstroke. At the Santa Clara meet just over a week ago he recorded a 53.32 in the 100 backstroke and a 1:55.38 in the 200 backstroke.
Even when it is assumed that an athlete is a lock to make the Olympic team it doesn’t always work out that way and for any athlete, including Larkin, it is a relief once they have secured a spot on the squad, “Making the team this year there was a small sense of relief. Talking to everyone before our trials, many people would ask ‘are you excited for Rio?’ First things first I had to qualify, it’s an important stepping stone to the Olympic Games, it doesn’t matter how good your preparation is, if you’re not going.”
“I was very excited once I had qualified.”
This will be the second time that he will compete at an Olympic Games, his first came in London when he qualified for the team as an eighteen year old, “It was a very different feeling making the team four years ago. The last time I went into Olympic trials qualifying was a massive achievement and I went into 2012 trying to learn and gain as much experience as possible.”
“This time around I know some of what to expect.”
One of the reasons he learned as much as he did in 2012 is thanks to the help of his veteran coach Michael Bohl who has coached many top athletes including Stephanie Rice who earned three gold medals at the 2008 Olympics, “In 2012 Michael Bohl made me get to the pool early and watch almost every final session. He told me to watch how the ‘best’ conduct themselves around the village. How they warm up, socialize when the time is right then switch on when they needed to, and how they manage the warm up pool just to name a few examples.”
“The best thing I noticed is that not everyone is the same, stick to what works for you, don’t just change your plan beaucse your competition does something different,” explained Larkin. “The Olympics is all a ‘big circus’ flashy lights big crowds. It’s important not to get caught up in it all, it can be overwhelming. Stick to what you usually do and what works for you.”
“But also enjoy it, it only comes around every four years, have fun.”
With the direction of Bohl he observed many positive behaviours, but the 2012 Australian Olympic team has become notorious for their misbehaviour, something he also witnessed. Larkin sees this team as a very different one than the Aussies had in London, “Looking back four years ago many of us were very inexperienced. A few of us amongst the team this year were speaking about how four years ago we didn’t truly understand the importance of a team even in an individual sport.”
“It is fantastic to have the support of teammates and doesn’t allow you to feel alone trying to perform on the world class stage. Nowadays there is also a great attitude and enthusiasm within the team. We still have energy and youth on the outsides however we also have a good mix of experience as well.”
For Larkin this year’s team will feel a little bit more like home no matter what venue they find themselves in as six of his teammates; Madison Wilson, Emma McKeon, Madeline Groves, Grant Irvine, Bronte Barratt and Georgia Bohl, will all be competing in Rio as well, “It’s amazing! It gives a feeling of home even when we are away on training camps. It also continues to give me great confidence in my coach Michael Bohl and the work we do in and out of the pool.”
Right now that work includes fine tuning his preparation both technically and tactically, “Bohly and I have spoken about how close the races will be, specifically the 100m backstroke in Rio. We’ve really been focusing on the 1%s. Making sure my breakouts are as clean as possible, not pausing my kick before I breakout, or lifting my head. And finally making sure my finishes are as good as possible. Phelps wouldn’t have beaten Cavic unless he practised perfect finishes every session.”
“A couple of my swims lately I’ve just forced my swims a little too much. So it was great to head over to Santa Clara and just race. Not worry about times just execute a good race plan, controlled stroke rates and great distance per stroke.”
“My major in season goals when racing are trying to execute the best skills and put together my races as best as possible. For the 200m controlling my stroke rates and stroke counts and focusing on building the swim as much as possible. The 100m trying to get out with as much controlled speed as possible and making sure when I breakout after the turn, finding my stroke as quick as possible and not rushing.”
Combining the experience he gained from the 2012 Olympic Games with continuing to build on the success he has achieved over the last four years Larkin has the opportunity to once again put together one of the most successful seasons of any swimmer in the world.
Too bad Australian Swimming decided not to give Matthew Wilson the same opportunity. 17yo winning in 2.09 for 200br/s…. Typical gutless decision by a bunch of political puppets!
Brian, the two situations are NOT synonymous. Larkin DID finish 1st inside the AUS QT in the 200back in 2012; thus taking selectors discretion out of play. Was the 2016 AUS QT for the 200brs an unreasonable one…. that can certainly be argued but by not making that cut, Wilson left himself in the position of needing selectors discretion.
Whilst I WOULD have selected him, they would have left themselves heavily exposed to likely appeals from at minimum the winner of the 200IM (non selected). HAD Wilson finished 2nd in the 100brs, then I suspect he would’ve received a plane ticket (on the grounds of being brs cover for med relay) but by finishing behind Palmer, that loophole was shut… Read more »
How did Larkin and Seebohm became great suddenly? What’s their secret?
Messr. Gigi has been asking this question since their gold medal wins in Kazan, but no one has given satisfactory answer!
Aussies mate, Aussies!!!!
I see.
But what about Hosszu?
You see, Messrs Gigi specifically lumped together Larkin and Seebohm with Hosszu when she asked the question repeatedly last year after Kazan.
He asked how Larkin, Seebohm and Hosszu became great so suddenly, and he asked for their secret.
It’s easy to get a satisfactory answer to your question, just search it in swimswam site. I think they have the bio of every swimmer and their progression. Here’s the lin for Larkin: http://swimswam.com/bio/mitchell-larkin/ and a link: http://swimswam.com/bio/emily-seebohm/
Thank you!
That’s very helpful. I didn’t know they have the bios on Swimswam. Why didn’t I think of this before asking this question repeatedly that can be taken as insinuation. I’m feeling stupid now.
Wow.. so they were already very good, great even, as juniors. I didn’t know this. Apologies to mr. Larkin and ms. Seebohm.
How did McEvoy, Campbell, McKeon, Chalmers, Bohl, Maggy, Packer, Horton, Groves all became great so suddenly?? Hmmm
Yes, can you please explain, since you are an Australian?
Isn’t is suspicious that they’ve became so great so suddenly, am I right?
no. and it’s packard lol
Why is Groves’ circle picture an image of Katinka?
Why the 2012 Australian Olympic team known for their misbehavior?
It was on the male side and there were two main issues. The first was the negative peer-pressure inside the M4X100 (especially from old hands such as Sullivan & Targett) which led to many of the squad misusing Stillnox (sleeping tab) and disrupting the rest of the team. There were also some problematic individuals such as D’Arcy & Monk; the former having been booted from the 2008 team due to an assault conviction.