IT is commitment to both the sport and her charges, which makes Riverton Aquanauts coach Gemma Harrington stand out.
Harrington’s peerless effort and enthusiasm for swimming has translated to the kids she coaches and seen the club experience some superb results in the pool.
Since she started coaching three years ago, Riverton’s membership has more than doubled from 20 to 52.
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READ NOWThis year, Harrington succeeded in guiding them to the D Division Premiership victory, the club’s first title.
She said she started coaching as a way to help kids reach their potential in the pool.
“I wanted to give kids who were swimming the opportunity to be the best they could be and give them the opportunity to experience the things I had experienced as a swimmer.”
Harrington, who recently won a scholarship to complete her Silver Medallion Coaching Course, coaches at the pool voluntarily.
“I coach morning and night, six days a week, but I can work up to seven nights a week if there’s competition on,” she said.
While she admits she is “driven for results,” Harrington takes most pleasure from the progress each of her swimmers makes.
“I love watching the progress the kids have made since we started this journey about two and a half years ago, it’s been great to be a part of.
“The improvement from them has been enormous, so it’s been great to be a part of that.”
Harrington, who headed over east last week to escort a pupil to her first national meet, said her biggest weakness as a coach was caring too much.
“Sometimes I don’t know when to back off myself sometimes, because I want to keep achieving to get the best out of them.”
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