I was coaching Paul MacDonald (Macka) in a training session on a very cold wet and windy Munich afternoon.  We were at the Obershliesheim Regatta Course that was used for the Olympic Games of 1972 when the New Zealand rowing eight’s won their glorious gold medal. 

 

When we arrived at the regatta course the caretaker waving his hand at us, called in German, “ah New Zealand, New Zealand welcome, come, come”.   He led us across the pavement area that many kayakers and rowers had walked barefoot down to the water’s edge in the hope of fulfilling their dreams on that 2000m stretch of water.

 

We arrived at a boat shed and the caretaker called once again in German, New Zealand New Zealand Olympics 72.   I deciphered his German and understood immediately what he was saying; The New Zealand rowing team used this shed in 1972 to house their rowing skiffs. 

 

If it was good enough for the Kiwi Olympic Rowing Gold Medalists it was certainly good enough for us to store our kayaks there.  While not the same sport, we were still Kiwis and very proud to share that small space that meant so much to our country. 

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On the doors and the boat racks were imprinted silver ferns left by those dreamers in 1972 who had achieved the Gold Medal dream.  Our German friend pointed to these silver ferns and then to the watercourse and said in English – New Zealand Gold Medal.  I found out later that he had been at this famous regatta course on that day in 1972 and had witnessed New Zealand winning that most coveted of prizes. 

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Being at this Olympic regatta course gave the team a boost.  I believe Macka really felt the vibes as he was already an Olympic Champion and on that wet windy afternoon he did one of the best training sessions I have ever seen or coached. 

 

The rest of the team had left the regatta course.  Macka was in his kayak and I was on my bicycle, and the rain was crashing down. I rode alongside the water course on my bike with my loud haler, stop-watch and notebook. 

 

The cycle way was above the water so Macka was below me out of the wind. This meant he had no interference from wind and rough water and should be able to do a quality training session with some good times recorded.  By the end of the session I was soaked and absolutely freezing and I loved every minute of it.

 

The objective of the session was to do five 200meter sprints with very little rest.  Macka put everything he had into that session; he did not know or could not tolerate any other way of training – it was all or nothing and never quit. 

 

On the third rep when the lactic acid was increasing in his system and the rest period seemed so short, he still made the effort to go faster than before.  At the end of that third rep I told him that his right arm was a little low in front and was affecting his catch on the water. 

 

Macka looked up at me and yelled loudly with what breath he had left – “get a dog up you”, and then described exactly how I should do it.  I retorted back to him “do you want to be an Olympic Champion or not?” 

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He turned the boat around and I gave him the go signal.  He did another 200m at world class pace – as he crossed the finish line he promptly puked up onto the front of his boat at the same time as trying to get the much wanted air into his lungs.   When the puking was over he looked up at me and asked, “Was my right hand up that time?”   I told him it was and prompted him to do the last rep as his rest period ended.   

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Macka did five reps of 200m in that session, all in world-class times.  He had also worked at maintaining his technique to as perfect as he could get it and when it wasn’t he yelled at the person he could trust – me.  

 

I didn’t take the abuse personally as it was not really abuse, it was Mackas frustration at not having that perfect technique – it could mean the difference between first and second, gold or silver.   He so desperately wanted to be Olympic Champion and to achieve his dream of an individual gold medal.

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Paul won Bronze in the K1 500m in the Seoul Olympics later that year.  He was gutted – his goal was to win the individual gold medal.  After the race I made my way from the coach’s area to our boat shed. 

 

When I walked in Macka was sitting on the floor with his head in hands, he was breathing deeply and still sweating profusely from his efforts.   I walked past him and squeezed his shoulder as I did not know what to say – I was gutted as well.  I sat on a chair a few feet away and contemplated what had just happened.   

 

I just looked at Macka and in my head I was thinking 'shit – all that work – what had I done wrong with training programmes why didn’t he win the gold, what could I have done better'?   At that moment Macka lifted his head and looked at me and screamed “aaaaaahhhhh 4 more fucking years”.   His mind was already thinking about the next Olympics and another chance to reach his goal.

 

A few minutes later Ian Ferguson came into the boat shed.   He said “bad luck Macka – but you haven’t got time to sit here, we need to get ready for our K2 race”. Macka picked himself up off the floor and we started the preparation for the K2 500m final.  

 

I checked the boat over and gave it one last polish.  Ian warmed up and Macka refuelled.   Paul and Ian carried the K2 boat and I took the paddles and a towel down to the launch ramp.   One final check and they paddled off to compete in another Olympic final.

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1min33.98 seconds after the starter’s gun released them; they were Olympic Gold Medal  champions.   The pain of losing the K1 race dissipated as the euphoria of the gold medal took over.  I was excited and relieved – a dream come true.

 

Later on that day Macka came up to my bedroom in the village and walked towards me, he took his gold medal from around his neck and put it over my head and the medal rested on my chest.  

 

He said thanks and walked out without another word.    I just sat down on my bed and looked at this medal and thought about what it meant and the journey I had been on with my team mates. I phoned my father with yet another collect call and he was excited as any man could be when I told him I was wearing Mackas Olympic Gold Medal.
 

​The following day Paul and Ian won the silver medal in the K2 1000m.  They missed the gold by .003 seconds.  

 

It was a wonderful Olympics, but for me my enduring memory is the training session in Munich where I shared an X Factor moment on that cold, wet dreary afternoon with Paul MacDonald.  I was inspired and I was proud to be his coach.  

 

I was proud to be the coach of a winner – a winner with his attitude, his training, his preparation, his dedication to excellence and his spirit.  

 

He did not achieve the K1 dream but he can live with himself knowing that he gave everything the best he had.   I saw the lactic acid burning him, I saw the puking and  I heard the frustrating screams for perfection.   Even though he did not win the K1 he came home with 3 Olympic medals Gold, Silver and Bronze – a full house. 

 

What did I learn?​

No matter what you wish to achieve there is one thing that is certain.   You must be prepared to puke and scream and feel the lactic acid burn you - you must be prepared to do only the best that you can, as nothing else is acceptable.    Failure to do your best is not an option.

 

 

See my Coaching Achievements here