Chris Wilson - Newcastle, Australia
“I have always placed a high value on being fit and healthy. I simply love the feeling of being in the water. I like to swim with like-minded people which is why I continue to swim and train three times a week, with a quick dip in the ocean between the squad training days.”
“I have strong memories of Friday night swim club races at the Ryde Aquatic Centre (Sydney. Australia). The complex, since redeveloped for the Sydney 2000 Olympics Water Polo, was a fun place to swim especially in summer with access to the diving boards, the outdoor 50m pool, and the smell of hot chips drifting from the pool kiosk.
“As a family of five, we three children, a younger sister and brother as well as myself, grew up living and enjoying a beach lifestyle which I guess is why my parents wanted us to be safe in and around the water. I enjoyed swimming so much I kept at it and continued into years of competitive racing.
“My initial swim lessons were in a backyard pool, the McDonalds Swim School, in the Sydney suburb of Beecroft. I cannot recall my swimming style, but mum always says I was a 'water baby', very comfortable in the pool from early on, from under 12 months of age. I was capable of swimming full laps of the 15m pool by the age of five years.
“From my early lessons at the McDonalds school, I moved to the Cross Street Carlile pool which was closer to home. Cross Street was Carlile’s first pool, built in the backyard of the home of Forbes and Ursula Carlile, 16m in length. Not long after, from the mid 1990’s, I transitioned into the Carlile squad program, swimming at the Ryde Aquatic Centre, where I trained for ten years”
From a hobby to focused competitor
“Throughout my primary school years, swimming was more of a hobby which I enjoyed doing, attending swimming squads just twice a week. During these years, swimming was part of my busy life. I was a very active, 'sporty' child participating in many sports, including soccer (both indoor and outdoor) tennis, and touch rugby.
“I do remember at the age of around 10 or 11, although I cannot recall exactly why, my interest to attend my swimming sessions fell away for a time. I am glad my parents didn’t pressure me to keep going, and before long I was back enjoying myself, and have loved it ever since.
“When I entered my high school years, I became more competitive, training multiple mornings and afternoons a week, which accelerated my progress and confidence. Very soon I was competing in New South Wales State championship meets, and Australian National events. Looking back, I recall successes in 100m and 200m backstroke, 400m and 1500m freestyle, and racing in the formative years of the 5km open water events which became part of both State and National Championships.”
Four coaches had a big impact on me
“During these years I was lucky to have a cohort of tremendously enthusiastic caring coaches. John Thompson, Toby Condon, Michelle Thomas and the legendary Ursula Carlile are four coaches who made a significant impact on me as a young swimmer, and who helped shape me to be the person I am today.
“Two of the life lessons I learnt from my coaches were;
be honest with yourself when either reaching your goal, or falling short
understand and learn from the benefits of having daily and weekly structures in your life.
“Being a competitive swimmer definitely has you following a well planned, structured lifestyle."
Tell us about your swimming life Chris
“My whole family was involved in swimming at the Ryde Carlile Swim Club with both of my siblings following me into competitive swimming. My parents continue to this day to be swimming technical officials at meets, both recognised as 'life members' of the club.
“Swimming has influenced my commitment to fitness and health and no matter where I travel, swimming is part of almost every holiday, whether it be recreational or competitive.
“After finishing high school I took a break from squad swimming, only swimming when I found time. Training on my own after work one day I was invited to join-in with the squads who were in the next lanes under the watchful eyes of coaches Brett Winkworth and Aaron Funnel. I ended up jumping on this invite and soon after I returned to squad training three mornings per week for the next eight to ten years. This squad, a mix of competitive adults and ‘competitive swimmers’ reinvigorated my swimming life. Many of my life time friends come from these years training within this squad.
“In early 2019 when I moved to live in Newcastle (160 km north of Sydney), the choice of location included the need to live within a stone’s throw of the coast. Being around the beaches for a good surf or a swim is important to me.
“Since relocating to Newcastle I regularly attend the Tri Squad at the Coughlans Swim Centre as well as the squads at Charlestown pool. These squad sessions, and my regular ocean swim sessions at the Newcastle beaches prepare me well for the many ocean swim events, and triathlons I tackle each year.
“In my professional life, swimming has been front and centre. I am currently a Swim Centre Manager and Team Leader with the Lake Macquarie City Council after being on the Carlile staffing team for 13 years, the last five as the Operations Manager of one of the Carlile swim centres. Carlile swimming was part of my life for 25 years!”
I find people who swim interesting
“My best swimming memories are the post-swim banter of the many ocean swims and surf races I have competed in over the years. I love the surf swim atmosphere and sharing a beer post-swim, at the same time as analysing everything from the race start, wading and diving out through the waves, the water currents and turbulence, the water temperature, different swimmer tactics or sharing the excitement of catching an awesome wave as we battle out over the last 100 -150m. On occasions I have been the beneficiary of catching a wave, lifting my placing in the swims. But in as many occurrences, I missed the wave and was the hard-done victim. Such is ocean swimming.
“The competitive feel of the events, knowing the stronger swimmers are using different strategies and tactics for each event intrigues me, sparking my competitive spirit. While I am with the early finishers I realise that for some, the time can be twice as long, and that is just as impressive.
“Many of my best mateships have been formed during these ocean swims. Living on the coast, I take advantage of the extensive range of swim events along the NSW coastline. Some are local, some a weekend away with good friends. One of my favourites is when two friends (both Craig) and I travel to Byron Bay (Northern NSW) to race the 2200m ‘Winter Whales’ event each year. Apart from the event, the township of ‘Byron’ is a perfect spot to hang out. This event is one I highly recommend.”
The Waikiki Roughwater swim was a highlight
“I have travelled to many other awesome locations to race including Noosa (Queensland), Busselton (Western Australia) for the 3.6km ‘Jetty Swim’, Forster (NSW) and a huge highlight for me was when I won an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii to compete in the Waikiki Roughwater swim (2018).
“I had won the trip from my entry into the 2-event Bondi beach swim series which happens each year. This is a series I have competed in the previous 10 years, pre-COVID. To be in the prize draw, you needed to have swum in both events and be in attendance at ‘draw time’. To my surprise, and excitement, the first and second drawn swimmers had left the beach . . . up popped my name to claim the prize! You beauty!
“It was great to catch up with other Australian swimmers I knew from the ocean swimming scene who had also made their way to Hawaii for the event. In 2018 we had perfect conditions with little of the usual 'rough' water helping us swim significantly faster than other years. I placed in the top 5 in my age division. A great achievement.”
“you beauty”
Chris, do you have any challenges or ‘bucket lists’ events?
“I would love to eventually get back close to my 2005 400m freestyle 4.10 PB. Late in 2019 I made plans to compete at the 2020 National Masters Championships, however the summer of meets were cancelled due to COVID-19. At this stage I am unsure where my events will be in 2021, however, one year I will give the 400m one more good crack”
“One of my major personal goals to complete the SOLO Rottnest Channel 20km swim.
“In addition, having completed one Ironman in Melbourne, 2014, I want to race a second Ironman within the next year or two. I often wonder if I can beat my times: the swim in Melbourne was around 48 minutes, and an overall time of 10 hours 10mins.”
I love a good endurance set
“My 2 token sets are:
10x400 on 6mins with a target to hold each under 5:15
2. A pyramid set of
800 + 4 x 200 hard.
600 + 4 x 150 hard.
400 + 4 x 100 hard.
200 + 4 x 50 hard.
“The sets could be classified as boring, however, they are mentally challenging which serves me well.
“My favourite sprint set is 40 x 50.
I break this into four sets of 10.
Each set being; 3 hard 1 easy (on 60). 2 hard 1 easy (1.10) 1 hard 1 easy (1.20) 1 max effort with this 10th repeat being with a dive start, aiming for 30 seconds
I take a one to two-minute recovery between each set.”
If a visitor came to Newcastle, what places would you recommend they take a swim Chris?
“We are spoilt, with numerous options in and around Newcastle. My current favourites are stretched along the coastline:
Pelican Island in Lake Macquarie.
“The old school outdoor 50m pools in the area are in great locations.
Try the Speers Point and Swansea Swim Centres.
“Plus these two ocean swim events I highly recommend.
The 2km Nobbys to Newcastle and the 1400m Newcastle Harbour swim”
Chris. Share with us a couple of 'tips' about swimming
“Don’t stop swimming. It is a sport or passion you can do until the day you die. In addition to the many great friendships you make along the way, swimming exposes you to a wide array of different human characters.
“Don’t limit the places you swim. There are endless lists of amazing swimming locations across the world; make sure you explore as many as possible.”
