Paul Lemmon - Forresters Beach, Australia
Name: Paul Lemmon Age: 55 years
Known as: Popsy . . . I usually train and compete with, as well as coach, surf sports athletes who are a lot younger.
Lives in Forresters Beach, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Primary School Teacher Connect with Paul FB
Paul, which 4 words best describe you?
Versatile, adventurous, empathetic and passionate
How many times a week do you swim Paul?
I usually train four to five times a week, more if preparing for a masters swim meet or a surf sports event. Some sessions are in the pool while others are in the ocean (board or ski paddling, surf skills & wave catching). I don’t specialise in either masters pool or surf sports but like to combine both because of the variety, fun and social aspects of training.
I swim to keep fit, for enjoyment, socalising with like-minded people, mental health and to challenge myself in a variety of ways
My squad is made up of mainly age group pool swimmers, surf sports athletes and triathletes – ranging in age from teenagers through to competitive masters adults. Head Coach Jen Noel ensures all of us are being catered for at any given session, with an example being providing an Individual Medley set in some lanes, while providing a Freestyle emphasis (mainly for surf sports athletes and triathletes), or recovery sessions to those who are feeling a bit flat from racing or other sessions.
Most swim sessions are about 90 minutes in length, with an average distance of 3000m to 5000m in the pool and a bit longer when in the ocean, particularly when I’m on a surf craft (board or ski). They are usually a mixture of higher intensity/ lower volume in the early season and lower intensity/ higher volume sessions for the competitive and race season.
Do you have a favourite set Paul?
I think it’s important to incorporate high intensity and speed sets with variety as part of a training schedule all year around, with my favourite set being 8 x 50 dive timed efforts IM order on 3mins with an easy 50m swim recovery between each effort. For this set I aim to race against a mate of similar speed, when possible.
Being more of an endurance athlete sprinting doesn’t come naturally, so these types of sets are an opportunity to work on speed.
Where do you swim train Paul?
My pool sessions are in one of two pools: the Mingara Aquatic Centre, Tumbi Umbi. It’s part of a community club, an 8 lane, 50m indoor pool facility open all year on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Or I swim at the Grant McBride Ocean Baths, The Entrance, a 50m lap pool, a 22m pool and wading pool. It’s heritage listed overlooking the very scenic Pacific Ocean; a good place to swim if I want to go outdoors and still swim laps.
My ocean sessions are usually at Terrigal Beach, my beach. It’s a beautiful patrolled local bay where I am involved with the Surf Life Saving Club. The conditions are generally very suitable at the southern end for safe ocean swimming. Our local group, the Terrigal Ocean Swimmers, swim in groups from daylight until mid - morning all year round, seven days a week. Swimmers of all ages and abilities turn up throughout the year, even when the water temperatures are dipping under 15 degrees Celsius.
To find waves, I head to the northern end of the beach towards Wamberal and Forresters Beach.
Paul, what is your current swimming goal?
My current swimming goal is to keep enjoying what I do and continue competing in a variety of masters swimming and surf sports events with my mates at a competitive level.
Can you share a couple of the best places you’ve swum?
Ocean - between villages (with other swimmers) at Cinque Terre in Italy. After competing in the FINA World Masters Championships (2012), I swam between a couple of the ancient villages at Cinque Terre in the Mediterranean Sea with some other swimming friends. The warm light turquoise waters are a great memory!
Pool – the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre, Adelaide, Australia. An amazing aquatic facility in South Australia that has hosted many major swimming meets. Often hosting the pinnacle swim meets in Australia each year.
When a visiting swimmer comes to the Central Coast (NSW) where would you recommend they swim?
For an ocean swim:
· Terrigal Ocean Swimmers (FB) as mentioned earlier visitors are always welcome
If they prefer the pool:
· Mingara Aquatic Centre, Tumbi Umbi
· Peninsula Leisure Centre, Woy Woy
Please share some of your proudest swimming achievements / moments.
There have been many wonderful achievements, but a few which stand out for me are:
· Winning at the World FINA Masters Swimming Championships 45-49 years 200m Backstroke (Championship Record) in 2012.
· Winning the 3 km Open Water Swim at the same event.
· Being awarded the Masters Swimming (Australia) Male Swimmer of the Meet at the 2009, 2012 and 2022 National Championships.
Has swimming been a significant part of your life and lifestyle Paul?
Absolutely! It has taught me many life skills including resilience, discipline, perseverance and respect.
Some of the personal achievements throughout my swimming career are above and beyond whatever I could have imagined.
It has given me great memories. I’ve developed and continue to develop many close friendships. Swimming has provided numerous opportunities to travel not only within Australia, but also internationally.
What is a key stroke technique point you often reference when swimming?
The feel for the water. A combination of swim drills done correctly while swimming slowly will help give you great feedback on your technique.
Tell us a little about your early years of swimming.
I first showed my love for the water as a 3-year old toddler. One day I randomly jumped off the end of a jetty. My father needed to jump in the water fully clothed to rescue me. Fortunately, he was a strong swimmer and was able to save me! I was then immediately enrolled in swim lessons at Gosford Olympic Pool.
At aged six I was encouraged to join Gosford Amateur Swim Club and even though I came last in my first ever swim club race, I enjoyed being involved.
Throughout my childhood I did minimal training. I was always supported but never pushed by my parents; it wasn’t until I was a teenager I decided to train more seriously under my first swim coaches Olly and Len Cook. My swimming improved rapidly. I soon progressed to the high-performance squad under coach Les Lazarus and was competing at National Age level as a 14-year old.
My coaches have all had an impact on my swimming career in different ways, especially teaching me about self- discipline
And to finish – a few rapid-fire responses
Prefer swimming in the morning or evening, and why? Morning- great way to start the day, especially when endorphins kick in after the swim.
What swim equipment do you regularly use? Fins - regularly used in the warm up to take pressure off the shoulders.
Data device when swimming? Not really, the timing clock is important though.
Best swimmer you have seen live? Ian Thorpe, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, 1999 Pan Pacific Championships, swimming the 200m freestyle world record.
Finish this statement – a satisfying swim is . . . one that has been well executed regardless of the placing.
And a couple of other fun facts to finish off.
1. I won my first New South Wales (Australia) State Open Medal in swimming as a 15-year-old in 1982, 200m Breaststroke, and competed in the Commonwealth Games trials in the same year.
2. I competed in both the Uncle Toby’s and Kellogg’s Nutri Grain Professional Ironman Series as an athlete after I finished my University Teaching studies in the early 1990s.
Editor: Paul has a long list of achievements in both pool and ocean swimming events, including being inducted into the Australian Masters Surf Life Saving Hall of Fame in 2019. To date across his extensive time in the surf lifesaving competitive arena, Paul has won 99 National titles – his most recent in March 2022.
Congratulations Paul, and a big thank you for sharing your story with us.