Sophie Taylor - Sydney, Australia
2014 Junior Pan Pacific Championships
Name: Sophie Taylor Known as: Soph
Occupation: Competitive Programs Administrator and Coach with Carlile Swimming - Sports Administration and Coaching
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Age: 24
How many swims per week do you regularly achieve?
Outside of the Sydney COVID lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 I usually swim 2-3 times per week. 2 of these are with my water polo club team and 1 on my own to get a few more kilometres in.
Describe a regular swim (or 2):
Swims these days look different to what they did while I was training competitively! I train with my water polo club at Macquarie University and swim around 2km each session. These consist of shorter and higher intensity efforts coupled with changes in direction and eggbeater kick. This is very ironic and a stark contrast to the middle-distance freestyle swimmer who dreaded anything to do with breaststroke! The adjustment to swimming without goggles or lane ropes is one I’m still working on…
It did take me many years to shift my mindset from training for performance to training for fitness and enjoyment. While I used to love pushing my body and challenging myself at training each day, it is certainly important that you give your body time to rest after subjecting yourself to years of intense training. . . and many sleep-ins to make up for the 4am starts! Although I now view swimming in a different light, I still love and appreciate it just as much.
Who do you swim with?
Many people will think of swimming as an individual sport, but your squad and teammates do become a second family. I feel so grateful to have swum and met some amazing people through the Ryde Carlile Swimming Club, some of whom will be lifelong friends. There certainly is a bond that extends beyond training and competition, and I can safely say I wouldn’t have achieved what I was able to without them.
Now that I’ve moved away from competitive swimming and the pressure and expectation this brings, I prefer to swim on my own. The competitive drive most athletes have is still there, but I prefer to use my time in the water to completely switch off and relax. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of diving into the water. I feel almost weightless and as if the fast-paced world around me completely stands still.
Where do you swim?
I predominantly swim at Ryde Aquatic Centre and Macquarie Uni pools as these are closest to home, although I don’t mind an occasional swim at an ocean pool on the Sydney Northern Beaches. I’m quietly terrified of swimming in the open ocean, so as a rule I’ll always stick to places where I can clearly see the floor!
Why do you swim?
I’ve always loved swimming and being around the water. For me it’s about going back to the fundamental reasons why I fell in love with swimming. It’s not about any performance-based outcome, but rather the enjoyment and satisfaction it provides and how it makes me feel.
The benefits of swimming also extend far beyond the physical workout it provides. I find that it clears my head, improves sleep quality, helps to manage stress levels and regulates my mood.
Do you have a favourite swim / pool set?
I’ve always preferred sets that are simple and aren’t overly complex. For my swims currently I prefer long, slow swims rather than structured sets.
My favourite set (I use this term loosely as it was a love-hate relationship) back when I was swimming competitively was:
3x 8 x 100 Freestyle (1:15) holding my 400m pace
What does swimming mean to you?
Swimming has always been a huge part of my life. The water is my happy place. It’s where I feel completely comfortable and at peace. Even after retiring from competitive swimming, I knew I wanted to stay involved in the sport that had given me so much joy. I want to inspire the next generation of young swimmers by building a life-long passion for the water like my parents and coaches at Carlile Swimming instilled in me.
I strongly believe swimming teaches invaluable life skills you carry with you for the rest of your life, long after you’ve hung up your cap and goggles.
Do you have a current swimming goal? Or a ‘Bucket List’ swim?
I swam my first open water swim this year, the Cole Classic, winning my age bracket for the 2km event. I hope to compete in this again next year (2022) with a further challenge, the 5km distance.
While I’m sure there are hundreds more destinations I could add, I’ve narrowed down my bucket list swims to just three:
Blue Lagoon in Iceland
Harbour Island in the Bahamas (Pink Sands Beach)
San Alfonso del Mar in Chile (World’s largest swimming pool, 1km long)
What’s the best place (or 2) you’ve swum?
Every few years Ryde Carlile organised a trip to Hawaii, where we would train, compete at a local meet and visit some of Honolulu’s popular tourist attractions. I had never been to a U.S. college before (and rarely swum in an outdoor pool), so having the opportunity to train at the University of Hawaii in 2011 and use their college locker rooms was a very exciting experience.
Swimming in the crystal-clear water of Tučepi in Croatia was also a surreal experience. The bright pebble beach and mighty Biokovo Mountain range in the background make for a spectacular view. photo below left
When a visitor comes to Sydney, where would you recommend they swim?
Although I’m yet to swim at either of these pools you wouldn’t be able to look past the views of North Sydney Olympic Pool and Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool. Both pools are very picturesque with amazing views of Sydney Harbour.
A swim at Bondi Beach or Bondi Icebergs would also be a must-visit for all tourists in Sydney. A single photo or TV show just doesn’t do justice for the amazing views, coastal walks and surrounding restaurants and cafes.
Tell us about one of your proudest swimming achievements / moments.
I was very fortunate to be selected on several Junior Australian Swim Teams. The most memorable was gaining selection for the 2014 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. I was part of the Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay (alongside Lucy McJannett, Shayna Jack & Chelsea Gillett) which won gold and set an unofficial junior world record. Unfortunately, we narrowly missed the age eligibility requirements for the junior world record, but nonetheless it was a time that would still be competitive on the world stage today. Standing on top of the podium and singing our national anthem was a moment I will cherish forever". To top things off, the meet was held on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Maui.
Has swimming changed your life? If so, how?
I can confidently say that swimming has shaped me into the person I am today and has afforded me some of the greatest memories I’ll ever have. I set out on my swimming journey some 15 years ago at the Carlile Swimming Cross Street facility – all I had was a love for the water and a goal to improve at my upcoming school swimming carnival. I could never have imagined that this was just the start of something very special and what I hope to be a life-long involvement with the sport. I reached levels that I could only have dreamt of, travelled the world, met some amazing friends and mentors and am now in an occupation I love in giving back to the sport and Carlile Club that has given me so much. - photo above right
Tell us a fun fact about yourself? I was able to swim before I could walk!
