SWIMMING: Australian coach Jacco Verhaeren has warned that reputations count for nothing and Australia must ‘start from zero’ to achieve success in Rio.

A training camp in Auburn, Alabama, has provided the perfect preparation for the Australian swim team ahead of the start of their Olympic program on August 6.

While excited by the team’s prospects in Rio, Verhaeren said the challenge now was to ensure each athlete performed at their best on the day.

“It’s definitely a special group, all you see here is world champions,” he said at a media conference, surrounded by Cate and Bronte Campbell, Mitch Larkin, Emily Seebohm and Cameron McEvoy.

“But this is the Olympics, everybody starts at zero again and that is the approach we really take.

“It doesn’t matter how good you are, you need to get it together on the day here, and that’s what we are really focusing on.”

Building on the success of the Australian team’s performances at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Verhaeren has helped inspire a strong team-first culture in the lead-up to Rio.

It’s a platform for success the Dutchman attributes to the willingness of team members and coaches to share information in the quest to achieve their best possible results.

“What I appreciate in Australia is the wonderful culture there amongst coaches, amongst athletes, a great history in swimming and they really cherish that,” he said.

Verhaeren also paid tribute to Forbes Carlile, the legendary Australian coach who passed away yesterday aged 95.

“Whenever a coach in Australia makes a national team you receive a ring with a number. I am number 113, but Forbes Carlile is the No.1,” he said.

“He is the genuine alpha, the Lord of the Rings, and he was so innovative and really defined the job of coaching.

“We owe him a lot.”

David Taylor

olympics.com.au