Ash Delaney talks Power Racks, Gym Work, Backstroke Technique, 50's in LA, Kyle Chalmers 100 Free

Ash Delaney shares his journey from competing in the Beijing Olympics to shaping the careers of some of Australia's top swimmers today, including insights on his coaching philosophy, the evolution of sprint training, and his pivotal role in guiding athletes like Kyle Chalmers and Isaac Cooper.

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Ash Delaney's Journey from Swimmer to Coach:
Ash Delaney, a former Australian backstroke specialist, shared his transition from athlete to coach. His swimming career included participation in the Beijing Olympics, several Commonwealth Games, and World Championships. He decided to shift to coaching after narrowly missing the Rio Olympics selection.

Coaching Philosophy and Methodologies:
Delaney discussed how he learned from coaches like Rohan Taylor, Shannon Rollason, and Vince Raleigh while still competing. He adopted a coaching style that blends meticulous planning, long-term vision, and creating an environment conducive to athlete development.
His approach to coaching evolved from age group to more individualized training for open-level swimmers, focusing on what each athlete needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Current Role at St. Andrews Anglican College:
Currently, Ash coaches at St. Andrews Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. The school supports a performance-driven program from learn-to-swim to high-performance levels, which has significantly grown under his leadership, elevating the club's standing in both state and national competitions.

Working with Elite Athletes:
Delaney has worked with swimmers like Isaac Cooper, helping him focus on his strengths in sprint events, particularly the 50m, where he has shown exceptional talent and preference over longer distances like the 100m. This specialization has been pivotal in keeping Cooper motivated and successful in the sport.
For Kyle Chalmers, Delaney emphasized maintaining the routines that had previously worked well while making minor, strategic adjustments like improving turn speeds, which contributed to Chalmers' performance at the Olympics.

Training Innovations:
A significant part of his training philosophy involves leveraging strength training, particularly through gym work, to enhance speed and efficiency in the water. Delaney has shifted focus towards ensuring that stroke mechanics, especially in backstroke, are optimized for speed and efficiency, advocating for a high elbow catch and maintaining body position.

Sprint Revolution:
The discussion touched on the evolving landscape of sprint swimming, with a focus on the 50m events becoming more specialized. Delaney believes that as athletes and coaches adapt to this specialization, we might see breakthroughs in times, particularly in events like the 50m freestyle, where the world record stands at 21.0 flat.

Impact of Cam McEvoy's Success:
Cam McEvoy's success in the 50m freestyle was highlighted as a game-changer in Australian swimming, pushing the narrative towards sprint specialization and encouraging a broader acceptance and focus on shorter sprints.

00:00 Hello Ash
03:56 Learning how to coach
7:37 How is Ash’s club set up?
09:18 Isaac Cooper
17:56 How to train for the 50
25:30 Helping Brett with backstroke
37:45 Tempo
40:45 Kyle Chalmers
45:20 Kyle’s preparation for Paris
49:03 Kyle’s personality
51:40 Kyle’s last minute prep
54:39 Top end VS Back end
58:01 50 Free WR
1:00:07 50s in LA
1:01:37 Cam’s Impact
1:05:06 Thanks Ash