When Adam Peaty walked via the doorways at Metropolis of Derby in January 2009 awaiting him was Mel Marshall.
Mel is a former Nice Britain swimmer who received world, European and Commonwealth medals in addition to competing on the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
After retiring from competitors Mel turned her hand to teaching and now leads the Derby squad.
Teri McKeever led america ladies’s swimming staff on the 2012 Olympics and Lisa Bate heads up the programme at London Aquatics Centre however teaching is usually nonetheless a male area.
Adam and Mel’s partnership is working wonders with the breaststroker holding the 50m and 100m world information and the World Championships in Kazan looming.
Of whether or not Mel affords a special dimension as a feminine coach, Adam muses: “There may be not that a lot distinction actually, I can’t actually inform the distinction. I don’t know whether it is totally different coaches or gender.
“Mel pumps me as much as the max – that’s what she is nice at, she is aware of methods to get that 100% set off on me.”
Adam had encountered male coaches earlier than becoming a member of Derby and remembers:
“My outdated coaches had been actually aggressive however did me good.
“Earlier than races after I was youthful I used to be like ‘yeah let’s completely annihilate it’ however she has taught me methods to suppose smarter now as an alternative of going exhausting at every thing, you go exhausting at every thing and good as nicely.
“One of many most important areas is that it’s not solely what you do within the pool nevertheless it’s additionally the opposite 18 hours a day. There’s no level going swimming, do a very exhausting set after which go to a celebration or no matter.”
The pair had solely been working collectively a short while when their fledgling partnership was examined, Adam strolling out solely to quickly return to the fold following an apology to Mel.
“I used to be a proper little nuisance,” he admits.
“I believe having a male coach sort of introduced that facet out in me and I used to be solely with Mel three months when that occurred. With a male coach you possibly can have argument I believe however with a girl I believe you simply actually negotiate.
“I wouldn’t do it now however I believe she calmed me down and acquired me heading in the right direction.
“I have to know why I do stuff: I nonetheless ask her now why I have to do issues however I believe she understands why I would like that as a result of that’s my character.
“Earlier than I used to be like I don’t need to try this, I wouldn’t ask why.”
Mel is forthright with a head down, get on with it sort angle.
“You’ve simply acquired to have balls. It doesn’t matter. I’ve at all times been the primary woman to do every thing else.
“I used to be the primary woman in my space to play boys’ soccer after I was at main college. I used to be the one woman on my course at college when it comes to a sports activities course so simply get caught in, it doesn’t matter. A distinct dimension however you’ve simply acquired to have balls.”
