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Profile: Kristy Cameron

The Last One To Clap Hands

 

Tyler Lewall


Two years ago Kristy Cameron was obtaining her first Provincial standard times with the Huron Hurricanes, swimming in their four-lane, 25-metre pool. She attended her first Nationals in the summer of 1997 and won the 200 IM National Championship in the spring of 1998. This August, she won her second National Championship and qualified for the Commonwealth Games in the 200 IM by beating Olympic silver medallist Marianne Limpert and Olympic finalist Joanne Malar.


Individual Medley not a fluke
Click image for larger photo. Photo © Marco Chiesa


Following 1998 Spring Nationals, Cameron's coaches Kendra Papple and Don Burton moved to Guelph to coach the Guelph Marlins. To continue her training, Cameron moved with her coaches to Guelph, hoping to continue her rapid progress. Going into the Commonwealth Trials, this Grade 12 student had undergone many tough changes in her life. She had changed clubs, changed her training, moved from her home, and now had to prove that her victory at Spring Nationals was not a fluke. Qualifying for the Commonwealth Games was in the back of her mind but not her priority. After swimming another best time of 2:16.03, Kristy proved that her success was not a fluke.

Prior to her move to Guelph, Kristy was swimming only 12 hours a week. Following her move she was able to increase this to 18 hours a week, swimming 5000 to 6000 metres per practice.

"My coaches tended to focus more on technique than volume," said Cameron and it is paying off. Her favourite set consists of 34 x 100. The first 12 100s are on 1:45 and every fourth 100 is at maximum effort. The second 12 100s are on 2:00 and every third is at maximum effort. The final 10 100s are on 3:00 and every second is at maximum effort. Normally the swimmers will pick one stroke, but Kristy does the first set free, the second set fly, and the final set breast.

"Before my races I like to think about my race and think of the technical things I need to work on," said Cameron. "And when I am on the blocks I wait so I am the last one to clap my hands."

Following the Commonwealth Games, Cameron plans to take a little time off and focus on school before starting her first full season at Guelph, where once again she hopes to prove to everyone that she is here to stay.


Kristy Cameron, CAN
BIRTHDATE June 24, 1981
PLACE Clinton, ON
HEIGHT 5 ft. 10 in. / 177 cm
HOME Guelph, ON
OCCUPATION Student
REPRESENTS Guelph Marlin AC
COACH Kendra Papple
Performances
98 Nationals 1st 200 IM 2:16.13
  3rd 400 IM 4:50.97
97 Nationals 14th 200 breast 2:39.63
97 Canada Games 3rd 100 breast 1:13.42
  1st 200 breast 2:38.10
  3rd 200 IM 2:23.38






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