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CHAT - DANIEL KOWALSKI

Edited transcript of the Live Chat with Daniel Kowalski, on the 19th March 2002.

Interviewer: Tonight we are talking to Daniel Kowalski. Hi Daniel how are you and how have you find the championships so far?
Daniel Kowalski: I'm good :) & I'm a little bit bored... because I've been sitting around waiting to swim on the last day!

Interviewer: What races are you participating in the trails in and considering the injuries how well do you think you will go?
Daniel Kowalski: I'll only be swimming in the 1500m... ahh.. just hopefully enough to get a place on the podium!

Interviewer: James_Bond_007: Hi Daniel I'm a big fan of yours - Ive watched you race sometimes... is there anywhere I can join a fan club?
Daniel Kowalski: The best way.... I don't have a fan club... but the best way to communicate with me is to go to my website! http://www.danielkowalski.telstra.com.au/

Interviewer: Daniel, today's press had criticised the pool alot, as lacking necessary ventilation for good results. How badly can that affect the swimmers? Is it really why we are not seeing the world records that we are so used to?
Daniel Kowalski: I guess first of all I think Australia tends to have been spoilt because of the multitude of world records in the past.. almost to the point of taking them for granted. It's a big ask to expect world records every time a major meet comes along.... having said that, the conditions at the pool, particularly last night - were atrocious... but they were a little bit cooler tonight.

Interviewer: The pools I attend are often so bad that a minor stomach upset, or raspatory problem is almost guaranteed. Do swimmers suffer similarly to the public or are the competition pools specially treated?
Daniel Kowalski: I mean, most of the pools we swim at are properly treated.... but I swim in a public pool at home on the Gold Coast... with the public :) And I haven't had health problems as a result - to the point where it's been detrimental!

Interviewer: Althor: Daniel, how are the shoulders holding up in recent times, since your recovery from the operation, is it still affecting your performances in any way?
Daniel Kowalski: It's been a rough couple of months, but I did some solid work before that so I think that'll be enough to get me by!

Interviewer: Rudy: Daniel do you think that doping plays a major part in all those world records which were broken that last years?
Daniel Kowalski: I believe the sport in this country is very, very clean! The drug testing procedures pretty much make it close to impossible with taking anything.... The Drug Agency rep's appeared at our pool 3 times within a 2 week period... they're always keeping you on your toes!

Interviewer: Garly_22: Daniel how do you swim so fast?
Daniel Kowalski: Alot of hard work!!!! LOL And just the pure enjoyment of it as well.

Interviewer: Do you find that the sport has opened any doors for you that you may have not otherwise have access to?
Daniel Kowalski: Across the board it has opened alot of doors and provided alot of opportunities as well, and when the day comes that I retire - hopefully I can make the most of those.

Interviewer: James_Bond_007: Daniel are there any secrets to being a good swimmer? and from Garly_22, so how do you reckon I could become a great swimmer like you?
Daniel Kowalski: Obviously hard work and perseverance is the key.... plus enjoyment! and really focussing on the little things such as the technical aspects, ie. diet & rest & recovery.

Interviewer: Althor: Daniel, I read you qualified for the Australian champs in the 1500m without having to swim a time, is that unusual?
Daniel Kowalski: I have been given special consideration from Australian Swimming to swim this meet.

Interviewer: James_Bond_007: When are you planning to retire? and from Wilstar, what do you plan to do in your future?
Daniel Kowalski: Until my body can no longer handle the swimming... that's when I will retire. At the moment I'm doing a Health Science Degree at Bond University on the Gold Coast, and I hope to stay involved in sport somehow in the future.

Interviewer: Rudy: What was the hardest set you've ever swam?
Daniel Kowalski: Probably 12 x 400's on 420 in a long course pool!

Interviewer: Heart: Do you still have the same enjoyment in swimming that you had when you first started?
Daniel Kowalski: Despite the shoulder frustrations... the enjoyment is probably greater now than ever before... just due to the training group I have.

Interviewer: Covy: What do you do when you don't have to swim?
Daniel Kowalski: Apart from studying.... :) Lots of dry land work - to maintain the strength & mobility in the shoulders.... & just hanging out with my squad mates, doing normal things.

Interviewer: Do the swimmers socialise together or is the comradery only during the meets?
Daniel Kowalski: Well our group is very close... we do alot together. I mean, everyone's obviously very friendly & gets along well. >

Interviewer: Wilstar: Did you always have the goal of becoming a swimmer when you grew up? Or did you have another dream?
Daniel Kowalski: I always just wanted to go to the Olympics... and swimming was the only one thing I was good at! LOL So I was left with no choice.

Interviewer: Em: Will you ever swim the Pier to Pub gain??
Daniel Kowalski: ummm... if they can guarantee the water will be warmer than 20 degrees! LOL

Interviewer: Buttercup_26389: How much training did you do when you were young?
Daniel Kowalski: When I was 10 years of age I was doing 5-6 sessions a week, and from when I was 14 onwards that progressed to about 10 sessions a week!

Interviewer: Daniel, your health and fitness must be of primary concern for you. What is your usual routine to keep it at the top level all the time?
Daniel Kowalski: Obviously I maintain a good diet.... but that's still an area I really need to improve on :) I get regular massage, physiotherapy & acupuncture... and try to rest & recover as much as possible. I do about 7 hours training a day during the week to give you an idea...

Interviewer: Wraith10: Swimming at the many events you and other swimmers do - how do you recover so fast from the effort? Carbo loading or a good medical team??
Daniel Kowalski: The bottom line is the training that you do beforehand, that really lays the foundation, and then you really need a strong mind - great diet, massage.... doing all the little things.

Interviewer: Will we see you in Greece with gold around your neck?
Daniel Kowalski: I just want to get to Greece.... and then whatever happens from there is a bonus! :)

Interviewer: Wilstar: Does being a huge star become quite stressful at times, eg. Cant walk down street without being noticed?
Daniel Kowalski: I don't have a problem whatsoever!!! lol

Interviewer: Covy: Where would you like to go for a vacation?
Daniel Kowalski: Anywhere just as long as my friends were around!

Interviewer: Synik: Do you think that Ian Thorpe's large hands and feet give him an unfair advantage ?
Daniel Kowalski: No, definitely not an unfair advantage... that's what you're born with! LOL You're born with what you got, and he got a bit more than others... so good on him!

Interviewer: Do you get to do a lot of sightseeing done while you are traveling to different meets?
Daniel Kowalski: Yeah, we get to see a hotel & a pool! LMAO

Interviewer: Linz: Do you think if a swimmer reaches his/her peak at an early age - say 15ish, their chances of still being big when they are older decreases?
Daniel Kowalski: Ummm... I think it's all a mindset - that's what it comes down to.... You've obviously got the physical attributes 'cos you've proved that, but it's whether or not you're mind is in it! >

Interviewer: That is all we had the time for tonight. Thanks Daniel. We wish you the PB in 1500
Daniel Kowalski: Thanks guys for the great question... and feel free to keep asking them through my website... http://www.danielkowalski.telstra.com.au/ Cya!

Session Close: Tue Mar 19 20:29:55 2002

Article originally located at Telstra.com