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PAGE 16, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17. 1988 prepares for Olympic swim By Mike Johnston' 'For the second. straight Summer Olympics, a Whitby resident will be competing in t swimming. sButwiwhen the inevitable E comparisons are made, simi- 1 larities between 1984 triple medalist Anne Ottenbrite and 1988 hopeful Lori Melien end at their drive and dedication. Otherwise they're different personalities, says the one who knows both quite wer o - coach Paul Meronen. When Lori Melien was 10, she rnoved to Whitby from Brampton with her parents. She was a good swimmer at the time, so her parents began looking for a coach to bring out the best in their daughtes ability. They cane across Meronen, a coach with the Ajax Aquatic Club. At that lime he had Ottenbrite, then a young swi ver in the club. I was training Anne and at the time she was setting the swiming world on fire. So I guess that is why they chose me, recalis Meronen, follOwing a two hour practice session at the Dunbarton pool in Pickering last Thursday. Ottenbrite would go on to win gold, silver and bronze medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Four years later, Melien has qualified for three Olympic events, the 100- and 200-metre backstrokes and the 4-by-lOOm medley relay in which she will swim the backstroke leg. She is also an alternate on the 4-by-lOOm freestyle relay teami. Melien and other members of the Ajax club were at the Dunbarton pool last week because the Ajax pool was closed for repars. Melien is now at the national swil competition in Etobicoke where she has a chance to qualify for one more Olymnpic event, the 50m freestyle, another eventhat which she excels. "She as the potential but it would be a bonus. She already ias a pretty heavy load on her plate," said Meronen. Melien, 16, will also not be disappointed if she doesn't qualify in the event. I won't be concentrating on it. I will be concentrating on the two backstrokes," said Melien. The Grade il student at Anderson CVI is rubbing her knee after practice. She explained that she has a recurring knee problem that causes cramps. "But I have enough time to get it prepared for the Games," she notes. Melien is currently ranked iith in the world in the 100m backstrokeanld 12th in the 200m backstroke. So if she is to make the finals, the top eight, of either event, Meronen said she will have to establish Canadian records in both events. The 100nm backstroke recordl is one minute, 3.2 seconds while the 200mnrecor is two minutes, 14.2 seconds. At the first OlYrnPic trials held in Montreal last MaY, Melien swam- the 100mn backstroke in one minute 3.84 seconds. ",if she does the national times, she will be a finalist," said Meronen. Mie noted that the Olympics will not be the highlight of Melien's career. Mlfter the Olympics there will be top world rankings and beyond," he said. Melien is also confident she can go faster after the Olympics. "Swimmers can come back after the Olympics. If I get rny head and training focused, I can go faster." But for now, her head and training are focused on Seoul, South Korea, where she will compete with the finest swimmers the world has to offer. The thought makes her shake her head. hBefore a race I get excited. Then I think of the race and I'm nervous. Her trp to the nationals is also to give her one more taste of competition. But she admits that she gets nervous even at national meets. Melien will leave for Vancouver on Aug. 23 where she will train with the Canadian Olympic swimming team. She also becomes the responsibility of the Canadian Olympic coaches. Meronen will be in the Soviet Union during the Olympics with another set of swimmers. "Lori has always been fast. She has a stubborn and tough streak that has brought her to this point," said Meronen. Of Melien and Ottenbrite, he said, "They are completely two distinct individuals in every way. Their only similarities are their dedication and push." Melien said she looked up to Ottenbrite when she joined the Ajax club, but that was the extent of any relationship. "Although subconsciously (be- ing in the same club as Anne) may have given me a push," says Melien, a top academnic student at Anderson despite her heavy swimming schedule. Melien is the fifth Whitby resident competing in the Olympics, joining gymnasts Lori Strong, Christina MacDonald, Larissa Lowing and judoist Glenn Beauchamp. The opponents were endless. My fingers, now burning from the abrasion of skin, were losing their grip. As I weakened, my opponents appeared stronger. My determination and perseverance were pushed to the limit. Time seemed to stand still. But, at Iast, barely perceivable over the pounding in my chest, I heard the final gong. Motodachi was over. From July 3 to 30 my Olympic preparation took me to Japan, the "mecca of judo." The Olyrnpic team consisted of myself and five others, each a representative of their respective weight class. An intensive schedule was planned; 31 workouts in 26 days. The flrst 16 days were spent at a university in rural Japan and the last 10 in Tokyo. After an exhausting 32 hours of travel, we finally arrived at our destination. Edo, surrounded by rice fields and mountains, is home to Tokai University. The university monopolizes this small agricultural community. Tokai, the second largest university in Japan, is traditionally the superpower of university judo. Tokai has produced many champions including four-time world and Olympic champion Yashiro Yamashita. fetchingup to $50, Tokyolte5 pay Lne price. Y A f eat of endurance by GLENN BEAUCHAMP Glenn is a third-degree black belt in judo from Whitby who is preparing for competition in the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. A pca ot sa vetcle Accommodations were at a modem and comfortable residenceon the campus. Guarding against any possible North Korean terrorist attacks, the Japanese governrent provided 24-hour armed protection. Fortunately, the combination of judo, hot, humid weather and an unusual diet were our only adversities. Daily training at Tokai consistea« of an 8:30 a.m. meeting, a two-hour morning workout (weight training, cycling, stretching) and a three-hour afternoon judo practice. The practice combined a 20-minute warm-up with 40 minutes of technique and 2 hours of fighting. motodachi. Motodachi (endurance training), calîs for one judoka to fight nine consecutive opponents for five minute durations. Motodachi, as represented in the opening paragraph, is truly a feat of physical and psychological endurance. After two and a half weeks of isolation we were anxious to get to Tokyo. Tokyo, a city of 12 million, offers all the delights of a world class city including international cuisine, a comprehensive artistic community and multifaceted entertainment. However, with subways jammed to 300 per cent capacity, rents soaring to $25,000 a month and cantaloupes up to $50, Tokyotes pay the Each morning we ventured to the home of the emperor of Japan, the Imperial Palace. Here we had a two-hour practice with the Imperial guard judo team.yIn the afternoon we took the subway for one hour to practice at Ni Ti Dia University. Ni Ti Dia is the national university for the teaching of sports. At Ni Ti Dia there are 500 black belts practising every day. These two workouts encompassed all the facets of the Tokai workouts. By the end of the trip the team was feeling the efl'ects of such an intensive schedule. Our bodies were worn down and most had developed some type of nagging injury. Psychologically, it was getting harder and harder to push ourselves by this point, our performance was optional. Within the framework of our Olympic preparation this was designed to be our low point, and indeed it was. Now I am looking ahead to a seven-week climb to my peak. Will this be the greatest peak in my 17 years in judo? Hopefully it will be a peak that will make all those motodachis insignificant. - rdite? ici i Ci e ire ni & 'q 1 fetching piice.