‘Wait, Bec!’

At the start of her next squad class, Hung called Bec aside for a talk.

Bec looked down at her bare fingernails and frowned. She wasn’t looking forward to squad today.

‘How are you?’ asked Hung. He patted the bench for Bec to sit down next to him.

Bec shrugged as she sat down. ‘OK, I guess.’ She sneaked a peek at Hung. She wondered if he was angry with her. Or worse, disappointed in her.

But his eyes were soft and kind. ‘Racing is tough, isn’t it?’ he said.

Bec nodded and let out a long wobbly sigh. ‘Everything went wrong.’

There was a loud splash, followed by laughter from the toddler pool.

‘Races are won and lost up here,’ said Hung, tapping the side of his head. ‘Do you know what I mean?’

Bec scrunched up her nose. Strong starts, fast tumble turns, smooth strokes, she thought. That’s how to win. She shook her head.

Hung rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘What’s going on in your head,’ he said, ‘can change how you feel in your body.’

Bec thought about how she had felt before the club races. She had been a whirlwind of thoughts, a jumble of nerves. No wonder she had swam so slowly.

‘Nerves aren’t the end of the world,’ smiled Hung. ‘Why don’t we try some exercises to practise calming you down?’

Bec bit her lip. ‘Really?’ she asked. She wasn’t sure she could really practise not feeling nervous.

Hung nodded. ‘I’ve done this with lots of squad kids,’ he said. Then he rubbed his hands together. ‘Tell me why you like swimming.’

‘Um …’ Bec tilted her head, watching the moving splashes in the lap pool. She thought hard.

‘I like the water,’ she said eventually. ‘How it feels to swim through it. It’s a bit like flying.’

‘Good. Remember that feeling because it’s always there. Even when you’re racing.’

Thinking about racing made Bec feel suddenly cold. The water felt so different when she was nervous.

‘Can I start laps now?’ Bec asked. She didn’t like missing time in the pool.

‘Nope. Now I’d like you to shut your eyes.’

Bec did what Hung asked. She could hear a faint splish splash blub from the lap swimmers.

‘Take a few deep breaths,’ said Hung. ‘In through your nose and out through your mouth.’

The air smelt like chlorine.

‘Now imagine you’re swimming freestyle,’ said Hung. His voice was calm.

In her mind Bec tried to imagine she was swimming. But she felt silly. Bec opened her eyes.

‘Can’t I just swim for real?’ she asked.

‘Not yet,’ Hung said seriously.

Bec sighed and shut her eyes again. She settled into the bench and tried to relax her shoulders.

She thought about leading the stroke with her elbows, about her fingers trailing the water. She imagined turning her head and breathing every three strokes.

‘How does the water feel?’ asked Hung.

‘Nice and warm.’

‘Yes, the water is nice and warm. And look how fast are you swimming! You are feeling so strong and calm. You are feeling really good about this race.’

As Bec listened to Hung’s voice, she felt what he was saying come true. I am swimming fast! I feel good. This is my favourite stroke, and my shoulders are so strong …

By now Bec was breathing in a natural rhythm, holding her breath at the right time in each imaginary stroke.

She felt calm, but at the same time, excited and energised somehow.