Extraordinary expertise
As team leader, my focus is now on minimising all unnecessary
interference and maximising a sense of order and control. To do this, I seek to handle proactively
anything that is not happening on the field of play and have an answer to the
myriad of questions that inevitably arise once a team member steps into the
Olympic environment. It is a privilege
to be working with people I consider to be leading experts in their chosen
field and in Performance Director Jan Bartu, women's head coach Istvan Nemeth
and national fencing coach Frici Foldes that now extends to 12 years. Alongside
them, we have with us specialists from the English Institute of Sport (EIS) in
nutrition, rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, performance psychology
and sports medicine with us in France, not to mention sparring partners from other
nations - a truly holistic support structure.
So who are the main contenders for the Modern Pentathlon at London 2012?
Well, beyond our own athletes it is difficult not to look towards the Russian
men who have won every world championships title since 2008, and the reigning
women's Olympic champion Lena Schoneborn of Germany. After winning the European
title in 2011 and the first World Cup in 2012 she went quietly under the radar
for the rest of this season. This may be a conscious strategy to prepare
without too much hype and simply deliver when it counts. We're busy doing exactly the same thing.
I hope you'll all enjoy the Opening Ceremony tonight - we'll be in France, preparing to perform.
I am so pleased Istvan Nemeth is still going on strong after all these years and that he is at the top of the Team GB fencing hierarchy. He was my coach up in Carlisle in the 90's and brought on my fencing so much that I became Northern Region Champion and competed in Junior and Senior comps while still a Junior and he helped me in the 5 Nations Pentathlon in Font Romeu. Thanks Istvan! Suzanne Graham
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