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Proteges lap up the attention

Famed Olympic swim coach Peter Banks stresses training for all ages and skill levels.

By TERRY JONES
Published June 15, 2007

BRANDON - By 5 a.m. most every day, Peter Banks is prowling the pool deck as aspiring swimmers soak up his advice.

At 4 p.m., he's poolside again - coaching and cajoling his high-level prospects at the Brandon Sports and Aquatics Center.

In between, there's everything that comes with being head of the aquatics center - planning, interviewing parents and swimmers as well as handling administrative duties.

Banks, 51, has been an Olympic coach for Irish and U.S. swimmers. He mentored three-time gold medalist Brooke Bennett-Tassone and 2004 silver medalist Maritza Correia in Brandon.

He left the area in 2001 to coach in Fort Lauderdale. But, by October 2003, he had been lured back to run the Brandon aquatics center.

Besides being the head coach of the Blue Wave Swim Team, he's also sports development director at the aquatics center, which also trains athletes in tennis and gymnastics.

More than 160 swimmers now train in his programs. Bennett and Correia have returned from Fort Lauderdale to train for another shot at the Olympic team.

"People often ask me who our next Olympians might be from out of the youth programs, but that is not ... our main goal, " he said.

"Training grows in stages and the individual athlete will determine how far he or she intends to go based on their commitment to the intense training (that's) required."

Bennett-Tassone, a Banks protege for 20 years, followed him to Fort Lauderdale and back. She got married while in Fort Lauderdale and her husband, who works in the physical fitness field, agreed to come to Brandon so she could train for the 2008 Olympics.

"Trust is my primary reason for wanting more training with Peter, " she said. "By now, I certainly know what works for me in competition and to make even the slightest change, I need to trust my coach. I do and others also. His record shows what he can do and I see the same expression of trust in all of his athletes now."

Correia divides her training time between Brandon and her alma mater, the University of Georgia.

Yet for Banks, it's not all about molding the next Olympian.

"We have structured training for all ages, from basic swimming lessons for small children to intense training for swimmers moving into international competition, " Banks said.

Banks hired enough coaches to provide beginning swim lessons for 5-year-olds up to the most advanced levels.

The youngest students, usually ages 5 to 7, don't swim competitively. They practice a couple of days a week, usually for a few hours.

The 6- to 10-year-olds begin training to compete. The same coaches lead a group of 9- to 12-year-old swimmers who train about 12 hours a week to compete at the junior Olympic state level.

Mio Vasic, who coached after Banks left Brandon, saw the impact that came with Banks' return.

"With Peter back, there is more believability from the administration, coaches, parents and kids, " he said. "Everybody knows he can do it, has done it and is doing it again."

Banks coaches the swimmers who are 13 and older, a group that produces national and international competitors.

Five days a week, they're in the pool at 5 a.m. and again after school - each time for a minimum of two hours.

"Swimmers in this group are serious about swimming and want to go on to college and international competition, " Banks said. "We have another group for youngsters with ambitions mostly to do well as far as high school competition only."

Tyler Ball, 15, is an East Bay High School junior and member of the senior group. He placed eighth in the state tournament last fall and 12th in the 200-meter individual medley.

Ball started competing at age 6 and now is one of the 5 a.m. swimmers. He does four hours a day in the pool while maintaining a 3.5 grade-point average.

"I hope to earn a full ride at a good college with a good swim program, " he said. "When coach Banks returned, he increased the work and training load, and my times continue to fall with the intensified work."

Ball said the commitment isn't his alone. Not old enough to drive, his parents and friends help with the early morning transportation.

During the school year, he has to get back to East Bay for classes and then return to the aquatic center later in the day.

"I carpool and, of course, my parents are very much committed and involved to help me with the transportation. Swimming for me is a lifestyle and a full-time commitment."

Banks said his programs don't promote the aura of Olympic or international competition simply to attract athletes.

"We do create the opportunity for those things to rise to the surface. Maybe 1 percent of all swimmers make it to that level."

Fast Facts:

The Banks file

Some of Peter Banks' accomplishments:

1988: Assistant coach for the Irish Olympic swimming team

1996, 2000 and 2004: Assistant U.S. Olympic swimming coach.

1996 and 2000: Coached three-time Olympic gold medalist Brooke Bennett.

2004: Coached Maritza Correia to an Olympic silver medal

2005-present: Director of sports development and head coach of the Blue Wave Swim Team, Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center.

[Last modified June 14, 2007, 07:04:46]