Craig Watson had a phenomenal meet at the Victorian Age Short Course Championships, scoring three gold and three silver medals, with a state record topping off his feats.By Marc McGowan
BERWICK Secondary College student and Casey Tiger Shark Craig Watson announced himself to the swimming world earlier this month by smashing a state record at the Victorian Age Short Course Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
His record swim of 1.03.64 came in the 100-metre individual medley and was three seconds faster than his previous best. The time also put him three seconds ahead of the field.
“I was pretty happy. I’ve done some pretty good training over the last few months,” Watson, 13, said.
He was also victorious in the 100-metre breaststroke and 200-metre backstroke and picked up silver medals in the 100-metre backstroke, 200-metre breaststroke and 200-metre individual medley.
Watson was just two hundredths of a second off adding the 200-metre backstroke Victorian record to his name as well.
Tiger Sharks head coach Ben Hiddlestone said these were his two most outstanding swims.
“When he broke the record it was great,” he said.
Hiddlestone is running out of superlatives for his talented protege.
“It was a fantastic time. He is one to watch for the future,” he said.
Watson started at the club when he was seven, but left four years later, due to an indifferent relationship with the former coach.
He returned when he found out about Hiddlestone’s appointment (in December 2004) and has flourished under the latter’s tutelage.
Watson said Hiddlestone’s technique changes had been really helpful.
“He knows what he’s talking about,” he said.
His new training regime has included extra sessions in the pool and most sessions go beyond two hours.
Hiddlestone did his swimming apprenticeship under master coach Denis Cotterell, who was overseeing such talents as Grant Hackett, Michael Klim, Giaan Rooney, and Daniel Kowalski, at the time.
Watson does nine sessions a week in the pool, just one below the maximum of 10 allowed for children his age.
Hiddlestone said they were doing a slightly easier version of what Grant Hackett did.
It is a supreme effort for the 13-year-old, who has to juggle his training duties with school.
Watson described it as difficult sometimes.
“However you just have to deal with it. If I want to compete I have to do it,” he said.
This steely attitude towards training has as much to do with his maturity, as it does with having two older siblings who have been through a similar swimming lifestyle.
His sister, Jade, 16, gave the sport up three years ago, while his brother, Ryan, 18, quit to concentrate on his VCE studies this year. Both reached state-level competition and served as inspiration for Watson to put on the goggles.
“I’m getting better friends with my training partners now, but I started because of them,” he said.
The Tiger Sharks are developing a winning culture and Watson is thriving in the professional set-up.
“Racing is the main part I love, just getting in there and going as fast as you can,” he said.
“I want to take it as far as I can.”
