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Jess's Questions and Answers Page
Check out all the questions Jess has received and find her answers below each question!
Remember that if you have any question for Jess then send her a message to askjess@platypuslagoon.org.au
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hi i'm leisha Hi Leisha Thanks for writing to me and thank you for thinking I am wise I’m not quite sure I would say I was wise although I do try to think before I do things Which I guess is using wisdom a bit. I think a wise person is someone who is intelligent, clever and sensible and someone who thinks about the consequences of doing something before they just go ahead and rush at it like a bull at a gate I do have a few quotes I say when people ask me but they aren’t quotes that I have made up They are quotes that I have read and thought they were very god advice to pass onto others and so I use them when I can They are things like · Do what you can with what you have · Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well · Stay motivated – there could be great things ahead for you · Never give up on your dreams · Set your goals high and don’t stop ‘til you get there · To be a winner – all you need to give is all you have · Don’t worry about those around you – set yourself a goal and go for it I hope this helps a bit Leisha Thanks also for the congratulations to me for making the Olympic Team I am so happy I will be representing Australia in Beijing in August in the 100 & 200 butterfly Good luck with your assignment Bye for now Jess J **************************
Hi Jess
My name is Joanna Saker aged 9. I swim for the Mareeba Wildcats in FNQ and 2007/08 is my first full season of swimming. I have PB's in both long/short course, including for 400/800 free.
We have just ended our swim season. Can you please advise me of the types of training I can do when not in the pool for the next 3 months?
Hope to hear from you soon.
From Joanna
Hi Joanna
Thanks for writing to me and congratulations on your PBs
Well done also for training for the whole 2007/2008 season J
In winter when I was about your age
Our club would finish up as well and the school pool got emptied and that was all very sad.
I was lucky though because we live near an indoor heated pool so I still used to train 3 – 5 times a week at that pool over winter
BUT
I also played heaps of other sports – especially soccer
With that we trained only once a week and then had our games on the weekends
That was heaps of fun
I also did cross country running and played hockey at school
ANYWAY you should be able to find some sort of sport or little athletics that will keep you fit and healthy over winter
So when you get back into the pool in September 2008 you will be a little stronger and fitter than you were this season
I hope you find something you enjoy Joanna – remember – do what you can, with what you have J
Bye for now
Jess J **************************
Hey Jess,
It’s me Claudia again sorry….
But I’m desperate to learn all of your awesome tips to become the best swimmer I can.
Well the past years I’ve been at school I have wanted to be Age Champion for my grade but I’m not as good as the people that I verse! Can you please help me? By giving me some tips
Anyway let me tell you one of my random achievements, I got a first Place in my school Cross Country Carnival.
Well Bye
Your Favorite Butterfly Fan
Claudia.
Hey Claudia
It’s really freaky you won the Cross Country – I ALWAYS came first in my cross country races as well
And I really loved doing them
I’d come first at school, then progress to Districts, then progress along to Regionals
I didn’t usually make it past Regionals though
I guess it was because I was so fit because of swimming
I really enjoyed running them – they were fun
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST PLACE IN THE CROSS COUNRTY J
With your swimming – first of all you have to train properly and regularly.
You can’t just decide a week or month before the event that’s what you’re going to try to do.
Depending on what you are aiming for – “your goal” – like being the age champ at school or making the districts, states or whatever,
you should train as much as you can so you can achieve the goal you have set yourself.
Then, you have to give 100% at training – if you don’t try your best, ALL the time – you are only cheating yourself
That is the number one tip I can give you
After that there are heaps of little things to help you along when you’re training and competing
Your coach would tell you little ways to improve your stroke, to finish your race better, to dive in and streamline at the start
And that’s the next best tip – always listen to what your coach says
They obviously know what they’re talking about and are sharing their knowledge with you
so listen well and take it all in……then do what they say
Do those 2 things to start with Claudia and you are well on your way to becoming a better swimmer
Great to hear from you again
Bye for now
Jess J
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To Jess,
My name is Rebecca, bec to my friends and I just wanted to know how you
switch on before your races because I am having a lot of difficulty and
Nationals for me is 3 weeks away. How do you deal with negative comments and
use them to your advantage? I train 9-10 sessions a week and enjoy my
swimming. Do you ever totally feel like all your energy is just drained from
you? because that happens to me at times but I keep going. Good luck at the
Olympic trials this weekend, hope you do really well.
Thanks Bec.
Hi Bec
Thanks for your good wishes for my swims at the Trials in Sydney
And I wish you heaps of luck at the Nationals
Get out there and do your best!!!
As for getting ready – definitely never listen to other swimmers before you race, especially those who are trying to psyche you out
I know there are swimmers like that and you cannot afford to give them any of your attention
If there isn’t someone you can talk to about something else besides the swimming before you race then
Try listening to some music or I personally love to read
and I will read a book rather than get into all the negative psyching out that some swimmers try to do
Always think positive
If you know you’ve done the work, then go out there and tell yourself “I CAN DO THIS”
Believe in yourself and race your own race – don’t worry about the other swimmers and what they’re doing
With the drained feeling – I feel like that most of the time after training
When you train, you should train at race pace. It’s no use not putting in 100% at training
Then wondering why you didn’t swim well in competition
Always give 100% because if you don’t and you think you’re getting away with it because your coach didn’t see you
Miss a lap, or sneak a turn, always remember – you are only cheating yourself
So it is good that you feel drained of energy – it means you are doing everything you can to achieve your goals
And giving 100% all the time.
Good luck at the Nationals Bec
And HAVE FUN – I loved going to the Nationals – it was always very exciting
Never give up on your dreams
Bye for now
Jess J **************************
HI, my names Celine and am 10 years old. This year I luckily got into states and its my first time. My fave stroke is fly and thats the only race im doing in the whole comp. My goal is to try and get under 35.00secs. Have you got any tips to make my fly any better? That would be great.
Thanx Hi Celine
Thanks for writing to me
I’m always glad to hear from a fellow butterflyer
The best person to ask how to improve your stroke would be your coach
He knows you and how you swim
But I will give you a couple of tips that might help you along
When you dive in make sure you streamline – with your hands tight above your head and kick really hard and fast
Then come out of your streamline stroking and ready to race
Find what you’re most comfortable with, with your breathing – like, if you breathe every stroke or every second stroke
And stick to that……try not to change all over the place
And when you’re finishing the race – put your head down once you reach the flags and stroke for the wall as hard and fast as you can
Good luck trying to reach your goal – I hope you manage to go under 35 seconds
Stay motivated – there could be great things ahead for you
Bye for now
Jess J **************************
Hey Jess,
I was wondering if you could help me with a decision.
Well I really want to start up swimming again, at a club but they swim on Friday nights and I also do Girl Guides on Friday nights too.
I can’t decide if I want to quit Guides and go with swimming or go with Guides and forget swimming?
Please, please help me
Signed Your Biggest Butterfly FAN!!!
Hi Claudia
What a dilemma you have.
I wish I could tell you which one of the two choices you have to pick from was the right one to choose……but
Only you can really make that decision.
You have to choose what you love the most, because if you choose one thing and then the whole time you’re there
you are regretting it and wishing you were at the other, then you won’t be able to enjoy yourself
or give 100% of your time and energy to the one you’ve chosen.
I’m sorry I can’t say which one Claudia. I kind of had to make a choice a little bit like yours when I was 11.
I used to play club soccer AND swim. I loved playing soccer, with the team spirit and the games on the weekends were so much fun.
But I also loved swimming. I had so much fun at club nights and swimming carnivals.
My coach told me I “couldn’t serve 2 masters” and I had to choose one or the other.
I chose swimming (obviously) but that’s because that’s what I loved the most
and that’s what you are going to have to decide
Do you love Guides more than swimming. Do you have more fun at training and club nights or going to your Guides meetings
and doing all the fabulous fun things you do at Guides.
Good luck with your decision making – I realize I haven’t been any help at all to you
All I can say is sit down and think where you have the most fun and which one you love the most – and then choose that one.
Remember Claudia – Whatever is worth doing...is worth doing well
Bye for now
Jess J **************************
Hey jess im 12 turning 13 this year and my 50 freestyle time is 30.05 i really want to get under thirty is there anything i could do to help myself to get under that time. Thank-You
Hi Jay
Great to hear from you
30.05sec is so, so close to your magic goal of getting under 30
It’s great you have set yourself that goal and it IS reachable
So good on you!
Obviously the first thing to do is to do all the right things at training all the time
That way you will get better and better – without a doubt
Next, when you’re starting your race
try to streamline after you have dived in
Keep your hands together tight above your head and kick (freestyle or butterfly) hard and fast under the water before you surface
Then come out stroking – don’t delay getting started with your stroke
Then at the end of the 50m do NOT breathe for the last 15m (from under the flags)
Just put your head down and swim for the wall with all your strength
If you do all these every time you swim
Your times should come down to where you want them
Good luck with your goal of going under 30sec Jay
I hope you achieve what you want
Never give up on your dreams
Bye for now
Jess J **************************
Hi Jess,
I am 11 and have found out that I am going to be a long distance swimmer and wondered if you can include some tips to help improve swimming for distance swimmers. It is hard as all my friends are sprinters and can't help.
Jessica Hi Jessica,
I spoke to a swimming coach friend of mine. His advice was:
Bye for now
Jess J **************************
hi jess
it's me emma again. r u going to be at states on the 21st of december .that is my b'day i'm turning 13 and i can't wait .how long do u get off over christmas and winter all up we will probalbly get 3 weeks .how often to u train a week ?we train 10
Hi Emma
It’s good to hear from you again J
I hope you had a lovely birthday on the 21st December.
I saw your results at the States in December
You did some outstanding swims
CONGRATULATIONS on qualifying for the Nationals in your 100 and 200 fly
The times you did were amazing
You did PBs in your 100 & 200 freestyle which was super
then
A 2 second PB in your 100 fly was great
but to do a 9.5 second in your 200 fly was awesome
And you got a State medal as well
WELL DONE!!!!!
I’m working really hard at training
When I come home everything hurts
I just eat my dinner and go straight to bed
It’s exhausting
I also loved watching the Olympics when I was younger
I don’t really remember Barcelona in 1992 because I was only 5 when they were on
But I do remember the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 because that’s when Susie O’Neill won Gold in the 200 fly
I bet she was fizzing when she did that
I think that’s when I thought I’d like to be like her
I was 9 then
And I was glued to the television in 2000 when the Sydney Olympics were on
It was fantastic having the Olympics right here in our own country
Susie got 1 Gold and 3 silvers at that Olympics
She was an amazing swimmer
I was 13 then and that’s the year I won my first Australian National Gold medal in butterfly over in Perth
I came home with 2 Gold medals and a silver that year and I’ve been competing ever since.
Oh well – enjoy school this year – I guess you’re at high school now
Have fun – even though you probably don’t think so now you will find out that your school years are the best
So have a blast
Bye for now
Jess J
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This question is from Carly
Hi I am Carly from Hervey bay swimming club and my age is 10.
And my favourite stroke is butterfly too. I’m a very huge fan and
I saw you at the Kingaroy Swimming Meet (
photo with you.
Anyway my question is:
No. 1: Do you only do butterfly competitions or do you do other strokes in races?
No. 2: When you do swimming training before you start are you more like `I’ll get it over and done with’ or `Yes a long hard tired session of fun’
Thanx
From Carly
Hi Carly
Thanks for writing to me and thanks also for sending the photos of us together
I like knowing to whom I'm writing.
I had a great time at Kingaroy. It was fun meeting everyone when I was there.
To answer your questions.
At competitions I ALWAYS do butterfly, but sometimes I also do freestyle.
At the Queensland States which were just on in December I only did 50, 100 & 200 butterfly.
but normally at a State Championships I would do 200m & 400m freestyle as well,
and some relays with the other girls from my club.
At the 2005 Queensland States, I even did a 400m individual medley. I got a Gold medal in that race that year - because I was the first Queenslander to finish, but my backstroke and breaststroke are not that great, so I try not to do that too often.
When I was your age I used to swim all the strokes at competitions. It was exhausting but lots of fun.
With training.
I'll be honest, right now…I think your first option is what I do think...."I'll get it over and done with".
At training at the moment I am working very hard. With less than 80 days until the Olympic Selection Trials I have a lot of hard training mapped out for me by my coach.
But again..when I was your age, I quite enjoyed training. I looked forward to school finishing in the afternoon.
My Mum would pick me and my brothers and sister up, we would go home, have something to eat, get changed and then head straight to the pool.
I loved meeting all my friends at the pool. We'd have a chat while we were writing our sets on our white boards and getting ready to get in and then my coach would say "Come on. Stop chattering and get in"…...and off we'd all go.
I hope you have fun with your training too Carly, and GOOD LUCK with your butterfly.
Never give up on your dreams okay J
Bye for now
Jess J
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Hey Jess,
My name in Sian, I am 12 years old and recently I swam at state. Last year I was 7th fastest in state for my 100 breast, but this year I didn't do any good. I put 2 seconds onto my time in the 200 breast from last year and in the 100 breast I only took off .50 in a whole year!!! My coach says that I'm developing(in that way)so it was most probably caused by that. But I feel like its just an excuse! I have decided I'm going to do more sessions(I do 5 now which I know is a little slack) because, I know everybody says it, but i really want to be the next leisle Jones(no offence but she's a breast stroker). What do you recommend I do to get better? I want this sooo bad!!!
love always, sian :-) xox
P.S I won that j.x trip to Sydney for the finals of the olympic trials so I'll see you there!! I think it will give me a big motivational boost!!!!
Hi Sian
First of all - you sound very positive and you definitely know what you want.
And…it looks like you have heaps of support from your parents and your coach……
so half your battle is over.
I had a quick look at your times on the web site and I think you did quite well.
Your times are improving and that is the main thing.
In your 100m breaststroke – since the States last year, you have gone from 1:34.69 to 1:29.03 this year.
That’s over 5 seconds off your 100m brst in one year AND you did that only doing 5 training sessions per week.
That’s pretty awesome you know. Imagine how well you would do with a little more training.
With your 200m breaststroke, I still see improvement.
At the Queensland Long Course Championships in October you did nearly a 6 second PB in one meet. That’s outstanding.
Don’t give up because……If you don't have a dream, how are you going to make your dream come true?
I guess my advice is, to try to do a few more training sessions…5 sessions is a bit “cruisy”.
Only you know how far you can push yourself so; GO FOR IT!!!
Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can.
And if you end up being as good as Leisel, that will be fabulous.
Leisel and I are GREAT friends and I thinks she’s pretty awesome too,
so you have picked a fabulous role model.
Train hard Sian - Set your goals high, and don't stop till you get there J
Bye for now
Jess J **************************
This question is from Adrianne, who swims for the Burpengary Swim Club:To Jess
I wanted to ask you how long have you been swimming and if Butterfly has always been your favourite stroke. I have been swimming since I was 4 and I always hated Butterly and loved Freestyle but now Butterfly is my best stroke. I came 5'th at Chandler over-all in my age-group swimming Butterfly.You are my favourite swimmer and I am inspired by you. I saw you swim Wednesday 19'th December at States and you were awesome!
Adrianne 9 Yrs Burpengary Swimming Club Hi Adrianne
Thanks for writing and for your kind words to me.
I feel like I have been swimming forever.
I learnt to swim when I was 18 months – 2 years and could kind of swim (to save myself) by then. I started swimming at Club when I was 4 years old and have been swimming ever since.
I have always loved butterfly. I don’t know why but I just find it the easiest for me to do. I do love to do freestyle too and up until I was 16 years old used to do 200m and 400m freestyle races at swim meets as well as the butterfly.
When I was your age, I used to swim all the strokes and did medleys too, at swim meets, although my breaststroke is pretty sad looking. I’ve never been able to like doing breaststroke.
Congratulations Adrianne, on your 5th ranking in the 9 year butterfly age group. That is amazing. Well done!!!
Keep up the good training…it’s obviously working for you and remember
To be a winner – All you need to give – is ALL you have.
Bye for now
Jess J
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This question is from Makani, who swims at the Gold Coast:Hi Jess!!!
I am an eleven year old girl training at the Gold Coast and would like to know how often you trained at my age(11). All the best for the Australian Championships.
Makani Luske!!
Hi Makani
Thanks for writing and for your good wishes for my success at the Australian Championships
I only just started with my coach Ken at the age of 11
Before that I used to swim at my 25m school pool with all different coaches.
Up until I turned 11 – I used to train maybe 5 or 6 times a week
Every afternoon Monday to Friday and maybe a morning (maybe not J)
I loved going to training, club night and carnivals – I had a blast.
Then when I joined up with Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton; I switched to a 50m pool
I got a bit of a shock when Ken said I had to do 10 sessions a week because I wasn’t used to that
But I started doing the ten sessions per week from the age of 11
And have been doing that ever since
I didn’t start doing gym when I was 11 though because you still have a lot of growing to do when you’re that age
But we used to do a bit of light core work on the pool deck, skipping, sit ups, stuff like that
And the pool is in a big enclosed ground and we used to run around the grounds of the pool sometimes as well
It was fun!
Of course it’s all changed now and I probably train about 25 hours per week now
In and out of the pool – but you don’t have to worry about that for now J
Always remember to enjoy what you do – have fun while you’re doing it
And never give up on your dreams Makani
Bye for now
Jess J
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This question is from Madeline, who swims for the Holland Park Swim Club:hey jess my name is madeline fisher and i am a huge fan of u and i am a huge fan of swimming anyway i just want to ask you were u upset when libby lenton beat u in the 100m fly ? well i hope you reply! maddy xox Hi Madeline
Thanks for writing to me
And thanks for being a great supporter
To answer your question – it was a great race that Libby and I had in Melbourne
We have always been very close in our racing
in fact one time we even tied for first
Libby had the best meet down in Melbourne in March
She swam like a champion
In the end I think that 100 butterfly race came down to the touch on the wall and she beat me by .09 sec
It’s the first time she has actually beaten me in a long course major meet
and it has given me the incentive to train even harder so that doesn’t happen again
We all have to learn from our disappointments and we’ve all had them
That is part of swimming really
Every defeat makes you a little stronger, makes you more determined and gives you more desire to win
Thanks for writing Maddy and never give up on your dreams
Bye for now
Jess J **************************
This question is from Emma, who swims for the Lowood and District Seals Swim Club:hi jess it's me emma again. r u going to be at states on the 21st of december .that is my b'day i'm turning 13 and i can't wait .how long do u get off over christmas and winter all up we will probalbly get 3 weeks .how often to u train a week ?we train 10
If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it's OK. But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people don't even shoot.
cya
ema Hi Emma
Glad to hear from you again!
I won't be at the States on your birthday - sorry
I'm just doing the butterfly this year - that's all
so I will only be there on the three butterfly days for the open swimmers
I hope you have the best day on your birthday
and if you're swimming that day
I hope it makes it your lucky and successful day as well
I train all through winter and
I only get Christmas Day off at Christmas time - that's it
I also get New Years Day morning off but still have to go that afternoon
Wicked hey!
Each week, I train 20 hours in the water
3 hours in the gym
3 x 5km runs per week
plus core work at the pool every afternoon before we get into the pool
It's kind of like a part time job - it takes up so much time
Anyway keep training hard for the States and Good Luck
I'll check for your results when they turn up on the web site
Bye for now
Jess J **************************
This question is from Emma, who swims for the Lowood and District Seals Swim Club:Hi jess
My name is Emma and I swim with the Lowood and district seals. I saw u the other day at the JX forum [front row].I also do the 200m butterfly but always get really nervous about it because it is such a long and hard race. you really expire me and I want to go to the Olympics in 2012 will you be there?i love swimming and couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life.
good luck in your next comp.
Emma
Hi Emma
Thanks for writing to me. I hope you enjoyed yourself at the JX Forum – it was a huge day.
Glad to hear there’s another 200 flyer coming through the swim ranks. 200 butterfly swims are very hard to do but just keep telling yourself “never give up”. And after each lap tell yourself “only 3 to go…only 2 to go…and then LAST
Glad to hear you’ve set yourself a goal to make the 2012 Olympics. I hope I’ll still be there. I’ll only be 25 years old then so would like to think I’ll still be around
These butterfly swimmers are my inspiration to keep going……
Susie O’Neill swam until she was 25 years old but then she retired
Petria Thomas (AUS) swam butterfly until she was 29 years old
Inge de Bruin (NED) swam butterfly until she was 31 years old and
Martina Moravcova (SLO) is still swimming butterfly and she is 31 years old now
I’m like you I’ve swum all my life and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I just love it so much as well
Great to hear from you Emma
Never give up on your dreams
Bye for now
Jess J **************************
This question is from Ebony, who swims for the Maroochydore Swim Club:
Hello Jess, this is Ebony from Maroochydore Swim Club.
How do you deal with pressure? Every time I race I find myself wanting to do so well that I psyche myself out. How do you do it? On T.V you look so relaxed. I know I would be trembling. But I know why I feel scared. I think it's because I think that my other competitors say they have really fast times that are faster than mine. I try to not take notice but I can still hear them. Then when I totally psyche myself out I make up excuses for not doing as well as I could have. I also find that I think everyone expects me to do well and I want to do well for them but I end up in a big mess. So please help me to deal with the pressure because I really want to achieve my Olympic dream and I am not going to do it this way. I really admire you and hope you can help me! From Ebony Hi Ebony
Thanks for writing to me
You sound like you’re getting all tense before you race and it’s affecting your results and making you sad.
Before I race, I NEVER think about my race.
I read, listen to music or chat with the people around me but I never think about my race.
I know there are some swimmers who do try to psyche out their competition.
I know it’s hard – but try not to listen to them.
When you listen to them, you start to panic and you are then doing exactly what they want you to do – getting all flustered.
You can’t worry about the others around you. You just have to think about yourself.
Don’t try to beat their times. Try to beat your own times.
Every time you swim – try to do a PB. You cannot swim any faster than when you swim a PB. A PB is the best you can do
If you just swim against your own times, then it doesn’t matter what times the other swimmers are doing because you are really only racing yourself, and if you swim fast enough to win a medal – then that is a bonus – you’ve done a PB and won a medal.
This goes for everyone else too. Just tell them you are going out there to swim a PB in that race.
If they all know you are going to try to swim a PB and then you do a PB then everyone will be excited for you and not disappointed because you didn’t “win the race” or whatever.
Make swimming fun for YOU. You don’t want it to be stressful because you will end up not liking it, then you want to do it anymore.
Remember Ebony – Don’t worry about those around you. Set yourself a goal then – GO FOR IT.
Never give up on your dreams
Good luck Ebony
Bye for now
Jess J |
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