Renowned Master’s swimmer and coach at the Noosa Aquatic Centre (NAC) Jan Croft most likely would have been an Olympian had the 800m Freestyle event for women been held in the early 1960s, It was not introduced until the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games.
In July 1959, sportswriter from the Melbourne Herald Ken Knox, wrote that as a 15-year-old Jan (nee Paine) of Ayr was in the first twenty in the world over 880 yards or 800 metres freestyle swimming. She was Queensland Open Champion over 220, 440, and 880 yards, and was so close to being in the Australian team at the 1960 Rome Games. Over the next few years, Jan dominated the longest distances then available for female swimmers. She was first at the Australian Championships in the 880 yards in 1961 and 1962.
Jan has resided in Noosa since 1996 and in Masters Swimming has been most successful distance Australian and international distance events for many years. She has also been acknowledged as Queensland Masters Swimming Coach of the Year on two occasions.
How fortunate Jan introduced an Over-50s Squad at the Noosa Aquatic Centre in October 2005 – but it was not without difficulty as she related at the 20th Over-50s Swim Squad celebratory luncheon at Noosa Springs Golf Club last Friday. Jan told the 50+ past and current ‘squad swimmers’ that she began teaching adults to swim privately at the NAC. However, she was advised by then NAC Manager Stephen James that it was against Council policy to run private lessons “because that’s our business.”
“Eventually, Jan had enough swimmers for the class to become an ‘official’ NAC squad. And three of that ‘original squad’ were present at the luncheon – Gilly and Ken Bensted, and Dorothy Marlow.
As can be seen in the photograph taken in the NAC pool last Friday, there are now 6 lanes of the Over-50s Squad, with the record complement in any single lane being 18 swimmers; they include Dorothy and Gilly.
Gilly started with Jan after friends gave her stroke correction lessons; she said “with endless encouragement and stroke enhancing drills, I came to enjoy and look forward to squad”. My husband Ken joined as well and it became a commitment for us both.”
“Twenty years later I still look forward to my sessions because of Jan’s encouragement, commitment to detail, and her love for the squad that keeps me coming back. Keep coaching you good thing.”
Carla Airey, who joined ‘squad’ about two years ago after swimming in the ocean at Laguna Bay stated: “I joined Jan’s squad to become more ‘swim-fit’.
“My swimming style, ability and fitness has improved so much under Jan’s patient guidance. She’s a wonderful coach and inspiration. As a world champion swimmer, her knowledge of technique and ergonomics is amazing. The squad lanes are very friendly and inclusive. Some of the participants have been swimming with Jan for 20 years, which is a testament to how much this is a valued activity. Jan’s humour and determination keeps everyone on task … It would be like herding sheep for anyone else.”
For Howard Peters swimming was always something he ‘intended to do’. “ but it wasn’t until I was helping some children with disabilities with their swimming that I really became hooked” “Joining Jan’s squad turned boring swimming into something that was fun and social. Jan is a gem”.
Earlier this year, Jan’s son Nick, a former international triathlete and swimming coach at the NAC … (he actually started several years before Jan!) … came on the pool deck to help with the burgeoning numbers in the six lanes. Together they are a great team. Dorothy Marlowe stated “I’ve been coming to squad now since day one for health reasons and am still here splashing in the lanes. Jan’s encouragement and special qualities inspires you to just keep coming back, and it is terrific she now has Nick be alongside her.“
In conclusion, Stephen James commented: “Jan has woven herself into the fabric of the NAC and will be here coaching as long as she desires.”
(Dr Ian Jobling was the Founding Director of the UQ Centre of Olympic Studies and is now Honorary Patron of the Queensland Centre of Olympic and Paralympic Studies at the University of Queensland.)
