Publicity

From USMS Swimmer Magazine, January/February 2008

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Staff Report


Overachiever's Diary


Triathletes and competitive swimmers are a unique breed. They push hard. They know that good can always be better. They set ambitious goals, because they like the thrill of achieving them. In essence, they're all overachievers.

Overachiever's Diary celebrates the competitive drive of overachievers everywhere by chronicling the rigorous swim training methods of some of the greatest overachievers in the world -- the West Point Cadets of the Army triathlon team. Their story is told through the informative, inspiring and often-humorous e-mails of author and team swim coach Louis Tharp, a competitive swimmer, and World Masters and Gay Games medalist. Under the direction of Coach Tharp and other coaches -- and thanks to the determination of the cadets -- the Army triathlon team, in 2007, took home an individual gold in Age Group Nationals, placed fifth overall in Collegiate Nationals, and earned a bronze medal in the ITU Worlds in Hamburg, Germany.

The book provides information and insights that will help swimmers improve performance and increase confidence in the water. It is organized into three sections: Mechanics, Math, and Motivation, and includes an introduction from Masters swimmer Terry Laughlin. Coach Tharp's mentor and founder of Total Immersion Swimming, a well-known swim instruction organization and publisher of swimming books.

Overachiever's Diary reflects a coaching approach that is unique, and in many ways as unorthodox as it is successful. In the words of Coach Tharp, "It's not about mindless sets, pull buoys, or kickboards. Triathletes and competitive swimmers are smarter than that. It is about testing psychological and physical limits in the practice environment so you can achieve victory in competition."

A portion of the proceeds from Overachiever's Diary will be donated to the U.S. Army tri team.



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