http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/amelia-mcguinness/ Journalism student at UTS, Punch intern and former topline swimmer en Copyright 2013 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:00:10 +0000 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:00:10 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Treat-swimmers-like-adults-and-they-might-just-grow-up/ When it came out that some of the swimmers had been acting up at the Olympics, playing pranks on each other and allegedly experimenting with Stilnox at the most inappropriate of times, and that there was a hostile rift between some members of the swim team, it became obvious that things need to change. The report that some swimmers may have been acting like children was no shock. Especially for the young members of the team, swimming is a sport that does not give you much of a chance to grow up like most people do. It starts with the wake up calls from Mum or Dad. It’s too early in the morning to respond to an alarm, a gentle nudge and some softly spoken words are uttered to get you out of bed for your morning swimming session. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Amelia McGuinness) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Treat-swimmers-like-adults-and-they-might-just-grow-up/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Treat-swimmers-like-adults-and-they-might-just-grow-up/#item9486 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:20:25 +0000 Amelia McGuinness | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/stop-slamming-our-athletes-for-their-sterling-silver-service/ Last week, when I arrived at my part time job as a swim school teacher, I was greeted with an overwhelming amount of eagerness from the children whom I teach to jump in the pool and start their class. Usually, it would be my job to encourage them that the water is warm and that it’s not going to be hard today, but this time was different. They needed no motivation at all. Last night, it was reported that long jump silver medallist Mitchell Watt was slamming the media for their primarily negative coverage of the Olympic Games, saying: “The only people that are not happy are you guys. So you need to wake up.” feedback@thepunch.com.au (Amelia McGuinness) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/stop-slamming-our-athletes-for-their-sterling-silver-service/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/stop-slamming-our-athletes-for-their-sterling-silver-service/#item9157 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 01:25:06 +0000 Amelia McGuinness | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Nerves-agony-and-elation-in-200-metres-of-lactic-hell/ With just hours before the start of the London 2012 Olympics, where swimming is one of the most watched and celebrated sports, I thought I could give Punchers a little taste of what it’s like to compete as a swimmer. Although I am not claiming to have had the experiences of an Olympian, I do know what it’s like to have the sport take over every inch of your psyche in the lead up to and during race day. So imagine this - multiplied by a million with the incomparable variable of competing at an Olympic level. It’s 9.30pm the night before the 200m butterfly heat at the Australian Open Swimming Championships. I have to be up at 7.30 to get to the pool. Ten hours should be enough. Of course this never happens. I’m so worried about getting enough sleep that I can’t doze off. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Amelia McGuinness) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Nerves-agony-and-elation-in-200-metres-of-lactic-hell/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Nerves-agony-and-elation-in-200-metres-of-lactic-hell/#item9070 Thu, 26 Jul 2012 19:50:55 +0000 Amelia McGuinness | Author bios | The Punch