Coach at Umina

NSW Institute of Sport pole-vault coach Peter Parczyk recently addressed Umina High School athletes who are part of the school's "gifted and talented program".
Peter's coaching is usually aimed at athletes preparing to participate at an international level.
The school athletes he addressed on this occasion compete mostly at regional and state level in sports as diverse as baseball, soccer, surf life saving, athletics, squash and swimming.
Peter was able to give students advice on setting realistic goals, how to analyse their failures in a positive way, where to go for help and how to get the best from their skills training.
He also inspired his select audience with the retelling of a conversation with runner Carl Lewis who confided that he was "awkward" and not very talented when he was young.
"There were a lot of people out there who had more talent - I just trained harder."
At the NSW Institute of Sport, they appear to have a similar philosophy as they train six days a week and have only three weeks holiday a year.
"You need that drive from within," said Peter.
Apparently though, athletes still find time to study and socialise.