Era ends: Swim champ McGregor Fea leaves long-time Queenstown coach Frank Wylie to go to university this year
Teenage swimming star McGregor Fea has left Queenstown for uncharted waters.
The current Otago age-group butterfly sprint champ has some tough decisions to make about his swimming future as he begins a finance degree at Otago University this week.
As he approaches next week’s national age group champs in Christchurch – where he’s a strong medal contender – Fea will be training in Dunedin’s Moana Pool without his mentor.
He’ll skip university Orientation Week shenanigans – his eyes are set on smashing the Otago open record for 50m butterfly. It’s still held by 2006 Olympics double gold medallist Danyon Loader.
But once the national comp’s over, Fea must decide whether he’ll sign up with a prestigious Dunedin squad or continue going it alone.
Fea’s departure from the resort signals the end of an era with Queenstown swimming’s master coach Frank Wylie – the duo have spent 10 years at the Wakatipu High pool together.
“It’s a little bit sad,” 18-year-old Fea says.
He’s keen on spending this year bulking up at the gym to help him swim, plus doing less-intense pool training on his own.
But Wylie has other ideas.
“I’d be very disappointed if McGregor can’t continue to combine his first year of study with swimming in one of the city squads,” he says.
“I feel he’s on the cusp of breaking into the top end of NZ swimming at open level.”
Fea laughs: “You’re going to have the whole [of Queenstown] on me, Frank. I’ve got to assess the workload as well, because grades take priority – but then again, swimming can keep me pretty focused.”
Fea should know – he balanced 20 hours’ training a week and still managed to become Wakatipu High dux last year.
Wylie: “He’s always shown considerable promise and he’s always had an outstanding work ethic.”
“In recent years he’s developed some excellent leadership skills which have been valuable to the club.”
Since joining Wylie’s competitive Queenstown Swimming Club squad at eight years old, Fea has gone from strength to strength, specialising in 50m and 100m butterfly as well as freestyle.
Fea was the 2007 Canterbury champ after swimming the 50m butterfly in 25.7.9sec – the fastest time in his career. Last year he placed second in NZ for his age group in 50m and 100m butterfly. Recently he swam his second fastest 50m fly time to become the 2010 Otago men’s champion.
Fea hasn’t thought seriously about aiming for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He doubts his ability for more long-distance races that are needed at that level.
Wylie disagrees.
“I still think his best 200s are yet to come.”
But, like Wylie says, Fea’s now in control of what lies ahead.
“It’s been an awesome journey,” Wylie says.
l Besides Fea, Queenstown swimmers qualified to enter next week’s national age group champs are: Lauren Kerr, 14, Isabella Reid, 13, Casey Strachan, 13, Marc Lemaire-Sicre, 15 and Ella Ferguson, 14.
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