Football: In the deep end with Fifa U20

Former New Zealand diver Anna Duncan is now working for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup. Photo by...
Former New Zealand diver Anna Duncan is now working for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Thomas competes in the diving semifinals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Photo by...
Thomas competes in the diving semifinals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Photo by Reuters.

Anna Duncan (nee Thomas) is no stranger to diving into exciting opportunities. Sports editor Hayden Meikle talks to the former international diver who is now playing a key role in New Zealand's hosting of the Fifa Under-20 World Cup.

Hayden Meikle: Tell me about your new job.

Anna Duncan: I'm the national volunteer manager for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup. I'm basically recruiting and managing and doing everything around the volunteers to make sure they do a good job next year.

HM: How many volunteers will you need?

AD: We'll be looking for about 1500 around the country. Just over 200 per venue.

HM: What sort of person are you looking for?

AD:  People who want to be involved in an event right up there on the world stage. People who are motivated and committed and reliable. It's going to be a well-oiled machine.

HM: Did you have any idea how big the tournament was when you first saw the opportunity?

AD: I had an idea. Being a Fifa event, I knew it was quite major. I probably didn't appreciate the scope of the role in terms of how much responsibility I would have. It's pretty cool.

HM: I hear it was originally an Auckland-based role but they've gone with the Dunedin woman.

AD: Yeah, that's right. They couldn't find anyone suitable in Auckland so they opened it up. Aaron Joy [Dunedin venue general manager) put my name forward and it went quickly from there.

HM: When did you finish competitive diving?

AD: Back in 2004. Exactly 10 years.

HM: What have you been doing between then and now?

AD: I did some coaching and started a dive school that is now the North Harbour Diving Club. Then I moved back to Dunedin and finished my degree. I spent about seven years in Edinburgh.

I got a job at Sport Scotland, then worked for Scottish golf, then got a job with the Edinburgh marathon. I worked there for three years as race director.

HM: And you got married and had children?

AD: Yes, I did.

HM: Who's your husband?

AD: Jonathan Duncan.

HM: The former swimmer?

AD: Yes. We met at Moana Pool a long time ago now. We're both fairly driven people. We like to succeed and achieve things.

HM: How many kids have you guys got?

AD: Just one at the moment. Myla is almost 2.

HM: Mum a diver, Dad a swimmer - I presume she is a water baby?

AD: Hah, yes, she loves the water. But she can do whatever she wants to do.

HM: When did you start diving?

AD: I was 12.

HM: How many national titles did you win?

AD: Oh, I wouldn't know. Quite a few. A lot of age group ones from when I was 14, probably. I started winning the open title when I was 16 or 17.

HM: What was it like competing at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002?

AD: A pretty amazing experience. Awesome to be part of a multi-sport event. I really enjoyed it. Competing against some of the best in the world was great.

HM: Your husband, Jonathan, swam at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. How close did you come to the Olympics?

AD: In 2004, I actually qualified, but I wasn't selected. There were some politics around the decisions. So things didn't end that great for me in the sport. It's a bit of a sore point. It's never easy when one of your big goals is taken away from you.

HM: Was it always a battle over the years to get funding and profile?

AD: Yeah, definitely. My family was very supportive and helped out a lot on the financial side. I had some other help down in Dunedin. It was an amazing sport and I made a lot of great friends through it.

HM: If you went back to the diving well today, what could you do?

AD: A belly flop, ha ha. There's a lot of spatial awareness required in diving. I felt, even after a week or two, if I had a holiday and went back, I would feel very uncertain of myself.

I remember trying a few months after I stopped diving. I overestimated how fast I could spin and totally wiped out. I guess I could throw a couple of somersaults in there.

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