Synchronised swimming: Coaching next step for sisters

The Daniels sisters might have retired from competitive synchronised swimming but they have just begun co-ordinating the next generation.

Nina (26) and Lisa (23) drew the curtain on a 15-year career in the pool last week but are planning coaching careers.

"It has been a long journey and we thought we've achieved everything we wanted to achieve with winning a medal at the Commonwealth Games and being part of the Olympic team," Nina said.

"And we feel like it is time to help other girls live their dreams."

The sisters have already started on their first coaching project, helping Momoka Park (10) and Rika Park (9) place fifth in the 12-and-under duet at the nationals in Christchurch last week.

The Daniels have only been working with the Park sisters for the past three weeks, so they cannot claim all the credit.

But the experience was both cathartic and rewarding.

"I think the coaching is really going to help fill the gap," Nina said.

"We felt just as nervous watching our little girls swim as we did for ourselves. They were really happy with how they went, so that was really rewarding."

"We just feel like we have so much more to give," Lisa added.

The sisters hope to encourage a new generation of synchronised swimmers and want to pass on the knowledge they have gained competing at the top level for the past eight years.

There is no doubt they have been an inspiration.

During the recent nationals they were approached by starry-eyed autograph hunters keen to replicate the Daniel's achievements.

"Seeing what we've achieved has helped them realise what they can achieve," Lisa said.

When asked for a highlight the pair were torn.

Winning a bronze medal at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games was very special but so was competing at the Beijing Olympics earlier this year.

"We had such a tough time just to qualify [for the Olympics] but once we qualified it was an amazing feeling," Lisa said.

The sisters placed 23rd of 24 competitors.

While they had hoped to finish in the top 16 they were content with their performance.

They moved to Canada three and a-half years ago to get better coaching and help make their Olympic dream a reality.

That had been a huge financial burden for their parents, Ita and Ted.

But Mrs Daniels blames herself.

She introduced the girls to swimming at a very young age.

Nina had her first dip at Moana Pool when she was just 5 months, but Lisa was older, at 7 months.

The sisters have always been sporty and had ballet lessons before taking up synchronised swimming.

That was Mrs Daniels' idea as well, she confessed.

Nina and Lisa had different partners to begin with and did not link up until 2000.

But once they joined forces they were immediately successful, winning eight consecutive national titles.

They also won three consecutive Oceania titles.

The siblings plan to keep fit and have taken to boxing classes.

It is a change of pace from synchronised swimming but they love it.

And after four years of training and competing full-time, Nina has a job as a website administrator and Lisa plans to study human nutrition at the University of Otago next year.

The Daniels might have hung up their togs for the last time, but the drive and optimism which helped them win bronze and compete at the Olympics remains.

If they can find a way to pass that on to the next generation, the Daniels story is far from over.