Coach Humer well on way to goal

Lars Humer. Photo: ODT files
Lars Humer. Photo: ODT files
Lars Humer is more master than apprentice these days.

The Dunedin swim coach, who is also the New Zealand team head coach, has made quite a splash on the city’s swimming scene.

On his return home three years ago he spoke of wanting to recreate the "Mr Laing days".

That was in reference to his former mentor Duncan Laing — the celebrated Dunedin swim coach who notably oversaw Danyon Loader’s career.

Certainly the city has experienced plenty of success in the pool since his arrival.

Humer said there was still more to do in terms of reaching the lofty heights of that golden era.

Indeed Laing — who Humer learned from both as a swimmer and a young coach — still remained a strong source of inspiration.

"I won’t say we’ve done it yet," Humer said.

"We certainly haven’t done it in terms of the Mr Laing days, but we’re moving in a positive direction.

"And a driving force particularly for myself and [assistant coach] Kurt [Crosland], because we are Mr Laing boys, is we’re trying to recreate the Mr Laing legacy.

"That’s extra motivation for us as swim coaches to do it right by him.

"I can still hear his voice sometimes if I’m not doing a good enough job — ‘come on boy, what are you doing boy, come on’.

"It’s all pretty cool."

The city has had plenty of success and made significant progress since Humer’s arrival.

Erika Fairweather has won a junior world title.

Caitlin Deans has been to the short course world championships, and decided to stay in Dunedin rather than move away.

Beneath them there is a strong group of top performers on the domestic scene, too.

Last year Olympic hopeful breaststroker Ciara Smith moved to the city for study.

This year another pair with Olympic aspirations, Luan Grobbelaar and Ruby Heath, have made the move south.

They are part of a group of about 30 "student-athletes" training under Humer at Moana Pool.

Of those, Humer said there were 18 first-year students, ranging from pool swimmers to those who preferred surf or triathlon.

It showed Dunedin was being seen as an option for the country’s top swimmers again.

Humer said that was where the city should be, being a university town.

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