For as long as he could remember he wanted to teach. The thought of working with kids and shaping their lives further propelled his decision to become a coach. To some he is just an ordinary guy, to others he may seem like just another beach bum, a cute face for the ladies. To others he is coach extraordinaire, top-medalist and an Olympian. Dazzle Magazine introduces you to Jamie Allan Peterkin, a 31-year-old, accomplished swimmer and coach.
Dazzle: Where were you born and raised?
Jamie: I was born in Barbados but raised in Saint Lucia. I lived in Vigie, and later moved to Reduit in Rodney Bay.
Dazzle: Tell us about your life as a child?
Jamie: From the time I was a baby I grew up on the beach. So I guess that’s where I got my first taste of the beach, which is why I am still a beach bum. I think as a kid, what you get exposed to at a really early age you have a real affinity and passion for it if you enjoy it. Some kids have to go through enduring times at young ages, like sitting in bars with their parents among other stuff. But I am really happy I did not have to do so.
I used to have family who came down from Spain every summer, so I remember my summers quite fondly. My summers consisted of waking up, eating mangoes, going to the beach, coming back home for lunch, and then going back to the beach. I have always been a lover of sports, so I didn’t need anyone to play with. I’d find something to play on or with.
Dazzle: What schools did you attend and share a bit of your experiences with us?
Jamie: I first attended The Montessori School in Sans Souci, then Tapion School and later Saint Mary’s College. I went to school in the age-old era of ‘callots’ and heckling. I had a great time at Saint Mary’s. I cannot share what my nickname was at college though. I later pursued my degree through a swimming scholarship at the University of Kentucky, and after two years I transferred to The University of Tampa to pursuit a degree in Marketing.
Dazzle: How old were you when you decided on your career path and what steered you in that direction?
Jamie: I still do not know what I want do. I don’t think I have followed a career path, what I have done so far is follow a passion for travelling and working with children. I remember when people asked me all the time what I wanted to do, that was the first thing that came to mind. I was very consistent in saying that. We live in an age where people do not really have careers, but rather opportunities which stem from their interest. So that’s what I do, I have a vested interest in teaching swimming, so that’s what I do on a daily basis.
Dazzle: How long have you been teaching and what certifications have you attained?
Jamie: I have been teaching since I was a kid. I started off following my dad around the pool as a young kid who couldn’t swim yet. Around age ten I started teaching babies to swim with him. After that, I really got my first shot at coaching when I got to Pine Crest Swim Camp in Fort Lauderdale where I attended high school, after Saint Mary’s College. I overlooked the JR Group practices and did private lessons with the campers. I have attended several FINA Clinics (Fédération Internationale de Natation) which is the world governing body for swimming. I recently attended the 1st FINA Gold Medal Swimming Coaches Clinic in Moscow, Russia where coaches were assembled from all over the world. Primarily, coaches who had gold medalists from the London Olympics were asked to address the participants, so we got to hear why those kids were separated from the rest or what made him or her better than the rest of the Olympians. Fortunately we receive funding from FINA, so we have been able to bring down great coaches from America and Canada to host clinics here in Saint Lucia.
Dazzle: How do you manage such a demanding schedule, and how you were you able to when you were a teenager?
Jamie: In life they say you just get used to what you do. It is good that as a teenager I had to realise that time management was the most important thing when it comes to accomplishing your goals. A lot of people say because you are in a sport, you become good at it but that’s not true. To become good at anything, you have to spend time thinking about that specific thing. So I was able to realise how much I can fit into just one day.
Dazzle: Which swimming events did you participate in the 2000 Olympics?
Jamie: I swam just one event, the 50M Free. I didn’t make it past the first round of qualifying known as The Heats, but I swam a Personal Best Time and I won my Heat.
Dazzle: How important is support from family and friends to you?
Jamie: It is extremely important and means a lot to me. Without my family I would not have made it to the Olympics. My family pushed a lot in terms of sacrificing to allow me the opportunity to leave Saint Lucia to train in proper facilities. My friends were great because they encouraged the move even though I missed out on the A-Level days with them, which I heard were incredible. But when a young person is pursuing something young, they have to sacrifice sooner, while other people sacrifice later.
Dazzle: How has being an athlete enhanced your life?
Jamie: Well, I have gotten to see the world and meet some amazing people. It is definitely something I encourage persons to do if you have an interest in sports. Especially being from a smaller island, we have the opportunity to play in the big leagues, as we are Big fish in a small pond. If you’re at the top of your game you will get opportunities to represent your country all over the world. St. Lucian swimmers are very lucky to have an association which is very well organised and funds activities and creates avenues for their member athletes. Some of the attributes of a successful athlete are perseverance, sacrifice and discipline, all of which I had to learn from a very young age.
Dazzle: What is the most difficult part about being an athlete?
Jamie: You always expect yourself to not drop off that mark, you always expect you will have the ability to do everything you desire. When I hit my thirties I realised that the reality of thirty is that things do change. You can still do what you do but it is rare that you perform at your peak like you would have in your twenties or teens. The hardest thing to accept is there is gonna come a point where you plateau and after that, no matter how hard you try, it becomes a bit of a downward spiral.
