sam hynd - swimmer
| DOB: |
3rd July 1991 |
| BORN: |
Sutton in Ashfield |
For a full profile, please CLICK HERE.
Sam has been swimming for Great Britain since 2004, as well as still being a full time student. Trained by coach Glenn Smith, Sam hopes to one day win a Paralympic gold medal and cites his family as the biggest influence on his career. He currently trains at Nova Centurion, Nottingham and is seen as a real hope for London 2012.
photo gallery
february 2008 blog
The first week of February saw me swimming with my base club Sutton Swimming Club under our coach Grenn Greaves at the Nottinghamshire Short Course County Championships.
I went to the Championships hoping to put in a strong performance but also knowing that I was competing on the back of heavy training.
On the Saturday morning I completed a training set at Nottingham Nova and then headed for the Championships to swim the 400m Freestyle.
I took the courage to declare to the judge that I was looking to lower my own records.... British, European and maybe World Record!
The event had been approved by the IPC so that if any records were broken they could be put forward for ratification.
I set the S/C World record at the National Short Course Championships in November so I really wasn't sure if I would better that just yet!
I was extremely pleased with my swim and felt good in the water but felt even better when I discovered I had lowered my own S8 British, European and World Records by 3 seconds!
I then swam the 200m Breaststroke in the evening, an event I dont get chance to swim often. I put in another good solid swim to lower the SB8 British, European and World Records by 2 seconds!
My final swim of the weekend was on Sunday..... the 200m Freestyle.
Again I was pleased with this swim but again an event I dont get chance to race very often.I lowered the S8 British, European and World Record by 3 Seconds!
A good weekends work then... 3 British, 3 European and 3 World Records and lots of confidence ahead of the Beijing Paralympic Trials...... watch out China!
The following week I had a visit from the British Disability Swimming staff for my Step Testing. I did my best ever test and almost hit my new World Record time on the last 200m of the test.
Pretty good I would say and so did Lars my Head GB Coach but I am looking to do even better next time though.
The following weekend saw me boarding a plane from Heathrow with 11 other Nova swimmers heading for Fort Lauderdale in Florida for a 2 week training camp in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Trials.
The other swimmers were all able-bodied swimmers so this was good for me as it pushed me in training to train along side them giving me quality training.
We all worked very hard but really enjoyed it and had great fun and to train outdoors in some very warm weather was a bonus. I have a good tan and a few goggle marks!
We are all looking forward to seeing the rewards from the intense training at the trials!
Only 3 weeks left now till the Trials start so it's get down to some more smart training here in COLD GB and do those final preparations.
Watch this space!
january 2008 blog
Well 2008 has finally kicked off and the real hard work has started but I am loving it!
January has seen my training in the pool increase from about 45km a week to almost 60km per week. I have started training for longer in a morning with my coach and I am also doing 2 S+C sessions each week now at the EIS at Loughborough.
No pain.............. No Gain!
On the 10 January I travelled to London to do some filming for LOCOG which was done at London Fields Lido. This was a really awesome day but it was sure cold....and Wet!
I had never once thought I would be swimming out doors in freezing cold temperatures in the middle of January. It was worth it though! The film crew guys were great and really looked after me and to be involved in promoting the London 2012 Games is awesome
On 16 January I attended the Nottinghamshire Junior Sports Awards in Newark which was again a fantastic event hosted by Andrew James. I was named reigning Nottinghamshire Junior Disabled Sportsperson of The Year! I was shocked but very very pleased to receive the award and my trophy has taken pride of place!
Well it is now not long till the Paralympic Trials and as part of my preparation my coach requested I swam my main event the 400m Freestyle at 2 able-bodied Open meets. They were both held at Sheffield and were held 2 weeks apart.
This was going to give me valuable race practice ahead of the Trials but I was going to swim at both meets on the back of heavy training!
I swam the first meet and was very pleased to swim within 0.7 of my PB and also my European Record!
The second meet again I had just completed almost a 60K training week but was very encouraged to produce a Personal Best time that in an IPC Sanctioned meet would have been a new British and European Record! Bring it on I say!
I now have 2 more weeks training before I head to Florida with my club, Nova for a Pre-Olympic Training camp......wicked......... more on that next time!
Catch up soon!
SAM
december 2007 blog
Firstly December has been a very busy month for me starting off in Swansea at the Welsh Disability Long Course Championships.
We also had a World Class Pathway Race Skills Camp for 3 days prior to the Championships which was very good and helped us all focus on our racing skills.
Racing went well for me at the championships and I felt I put in some solid performances in terms of my racing skills and also gained some personal best times.
My best race however has to be in the 200m Freestyle where I went a life time best and broke the S8 British, European and World Record. Very pleasing and also a step closer to getting that L/C 400 Record!
I also added to my special BBC Award I received in November by picking up the Nationwide DSE East Midland Sports Personality Of The Year Award at a Gala dinner held at Old Trafford in Manchester. These awards mean a lot to me and drive me on to hold onto and chase my Dream of standing at the top of that Paralympic Podium!
I have just received some very exciting news that the British Paralympic Association have asked me to do some filming for 2012 with LOCOG at the Pretzel Studios in London. This is awesome for me as the 2012 Paralympic Games will be very special for me as an athlete!
2007 has been a very big year for me and probably the biggest so far but hopefully 2008 could be even bigger and with the possibility of swimming for my country in Beijing, I am looking forward to some solid preparation ahead of the Paralympic Trials in March.
My coach Glenn Smith has thankfully returned following his recent month long trip to Australia so i can now get stuck into some Smart work! Bring it on!
I will be travelling to Florida in February with my coach for a Beijing Preparation Camp and some warm weather training!
This year I have achieved so much with the help of everyone so big thanks guys! 25 British, 7 European and 3 World Records. 7 bronze, 7 silver and 28 gold medals at National and International events.
2008 could be even better so watch this space!
The journey I am having as an athlete is priceless and I am living my dream.
november 2007 blog
November has been a big month for me and very busy!
It all started in Sheffield on the 3rd and 4th of November where I was competing at the DSE National Short Course Championships.
This was a swim through meet and my main focus was on race skills and the weekend saw me racing 8 individual events.
Although very tiring it proved to be a very pleasing weekend in terms of my performance in the pool. I picked up 7 gold medals in the S8 Classification, broke 8 British records and lowered the S8 400m Freestyle World and European record by 14 seconds! I also broke the 200m Freestyle on the split which was cool!
I picked up the European record for the 200m IM too. Bring it on i say and more to come. I am up for lots more Hard Smart work! and loving it!
During the month iIhave also been doing some Ambassador work which I enjoy doing when I have the time and I hope it will encourage others to get into the sport and especially disabled people too!
I have spoken at local school assemblies and also helped out at the Nottinghamshire Disability Development gala which was cool!
I also got the chance to do some Media Training which was arranged through British Disability Swimming - thanks guys!
This gave me chance to experience the' camera 'and press so some all important practice ahead of Beijing hopefully.
Last week saw me put on the DJ Suit and head for the Assembly Rooms in Derby for the BBC East Midland Sports Awards!
What a fantastic evening and to make it very special I was awarded the BBC East Midland Junior Disabled Sports Personality Of The Year Award!
I was very shocked to win the award but very pleased to receive it so BIG thanks guys my trophy has pride of place!
Training is a little different at the moment for me as my coach Glenn Smith is on an AB training camp in Australia but i am staying very focused and working hard but looking forward to his return!......Come Back Glenn !!!!!
This week I am travelling to Swansea where we have a World Class Pathway Race Skills training camp ahead of the Disability Welsh National Long Course Championships at the weekend. Looking to put in some strong performances in the pool so watch this space and I will keep you posted!
october 2007 blog
Well this month has seen me again putting in those important metres in the pool with my coach Glenn Smith and that all important time in the gym! Hard, Smart Training!
British Disability Swimming have given me a lot of support in the way of sport science in stroke analysis, Mental Edge Work and that all important 'Step Test'.
Last weekend was a big highlight for me this month as I travelled to Stratford for the annual Swimtastic Event.
This was an awesome event to take part in again as a GB athlete and member of Team Kelloggs.
It was great to catch up with everyone again and not least to get to spend some unexpected time with my ''Convert To Gold'' mentor, Adrian Turner.
It was great to see so many people recognised for various achievements and of course for me to see the young Disability Swimmer receive his award! Keep it up i say! I may have to watch out as he is the same classification as me.
This weekend I am in Sheffield for the DSE National Short Course Championships.
It will be a busy weekend for me as I will be swimming eight events and possibly some relay events for the East Midland Team!
I will not have tapered for this competition but I am still looking forward to hitting it hard.
Should be good, catch up soon!
Sam
september 2007 blog
Well it's the end of the month again but what an oportune time to say a MASSIVE BIG thankyou to Kellogg's as yesterday British Swimming handed over a brand new laptop which has been bought for me from my Team Kellogg's funding. This is going to be so useful to me as an athlete and student so again MEGA thanks! Your help and support is so valuable to me and I really do appreciate it!
Training has been going well for me this month and I have been feeling good in the pool. My training plan has seen me increase both metres and intensity and I have now joined the guys at Nottingham Nova A Squad for an additional session a week in order to do this.
So far it seems to be going well and I am certainly enjoying it!
My next target meet is at the begining of November in Sheffield. This is the DSE National Short Course Championships and my focus in training as well as endurance is on skills and race skills, so lotas of 'Smart' training.
This is a very exciting time for me as British Disability Swimming have selected me for the 'Convert To Gold' programme and we have been given our own Mentor.
My mentor is Commonwealth and Olympic swimmer Adrian Turner and I have now had contact him which is great. He is going to be so helpful to me as I approach the Paralympic Trials and hopefully the Games in Beijing! Bring it On I say!
Well I think that is all for now but will keep you posted!
august 2007 blog
Well I have just arrived back from a GB training camp in Macau, China and 'WoW' - the journey I am having as an athlete is priceless.
Macau was awesome and the best experience ever!
To be able to train every day with the GB squad for two weeks was wicked and training went really well. I am fired up to work smart! Big year ahead and I have my sights on Beijing that's for sure.
The Beijing training camp has not only set me up well for my coming Macro Cycles in training but also given me valuable experience prior to Beijing.
So big thanks to the British Paralympic Association and British Disability Swimming for giving the team this chance. Team GB have to be the best and I want to be part of that so bring it on!
Whilst i was in Macau I received an e-mail from home with some good news. I secured 10 Higher Grade GCSE passes so that was cool and worth all the hard work!
I sign on at school for my A-Levels tomorrow and I will be back with Nova in the pool tomorrow evening to start that smart work!..... want BIG improvements and determined to get them!
Morning off training tomorrow to try to revert my body clock back!
See you soon,
Sam
july 2007 blog
Well I have just landed back home from a long week in Sheffield but what a week...more on that later!
July has been a great month for me in training, although it has been quite demanding. I have worked well with my coach Glenn Smith and been able to increase my training volume quite a bit in the pool and also in the gym with my land work too - I have loved it though.
Not being at school at the moment has meant I have been able to get lots of rest too.
Last Thursday after training saw me heading for Sheffield ready for the start of the ASA National Championships which was planned as a target meet at the end of my training cycle. I was to swim on all six days and hoping to make as many MD finals as I could and also had my eye on a few possible records!
The first day of competition on Friday saw me swimming what is now my NO. 1 event - the 400 Freestyle.
In the heats I felt good and was very pleased to improve my P.B by 2 seconds and claim a British Record. I went into the MD final in gold position which was Wicked and also found out I was only half a second away from the European Record.
I knew I could push more in the final and had my sights on that record. As I touched I was amazed. I had not only broken the European record and taken gold and 3 more seconds off my PB which has left me now less than a second away from the World Record and my closest rival in China - I have my sights firm on Beijing!
The rest of the week went really well and i gained a PB and British record in the 50m Breaststroke heat and again in the final and took gold. I broke the Brirtsh record in the 100m Freestyle MD final also and took bronze.
The last day saw me swimming my second best event - the 200m I.M. This was going to be tough at the end of a 6 day meet but I was determined to hang in there! I swam the heat and lowered my European Record and went into the final ranked 3rd on MD points.
I gave it all and had and managed to improve my PB by another second and yes, break my European Record again - wicked! I also took the silver medal.
So I came away from Sheffield very determind with three European Records and 9 British Recordsm with 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.
I think my training is working so its a big thanks to all that help me in that, and bring it on coz there is lots more to come!
See you soon,
Sam
june 2007 blog
June has been a month where I have been working hard on my training plan in the pool and also taking a chance to increase my training sets in the gym.
I have completed exams in nine GCSE subjects this month so that is a big weight off my shoulders and now my full focus can be on my swimming which is wicked!
Training is going well and I have my sights fully on the Beijing Paralympics. My goal is to achieve qualifying times at the trials early next year and hopefully make team selection.
I have just returned home from Manchester following a World Class Pathway Training camp which was awesome. Swimming was good with some great training sets and also chance to work on those race skills - bring it on!
When I returned home I went straight to my local training pool called Watermeadows where the DSE East Midland Regional Disability Championships were taking place. Knowing I had just been at camp I only entered one race - the 400m Freestyle.
I had a good swim (especially as i had just done a training camp) and I broke the short course S8 400m Freestyle by 29 seconds (subject to ratification). Great end to the month I say!
July will see me competing at the ASA National Youth National Championships in Sheffield which will be exciting - lots more hard work in training as well to make yet more improvements.
may 2007 blog
My month started on the 5th,6th and 7th of May at Coventry Pool.
I was there with Nova Centurion at the Midland Youth Championships where over the weekend I swam 8 individual swims. I knew was going to be tough because of where I was in my training cycle, and my focus was on my performance and not times. I was quite pleased with some of my swims and I came away with 8 Multi Disability first places.
The following weekend, we as a family took the oportunity to travel to Manchester Aquatic Centres (cool pool) to be a spectator for a change. We went to watch the swimming at the Visa Paralympic World Cup, and there were some great swims with the chance to cheer on my GB team mates.
It also gave me chance to catch up with lots of folk and even to chat with some of the international swimmers like Natalie Du Toit!
My GCSE exams started on the 18th May but I guess that had to come sooner or later!
The following day I travelled up to Sheffield for the DSE International Long Course Championships.
I swam two events on the Saturday and two on the Sunday but I had missed two of my main event due to my exams on the Friday. Again my focus was to be on performance and race skills, and I qualified for 2 A Finals which was pleasing and cam away with 2 S10 Bronze medals.
The following week I boarded a plane bound for Berlin in Germany.
This was to compete at the German Open Championships which is an international competition with 28 Countries taking part which included some top international disability swimmers..... very exciting challenge!
I was also very fortunate to get some training with our Head GB Coach Lars Humer ahead of the competition which was wicked.
The competition was held in a fantastic 50m pool which also had another 50m pool for swim down and warm up's.
I entered seven individual events which all had finals except one which was an open HDW. I qualified in the heats for all 6 finals and I secured three gold, one silver and two bronze medals. I broke five British records and also took the European Record in the SM8 200m Individual Medley!
Good weeks work and quite pleased with myself. There is more hard work to come though and I can make more improvements and maybe nearer to perhaps qualifying for Beijing..... Go For It I Say! Swimming for Great Britain in Berlin has made me want more and it is an awesome feeling.
So as you can see this month has been mega. Having been given lots of support from my coach and also the World Class Programme Staff at British Swimming ... so BIG Thanks!
See you soon!
april 2007 blog
At the end of March and begining of April I was in Manchester for the British Championships. This was a very busy hard week but very exciting and I enjoyed it a lot. I swam six events during the week and made the MD Final in all but one make that one as well next time!
I managed to gain five personal best times as well which was very pleasing!
RESULTS:
4th 100m Butterfly
5th 50m Breaststroke
6th 100m Breaststroje
6th 200m I.M
7th 400m Freestyle
I am now in a new Macro Cycle and in hard training which is good and going well!
On the 14th April I swam at an able-bodied Open Meet in Sheffield in the long course 400m I.M and I managed to lower my own British Record in the SM10 Class by 9 seconds. It's strange feeling to break your own record but also a good feeling!
I also had very exciting news as I have been notified of my selection for the GB Team to swim at the German Open Championships to be held in Berlin next month.....wicked!
I am studying hard in between training for my GCSE'S which start in May. I'm looking forward to another exciting month though with the German Meet, where I will compete against some of the worlds best swimmers. I am also at the British International Disability Swimming Championships in Sheffield. I will also be competing at the Midland District Championships in Coventry
Watch this space!!!!
See you soon
march 2007 blog
Well, although a few days early, as I am about to travel to Manchester for a week of tough but very exciting competition, here comes my update for March ! Again it has been a busy but good one!
The Nottinghamshire Combined County Championships have now finished and they brought me 1 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze Age Group (able bodied!) medals and two 4th placings as well as my British, European and World records!
On the 3rd and 4th of March I was up in Sheffield at Ponds Forge for the DSE Junior National Championships where I swam 10 races over a very busy weekend and came away with some good personal best times which is good and 8 GOLD and 2 SILVER medals!
The following weekend I boarded a plane at Stanstead Airport bound for Denmark with a small GB Team of 8 swimmers. We competed at the Danish Open Championships where again I posted some pleasing PB's and took a silver in the 200m Freestyle and bronze in the 400m Freestyle.
We arrived home Sunday night and it was up for training at 5am Monday morning to start work on new training goals and to look towards my next improvement was well ready for my first day of rest for 4 weeks the following Sunday that’s for sure!
I have done 2 weeks solid training since, and I am up for the Championships in Manchester!!
I am back training today after having a rest day yesterday and fired up to make more improvements!!!
See you soon!
february 2007 blog
Well here goes for my February update!
I started the month being given the honour of being named Nottinghamshire Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year which was cool, and at the same Awards my coach Glenn Smith was named Coach of the Year!
At present, I am working on my strength and conditioning programme and as part of this I now proudly own a Power Tower at home for me to aid my land/core work on a day to day programme.
This has been bought for me from my Kellogg’s funding so i am so very grateful for that! THANKS GUYS!!!!!
On the 3rd of February I was asked to attend the Swim Active event in Manchester.
This event was awesome and I really enjoyed being involved!
On the 10th February the Nottinghamshire Combined County Championships started.
I got off to a good start that day to win silver in my age group(able bodied!!) in the 400m Freestyle in a good personal best time. I also won silver in the 200m Breaststroke and finsihed fourth in the 100m Butterfly.
The following week (on the 17th) came the second session of the competition.
I won bronze in my age group in the 200 Free in a very pleasing personal best time (knocking off 6 seconds!) and just missing an ABLE BODIED Midland time !!!!! ..WOW
My last race that day came at about 7.15 pm. I was to attempt to break the World Record in the SM10 400m Individual Medley. I declared this to the Judge and I was indeed a little nervous.
Many of my swimming friends had stayed to cheer me on which was great!
I had a good race and smashed the World Record by an awesome 32 seconds and in doing so, I set a new European standard and broke the British record as well!
It hurt but.....NO PAIN ... NO GAIN !!!
This last weekend I have been in Manchester for a World Class Pathway Development camp which has been awesome! Working on skills and technique to help me reach my GOAL!!!
Well I think that it’s just about it for this month and roll on next month I say!
Thanks and see you soon!
january 2007 blog
On the 31st December 2006 I sat and thought about the year just passed. I thought about all the people who had supported me, my parents, my coach, ASA and Kelloggs, and the GB coaching and support staff, as well as all my team mates both GB and Nova.
I then thought about what i had achieved.....
· Massive personal best times. I knocked 11 seconds off my 200m I.M time, 23 seconds off my 400m Freestyle and 8 seconds off my 100 Breaststroke!!
· A British Record in the LC 400 I.M lowering it by 22 seconds!!
· A World and European Record in the 4x100m 34 point Freestyle SC Relay
I got several awards including Mansfield Junior Disabled Sportsperson and being named Notts ASA Swimmer Of The Year. I was selected for a GB Training Camp in Slovenia in the summer. I was selected to swim at the Danish Open Championships and also the first UK School Games in Glasgow.
My medal box is now over flowing and best of all i have enjoyed it all and had so much fun!!!!
BUT MUCH MORE TO COME !!!!
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