Celebrating the coaches, volunteers, families and administrators whose contributions often happen away from the spotlight.
By Gary Barclay OAM
There’s something special about watching an athlete achieve their dream.
Whether it’s standing on an Olympic podium, winning a national championship, representing Australia for the first time or simply achieving a personal best, those moments capture everything we love about sport.
We see the emotion, the excitement, the relief and sometimes the tears. We celebrate the performance, acknowledge the achievement and recognise the athlete whose name appears beside the result.
And rightly so.
But whenever I watch one of those moments, I often find myself thinking about something else.
I think about all the people who helped make it possible.
The current coach and previous coaches who have spent countless hours on pool deck. The parents who have driven to early morning training sessions for years. The volunteers who have given up their weekends. The administrators who have worked behind the scenes to create opportunities. The officials who ensure competitions can take place.
Most will never stand on a podium. Many won’t appear in a photograph or receive public recognition.
Yet without them, sporting success simply wouldn’t happen.
After many years working in sport, I’ve come to appreciate that some of its most important contributors are also among its least visible.
The Coach: So Much More Than a Training Program
In swimming, the relationship between an athlete and their coach is often one of the most influential relationships in their sporting journey.
We naturally associate coaches with training programs, technical knowledge, race strategies and performance improvement.
But their contribution extends well beyond those responsibilities.
A good coach is also a mentor, educator, motivator, problem-solver and, at times, an important source of stability in a young person’s life.
They’re there for the breakthroughs and the disappointments.
They see athletes at their best, but also when they’re tired, frustrated, lacking confidence or questioning whether all the hard work is worthwhile.
They help young people learn to manage expectations, respond to setbacks, develop discipline and understand the value of persistence.
Some of these lessons will stay with an athlete long after their competitive career has finished.
I’ve been fortunate to work alongside many outstanding coaches throughout my career. What has consistently impressed me is not simply their technical expertise, but the genuine commitment they make to the people in their care.
Many invest years in developing an athlete, often well before there’s any suggestion of national or international success.
They turn up early, stay late, plan sessions, review performances and continually search for ways to help their swimmers improve.
And when an athlete eventually earns selection onto an Australian team, it’s often the culmination of a journey that began many years earlier.
The national team coach may have the privilege of supporting that athlete at a major international competition, but it’s important we never overlook the home coach who helped them get there.
Behind almost every successful athlete is a coach who believed in their potential long before the wider world recognised it.
That contribution deserves our respect and recognition.
Families: The Quiet Foundation of Sporting Dreams
If you’ve ever been involved in junior swimming, you’ll understand the extraordinary commitment families make.
The alarm goes off while most of the neighbourhood is still asleep.
There’s a hurried breakfast, a drive to the pool, school or work to follow, and often another training session later in the day.
Weekends are spent at competitions. Family holidays are arranged around sporting calendars. Household budgets stretch to accommodate coaching fees, equipment, travel and accommodation.
For many families, supporting a young athlete becomes a significant part of everyday life.
And the commitment isn’t only financial or logistical.
There’s also an emotional investment.
Parents experience the excitement of improvement, the disappointment of missed opportunities and the uncertainty that comes with watching someone they love pursue an ambitious goal.
They learn when to encourage, when to listen and sometimes when to say very little.
Of course, families approach sport in different ways, and finding the right balance between support and expectation isn’t always easy.
But at its best, family involvement provides something incredibly valuable: a sense of security and unconditional support.
A young athlete needs to know that their value as a person isn’t determined by a time on the scoreboard or a medal around their neck.
Sporting careers can be unpredictable. There will be highs and lows, periods of rapid improvement and times when progress seems frustratingly slow.
Having people who care about the individual, rather than simply the result, can make an enormous difference.
I’ve often thought that when an athlete stands on the podium, there are usually parents, grandparents, siblings and other family members watching who have contributed far more than most people will ever know.
Their pride is entirely justified.
They’ve been part of the journey too.
Volunteers: The Heartbeat of Community Sport
One of the great strengths of Australian sport is its volunteer workforce.
Across the country, thousands of people contribute their time to ensure clubs, competitions and sporting organisations continue to operate.
Swimming is no different.
Think about what happens at a typical swimming competition.
Before the first race begins, people have already spent hours preparing the venue, organising entries, establishing the competition program, coordinating officials and ensuring everything is ready.
Throughout the day, volunteers take on countless responsibilities.
Some work directly with athletes. Others manage results, organise marshalling, assist with equipment, coordinate presentations or help keep the event running smoothly.
And when the final race finishes, there are still people packing equipment away and completing the work required to close the event.
Much of this contribution goes unnoticed.
When everything runs well, we often take it for granted.
It’s only when something goes wrong that we begin to appreciate just how much organisation and effort is involved.
Volunteers aren’t simply an additional resource for sport. They are fundamental to its existence.
What I particularly admire is that so many people continue volunteering long after their own children have finished competing.
They remain involved because they enjoy the friendships, value the sense of community and want to give something back.
They understand that someone helped create opportunities for their family, and now they have an opportunity to do the same for others.
That spirit of contribution is one of the things that makes community sport so special.
It’s also something we must never take for granted.
As sporting organisations become increasingly focused on professionalism, governance and performance, we need to ensure that volunteering remains rewarding, accessible and appreciated.
Recognition doesn’t always require an award or a formal ceremony.
Sometimes a genuine thank you, a conversation or simply acknowledging someone’s contribution can mean a great deal.
Officials: Making Fair Competition Possible
There’s another group whose contribution deserves particular recognition.
Our technical officials.
In swimming, officials play an essential role in ensuring competitions are conducted fairly, consistently and in accordance with the rules.
Their responsibilities require knowledge, concentration, sound judgement and considerable commitment.
Like coaches, officials invest time in learning, training and developing their skills.
Many begin by helping at local club competitions and gradually progress through increasingly demanding roles.
Some go on to officiate at national championships and international events.
Others are perfectly happy contributing at their local pool, knowing they’re helping young swimmers enjoy a positive competitive experience.
Both contributions are equally valuable.
Officials often work under considerable pressure, particularly when difficult decisions need to be made.
And while their best work may go unnoticed, the absence of capable officials would quickly become apparent.
I believe we have a responsibility to recognise officials not simply for the tasks they perform, but for the contribution they make to the broader sporting experience.
They help create an environment where athletes can compete with confidence, knowing that everyone is being treated fairly.
That’s an important part of sporting success.
Administrators: Creating the Opportunities
When people think about sport, administrators aren’t usually the first group that comes to mind.
Yet behind every competition, development program, representative team and sporting organisation is a considerable amount of planning and coordination.
There are budgets to manage, policies to develop, events to organise, people to support, partnerships to maintain and countless decisions to make.
Much of this work takes place well away from the sporting arena.
I’ve spent a significant part of my professional life working in sport administration and management, and I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the people who make sporting systems function.
The best administrators understand that their work ultimately exists to support people.
Whether it’s creating a new development opportunity for young athletes, helping coaches improve their skills, strengthening club environments or making sport more accessible, the purpose should always be connected to the people who benefit.
A successful event doesn’t happen simply because the athletes arrive ready to compete.
It happens because many people have worked together to create the conditions for success.
Similarly, a strong sporting pathway doesn’t emerge by accident.
It requires collaboration between clubs, coaches, state organisations, national bodies, volunteers and other stakeholders.
When these relationships work well, opportunities are created that no single individual or organisation could deliver alone.
That’s something I’ve always valued about working in sport.
The most meaningful achievements are often the result of many people contributing to a common purpose.
Success Is Built Over Years, Not Moments
One of the interesting things about sport is the contrast between how long success takes to develop and how quickly we celebrate it.
A swimming race might last less than 30 seconds.
A championship might take place over several days.
A medal presentation might last only a few minutes.
Yet the journey leading to that moment can span a decade or more.
It begins with a child learning to swim.
A teacher helps them develop confidence in the water. A junior coach introduces them to squad training. A club creates opportunities to compete. Officials and volunteers help deliver those competitions.
As the athlete progresses, different coaches, support staff and organisations contribute to their development.
There may be injuries, disappointments, changes of direction and periods when success seems a long way away.
Along the way, countless people provide encouragement, expertise and opportunities.
By the time that athlete reaches the international stage, they’ve often benefited from the contribution of an entire sporting community.
That’s why I believe we need to be careful about viewing sporting success only through the lens of the final result.
The result matters, but so does the journey.
And so do the people who made that journey possible.
Not Every Success Comes With a Medal
Working in high performance sport naturally brings a focus on winning, improving performances and achieving international success.
Those ambitions are important.
We should celebrate excellence and encourage people to pursue their potential.
But some of sport’s greatest successes will never appear in a results database.
A child who overcomes their fear of the water.
A young swimmer who develops confidence and makes lifelong friendships.
A teenager who learns resilience after a disappointing performance.
A coach who helps an athlete rediscover their enjoyment of the sport.
A volunteer who creates a welcoming environment for a new family.
An official who mentors someone taking their first steps into officiating.
An administrator who develops a program that provides opportunities for people who might otherwise miss out.
These are all examples of sporting success.
They may not attract headlines, but their impact can last a lifetime.
I’ve always believed that sport has an extraordinary capacity to develop people.
It teaches us how to work with others, manage disappointment, celebrate achievement, accept responsibility and contribute to something bigger than ourselves.
When we recognise these outcomes alongside competitive results, we gain a much richer understanding of sport’s value.
The Responsibility to Recognise Others
Leadership in sport comes with a responsibility to ensure that the people behind the scenes aren’t forgotten.
It’s easy to acknowledge success when there’s a medal, a trophy or a major announcement.
The greater challenge is recognising contribution consistently, including when results don’t go according to plan.
Coaches deserve appreciation for the development they provide, not simply the champions they produce.
Volunteers deserve recognition for the time they give, regardless of the level at which they contribute.
Families deserve respect for the support they provide.
Officials deserve encouragement and opportunities to grow.
Administrators and support staff deserve acknowledgement for the work that enables others to succeed.
Recognition is also about ensuring these people have positive experiences themselves.
We need to invest in their development, listen to their perspectives and create environments where they feel valued.
Because if we want strong sporting organisations, we need to look after the people who sustain them.
And if we want future generations to enjoy the same opportunities, we need to ensure that those contributing today feel their efforts are worthwhile.
The People We Remember
When I reflect on my own career, some of my strongest memories involve outstanding performances and significant sporting achievements.
I’ve been fortunate to witness moments of exceptional talent, determination and success.
But many of the people I remember most clearly aren’t necessarily those who received the medals or public recognition.
They’re the individuals who went out of their way to help someone.
The coach who invested extra time in a young swimmer.
The volunteer who always seemed to be there when something needed doing.
The parent who quietly supported not only their own child, but others in the team.
The colleague who took responsibility for solving a difficult problem without expecting any credit.
The people who consistently put the needs of others ahead of personal recognition.
These contributions might not make the news, but they make a lasting difference.
And they’re an important reminder that the strength of sport isn’t measured solely by what happens in competition.
It’s also reflected in the quality, generosity and commitment of the people involved.
Final Reflections
The next time you watch an athlete achieve something remarkable, take a moment to enjoy the performance.
Celebrate their commitment, courage and achievement.
But also think about the people who helped make it possible.
The swimming teacher who introduced them to the water.
The coaches who guided their development.
The family members who provided encouragement and support.
The volunteers and officials who made competition possible.
The administrators and support staff who created opportunities along the way.
Each has played a part in the story.
And while only one person, or perhaps a relay team, may stand on the podium, the achievement represents the collective contribution of many.
One of the privileges of working in sport is seeing just how much people are prepared to give to help others succeed.
It’s something that continues to inspire me.
Because ultimately, the true strength of sport isn’t found only in its champions, records or medals.
It’s found in the people who make those achievements possible, the communities they create and the lives they influence along the way.
And those are stories worth celebrating.
Gary Barclay OAM is an Australian sport executive with extensive experience in sport management, organisational leadership, coaching development and high-performance pathways. Through his writing, he shares reflections on leadership, people, sport and the experiences that shape successful organisations.