Chapter 1

“Get your asses moving I don’t want to be late; this guy is seeing us as a favour to Bobby, and if Sandy is accepted he might make her a star! So, move it, girls.”

Move it they did as each ran out of their rooms, stood in a line formation then saluted, saying: “Jawhol Herr Kapitan.” It would have been cute but there was no smile on anyone’s face, tension was there instead. Sandy looked the worst. At 13 she expected to again hear that she was too old to enter into this kind of training. She had heard similar remarks three times now and knew she was getting another chance only because of Sheila and Bobby.

Sandy had been first out of her room. Ellie, at 10 was next, followed by Sam (Samantha) at 9. All were silver-haired blonds, they all looked like miniature versions of Sheila, their older sister who was 17 which was not a bad thing.

I did not know that much about them, but Bobby was a good friend so I broke my own rules for him and Sheila, his SO. In some ways I was uncertain if I was doing anyone much of a favour. Right now I was on the cusp of making an important decision myself, one that would mean success or end up a dismal failure; something I well knew how to do.

I had told Bobby that most of Friday morning from 7:00 until 9:30 was free then from 4:15 until 5:30 but I would eat then too. The life of a trainer could be hectic. I did this for several reasons, not least of which was that heavenly sight of pretty, fit and talented girls bouncing up and down.

I never did nor would I ever do anything inappropriate with any of them. I said I was a trainer, that was a correct description on what I did. However, that might change. Nat (Nadia), Zin (Zinnia) and Mimi (Michelle) had approached me then arranged a meeting with their parents to discuss being their private trainer and if it worked out their coach.

Where they were now, was an Olympic sweat shop, I should say that’s the same kind of a place where I was too; but not for long. Things were changing and I guess one had to get on the band wagon and change with them. The decision was made fairly easy by one thing, three actually; Nat, Zin and Mimi’s parents wanted them to go to the next Olympics. It was to be held in Kiev, rather just south of the city and several folks thought it would be nice if the host country won some medals with their first Olympic teams.

It did not hurt that the parents were more than willing to put their money where their mouth was. That the Ukraine had always been first under the USSR then then the Russian banner for so long forced the new government’s intro to Olympics to be a bit more creative in their efforts, they had to be. My contribution was to be the next five to eight years of my life to field a winning team in swimming. Nat, Zin and Mimi were never even considered for the Russian team for the upcoming Olympics in Rio; a fact that did not sit well with the Dads, they were not truly Russian the coach had told them.

The next day I quit my job and began my own journey. Zin’s family had a place outside San Diego which for all intents and purposes would become our home, school and practice site for the next few years. Zin was 10 soon to be 11, Nat and Mimi were twins; both 12 already. I had been told to spare no expense when I prepared my budgets, home schooling it would be for them, our work, travel and my compensation plans were immediately approved. While the Ukraine itself was new and under-funded, the girls parents were not. While the sponsorship fight between Nike and Adidas was still going on in Kiev, a few calls to the right people apparently made the ‘Calvin Klein for Kids’ fashions the new sponsor of our endeavor.

We had too much money for just three students so part of my job was to field a larger girl’s team. In some ways that changed many lives, some not always for the better. I should maybe say something before we get to far into this. There were many well-known trainers, coaches and facilities the girl’s dads could have chosen; yes they were men with money and power; and they had plenty of both and because of it ruled there, not so the government; so why did they select an unknown like me?

Easy answer, we were related, I had their trust and the expectation was that their girls would always be my first and only priority; we all were family in more than one way. It was not a question ‘if’ we would be selected to represent the Ukraine; that was now a given; rather would ‘we’ win medals. I had been entrusted with their most prized possessions, their children with only one thing in mind, to win medals. My three girls were the start of this, I had better than five years to get them ready and find more girls to field several additional teams.

I initially selected these events in which my girls would compete. Several would probably not result in a Gold, nor even a medal but Rome wasn’t built in a day either. My choices were: 50m Free, 100m Free, 4×100m Free Relay, 4×100m Medley Relay. The longer medley events like the 4 x 200m and 400 IM were there but no way, no how would those end up with a medal for us.

If I did get more girls, the 3 meter and 10 meter platform dives might be possible to try. Getting more girls however would not be as easy as it may sound for a newbie like me.

If my girls were older, bigger, stronger and had four or five years more training we might even finish them in the top ten. All three wanted to dive. Wanting something is a good thing. Being realistic is another good trait. I was a realist, or so I thought. I was to learn you should never, ever underestimate a woman who wants something badly. Yep I would learn that lesson.

By the time Rio was at hand, Russia invaded the Balkans with access to the sea, Odessa and the oil fields primarily. The idea of an Olympics in Kiev was now suspect. The UN moved to limit the harm that already had been done, some German Angels(CIA mostly) poured enough funding for the Ukraine Olympic Committee to continue.

That morning Bobby called to say Sheila was bringing Sandy to see me this morning. I guess my search for more students had begun. Ahh, more students also meant more instructors, didn’t it?

I had some time so put a couple of Ads on the internet and San Diego and LA papers.

‘That should do it’ I thought.

‘Wanted M/F for 40-60 hrs/wk as a competitive coach/aide. Prefer swimming and diving experience but most competitive athletic skills and talent acceptable. Daily activities for Strength, Endurance, Agility and Stamina training required as part of the training curriculum.

Must be knowledgeable with timing, world and national records in 8 women’s swimming events and be able to follow work out plan, diet and training details made by several professionals in this field.