Coach Carroll gives a motivational talk to the USA Swimming team on Wednesday
By Ben Malcolmson
USCRipsIt
PeteCarroll.com
Coach Carroll won't win any gold medals during next month's Olympics, but his words might go a long way toward some hardware for some U.S. athletes.
Carroll had the opportunity to speak to the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team in Palo Alto on Wednesday, addressing the importance of practice, competition and teamwork to the men and women who will represent the U.S. in a Beijing pool next month.
“It was really fun to talk to them and share some philosophies that apply to competition in general, whether in the pool or on the football field,” Carroll said.
Carroll was invited by USA Swimming national team head coach Mark Schubert, who was the head swimming coach at USC until 2006.
“At this evening’s practice, two of our world record holders, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, were battling each other for the entire two hours,” Schubert wrote to Carroll in a thank-you e-mail. “When Michael got out of the pool, he said that it was the most fun he had ever had in a workout. I knew Pete Carroll would be smiling! They got his message loud and clear.
“Everyone came away with a message that will affect our team toward a proud representation of the United States in Beijing.”
Coach Carroll (top left) speaks to the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team in Palo Alto on Wednesday.
