When it comes to giving young athletes advice on how to reach the elite level, Jeremy Davie is more than qualified.
The former Australian national team water polo player has returned to the shire to start his own elite training facility.
Davie heads the Athletic Development Centre at Sylvania, using his vast experience gained playing with Australia as well as studying at the University of Southern California.
The Sutherland resident became a four-time All American and four-time NCAA champion during his time in the US, captaining USC in its record-breaking six-year streak as national champions.
It was at USC that the 25-year-old studied human performance and put the building blocks in place for his career out of the water.
Davie, who also studied exercise science at Sydney University, told The Leader competing and training as an elite athlete while studying had given him a unique perspective on the way athletes develop.
“Ever since high school I grew up at the [AIS] and was fascinated by why and how we train,” he said.
“I was always the kid that would bother the strength coach asking ‘why are we doing this?’ I wouldn’t be questioning them, it was just that I was genuinely interested.”
After returning home from college Davie had the dream to open up a centre of his own, which offers training for athletes aged 15 years and up in strength, speed, stamina and recovery.
As for advice for young athletes, Davie said getting the right advice and putting in the work were crucial.
“Everyone says it’s about the little things and getting them right or doing the one per centers,” he said.
“But not everyone will tell you what they are. It used to be good enough to go to footy training, do a session with a team and maybe do an extra run. Now just showing up isn’t enough. If you want to make it you to need to put the work in to take your performance to the next level.”
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