Friends’ Central swimmer Gus Anderson is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week
The senior captain, who did not lose a race in the month of January for the undefeated Friends’ Central boys swimming team, holds a number of Friends’ Central team records, is a Friends’ Schools League swimming champion, and has attained All-Friends’ Schools League honors the past three years. The Denison University-bound senior does his supplemental training with Friends’ Central Aquatics and world-renowned swimming coach Dick Schoulberg.
Q: What, to you, has been your most memorable race of the season? What was your most vivid memory of that race, and what was the key to your success that day?
A: The most memorable race of my season, so far, was my 100 breaststroke against Shipley. It was an off-event where I was racing against an accomplished swimmer who I knew would and did challenge me. The most vivid memory of that race and the key to my success were my underwater pullouts, it was the first time where I really felt like I was grabbing water and using it to help accelerate me.
Q: Your coach calls you a relentless worker with who participates in 9-10 practices per week. Can you walk us through a typical day, or cycle, of training?
A: A typical training week, for me, consists of nine practices that are broken up into three doubles and three singles per week with one day off. I also lift, at least three times a week, to help develop power and strength.
Q: What is the most important thing you have learned from coach Dick Shoulberg? Who have been your other biggest swimming mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?
A: Working with Coach Schoulberg has been an incredible experience. He has helped to refine my work ethic and help me realize how far I could push my comfort zone in and out of the pool. My other swim mentors have been my two club coaches, Iain Anderson and Sean Ford. They, both, have taught me the importance of every race and the importance of taking advantage of every moment I spend in the pool.
Q: Your coach calls you a versatile, diversely-talented swimmer who will swim wherever needed. What do you think is your best event, and what do you think are your particular keys to success in that event?
A: Technically speaking, my best event is the 1,650 freestyle, but I feel that I am still maturing swimmer and that I shouldn’t settle for one event but rather work to better all of my races. But to be successful in the 1,650 freestyle, you can’t cheat the work. The 1,650 weeds out those who have been working and those who haven’t. I enjoy the process of working to that, hopefully, perfect race at the end of the season.
Q: What aspect of your swimming have you been working on the most recently?
A: Currently I have been focusing on all aspects of every race. One of the keys, I feel, to my training is that my coaches diversify what I work on from a day to day basis.
Q: What (to you) has been your most memorable experience in your Friends’ Central swimming career? Can you share it with us?
A: My most memorable experience swimming at FCS would definitely be my first FSL championship. I had never been to a meet that had the energy that FSL’s had. I thought it was amazing that everyone on the team cheered for every single race; I felt the team came together in a way I had never experienced before.
Q: What pool did you first swim for? What is your favorite swimming venue, and why?
A: I have always swum for Friends’ Central Aquatics, from a learn-to-swim level at age 6 to where I am now, FCA has always been there for me, helping me mature every step of the way.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-meet preparation the day of a meet.
A: On the day of the meet I usually do my best not to get too “heady” about my races, I find that the less I worry about my races the better I perform. So if it is a school day, I will go to all my classes for that day and if it is a weekend meet I will usually try to watch a movie to help clear my head.
Q: Why did you decide on attending Denison University?
A: I chose Denison because of the overwhelming sense of community. The minute I stepped onto campus everyone there made me feel welcome. From the tour guides helpful nature to the swim coach scheduling an impromptu meeting with me, the community opened their arms to me in a way that no other school did.
Fun facts – Gus Anderson
Favorite book: Buried Child, by Sam Shepard.
Favorite author: Sam Shepard.
Favorite TV show: Twin Peaks.
Favorite movie: The Celebration.
Favorite athlete: Adam Ondra.
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: Steppin’ Stone, by Minor Threat.
Favorite place to visit: Viva Video.
Favorite pre-meet meal: Pasta.
Person I most admire: “Henry Rollins – from touring with Black Flag, to sleeping in a van, to having no food, and to creating awesome music, Henry Rollins worked his butt off and you gotta respect that.”
