Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
CHUCK
ANGELA 'DAWN' Chuck, Jamaica's Olympic swimmer, is the new assistant swimming coach for both the men's and women's teams at Duke University in North Carolina, United States.
Ms. Chuck who represented Jamaica twice at the Olympics - the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Games - and at several international meets, started the job on Thursday, August 25, after being accepted for the post on Friday, August 12.
She's a graduate of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and retired from competitive swimming last October after eight-years as a member of the Jamaican National Swimming Squad. Ms. Chuck is the daughter of Delroy Chuck, Member of Parliament for North East St. Andrew and opposition spokesman on justice, and his wife, Pat.
Ms. Chuck, 24, said initially she wasn't excited about being at Duke but when she met with Coach Dan Colella and heard about the changes that were to be a part of the university's swimming team she became enthused. "I wasn't sure Duke could go anywhere as Duke's programme was at the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Ranking. But after I was interviewed by another new coach, and he told me about the changes such as a whole new coaching staff, I became interested," she said in a telephone interview from the U.S.
Ms. Chuck graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Brown University. She went on to earn a Master's degree in Sports Psychology at the University of Florida in 2005. This position at Duke will be her first at the collegiate coaching level.
Improvements that the new assistant coach said she would be implementing will include continuous sports psychology and weight training as part of the teams' practice, and encouraging the swimmers to specialise in their strongest areas.
VERY EXCITED
"I am very excited to have Angela join the Duke swimming family," said Mr. Colella in a press release. "I feel that we will complement one another well as we start off on this new era in Duke swimming and diving. Having graduated from Brown University, she understands what our student-athletes are facing in terms of academic and athletics challenges at an institution like Duke University. She also brings a wealth of competitive experience that will benefit the members of our team."
Ms. Chuck has also earned medals at the Carifta Games, Caribbean Island Swimming Championships, Centro Americano y del Caribe Nataciones and Caribbean and Central American Games.
Looking back at her competitive years, Ms. Chuck said the Jamaica swimming team could do well with support. "Just knowing that someone is behind you always helps. We are doing so great but a lot of upcoming and experienced swimmers who are a part of the squad need physical and financial support," she said.
