Pat Wright: From elite swimmer to inspirational Olympic coach
Meet Pat Wright as you’ve never known her before as she opens up about her difficult childhood, training Olympic swimmers, and losing her arm.
Mackay
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Swimming legend Pat Wright has been a staple in the Mackay sporting scene for more than 60 years producing Olympians like Geoff Huegill and Linda Mackenzie.
But it was not an easy start in life for Pat who described her childhood as difficult, coming from a “broken home”.
She began swimming competitively as a child making the transition to coach at 15, driven to improve her skills as quickly as possible.
Pat said she found solace in the pool, becoming a “foster child” of sorts at the Memorial Swim Centre, with community members becoming her family.
Her mentors included Forbes Carlile and Bill Sweetenham among others.
In 1970, she branched out on her own starting the Pat Wright Swim School at 8 Lawson St, a spot many Mackay generations have fond childhood memories of.
“Its something very special to be a part of their upbringing and teach them something that may save them in their lifetime,” Pat said.
“It’s very important to me … to be involved with these little children from two years (old) on, and they come up to me and talk to me and say that’s the lady who gave me my card to go swimming … that’s special.”
Pat said she loved forming relationships and helping her swimmers reach their goals, rather than focusing on championships and results.
“You can’t always be an Olympic coach,” she said.
“Only every four years, eight coaches are going to be on an Olympic team.”
Pat said her former students coming back with their own grandchildren to her school was “as important as any gold medal.”
Her commitment to others has never once wavered even when battling cancer and losing a limb.
“I’ve gone through three to four cancer treatments and because of that I had my left arm amputated,” Pat said.
“I’ve recovered well, I had the surgery, came back the next day and I was at work the same day mate.
“I just want to thank the community of Mackay … (for) what they have given me.”
Pat said there a piece of advice she received as a young coach she will never forget.
“People don’t want to know how much you know; they just want to know how much you care,” she said.
“Just believe in (yourself), respect people, and they will respect you.”
Despite her success launching the careers of Olympians including Geoff Huegill and Linda McKenzie, Pat’s heart will always be in Mackay.
“Everyone wants to go high flying, but high flying doesn’t last them too long,” she said.
“Being in a regional place like this has always been part of me.”
The legendary coach was recently honoured as one of the leading women of Mackay region sport, with dozens leaving messages of congratulations.
“What I love most about Pat is that regardless of whether you were ‘swimming champion material’ or not – if you showed commitment and turned up for training, you were valued and given her time and energy,” Nic Patto wrote.
“I personally believe Pat deserves a medal of the highest honour in my books.”
Pat is truly a Mackay icon, both in the pool and for her community.
“Its going out there and knowing those little kids are going to give you some love and a hug … you can't wish for more,” she said.
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