Sailing Athlete John Hollingsworth
Location: Dagenham, Essex
John: “There’s a lot to remember. Tactics. Sometimes I tell John what to do. Sometimes he tells me. We’re a good team, good mates.”
John is 38 years old. He has been involved in Special Olympics for 15 years and competed in major competitions as a runner, swimmer and sailor. These include the 1999 SO world games in Carolina, USA and European championships in Holland, Hungary and Germany. At the world games in Shanghai he will sail at Level 2 with his unified partner John Corley.
John says: “When a race starts, Bang, you’ve got to go. Get out in front at the start. That’s important.”
In a relatively short time John has gone from Level 1 to Level 2. That means now in competition he sails with 50:50 responsibility, swapping roles during a race.
Coach, Nic says: “Now there are times when John’s in control. I’ve watched him work hard at improving his skills. He has that dedication and patience. Yes, he always has the advice of his partner John Corley but he’s the one who has to follow it through, make the decisions.”
Sailing in a race event is both physically and mentally challenging, out on the water for up to four hours. John also sails single-handed, always with another boat alongside but often he goes so fast they find it impossible to keep up. John’s training can be out on the water practising skills or in the clubhouse discussing tactics and drilling rules of the race.
John says: “There’s a lot to remember. Tactics. Sometimes I tell John what to do. Sometimes he tells me what to do. And I do it. We’re a good team, good mates.”
Nic says: “You have to work as a team, each crew member really has to pull their weight. John and John are very in tune with each other, they have a positive relationship in and out of the water. There’s a lot of shouting, but that’s only because John Hollingsworth has to leave his hearing aid behind in case it gets wet!”
John Corley says: “You have to keep your wits about you. The boat and the wind never stay still. Things happen quickly in a dinghy. It’s a lot about feeling the boat, the waves, the wind. You can’t do it on your own. You have to know you can rely on your crew to do what they’re supposed to. John is very good at anticipating, he often knows what to do before I tell him.”
The team trains only once or twice a month for half the year. But, despite the gaps, John’s enthusiasm for sailing means his skills stay sharp.
John Corley says: “I’m always impressed with how much he remembers from year to year because we have six months lay off in the winter. When we come back he always remembers what we did last year.”
John has faced some extreme conditions out on the water in major competitions. At the national games in Cardiff he and other competitors were stuck out in fierce heat with no wind and had to be towed ashore. The opposite at the last world games in Dublin where competitors struggling against bitter cold had finally to abandon the race. But he loves the challenge.
John says: “The hard competitions, it’s good. I was hit on the head by the boom twice. In Dublin we capsized three times in one race.”
John Corley says: “John is really impressive. One of his strengths is sitting out over the water when we need to balance the boat. That takes courage. And at the start of a race it’s me who gets nervous. John is just very calm. And he’s very loyal. If I get things wrong and we don’t do well he’ll blame everything and anything except me, even the wind!”
Mum, Marge says: “John takes everything in his stride. He doesn’t really get nervous about competitions, he’s always excited at the challenge. He really psyches himself up for an event and he’s very competitive. The world games in Carolina was his biggest event. We were there to watch. It was terrific. I felt very proud of him.”
John trains and competes in other SO sports so keeps very fit. He regularly swims twice a week. He is excited about the chance to represent Great Britain in Shanghai.
John says: “I’m over the moon. We’ve got a good chance. We’ll do our best to get a gold medal.”
John Corley says: “We won a silver in the last national championships. That really gave us a boost. Maybe we’ll get a gold this time.”
John works at Morrisons supermarket three times a week as a porter, carrying baskets. Apart from his extensive involvement in sport he loves music and has a wide taste, but favourites include Wet Wet Wet and Simply Red. He is an avid follower of TV sport, especially horse racing, cricket and football – he supports Chelsea and goes with his brother and mum to occasional matches. John likes to watch the soaps and Dr Who. He is a big fan of Midsomer Murders so his mum has to tape every episode he misses. But he’s so busy with work, sport and his social life he’s always struggling to catch up.
John is very outgoing and keen to talk about his involvement in sport. He has speech and hearing difficulties.
TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ATHLETES OR COACHES, PLEASE CONTACT THE SOGB NATIONAL OFFICE.
TELEPHONE: 020 7696 5569 OR EMAIL TO: pr@sogb.org.uk