Real Life

Jan Cameron and Scott Talbot-Cameron: ‘We’re backing the Kiwis’

Mother and son Jan Cameron and Scott Talbot-Cameron are supporting from the poolside.

Which country to cheer for has always been a contentious issue in the Cameron household. For Australian-turned-Kiwi swimming great Jan Cameron, her loyalties have always been firmly split, but as she and son Scott Talbot-Cameron prepare to head to London – Jan commentating for Sky Sport, Scott coaching our swim team – it’s team New Zealand all the way. “I’m still Australian, but a little part of me is Kiwi,” says Jan (65).

She has been living in New Zealand for 22 years after a successful swimming career in Australia saw her win a silver medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic games. “I’ll always be Australian, but I’ve grown to really love New Zealand and it’s been very good to me.”

She and Scott, who was born in Australia and moved here with his mum when he was eight, will be travelling to the Olympics together for the first time in their different capacities. Scott (31), who represented the country in the 2000 and 2004 games, is making his Olympic coaching debut. They share a special bond, brought closer together by their shared passion for swimming and teaching.

Scott admits it’s a great perk to have his mum right there to share her wisdom when he needs it. “Mum coached me right up until my first Olympics, so there’s heaps of knowledge to be drawn on there,” smiles Scott.

“It was harder and sweeter coaching him, actually,” adds Jan. “You feel more for your son, obviously, but you’ve got to stand back and look at it objectively. I’m there for advice, just like any mum would be.” It is, Jan admits, the golden time of her life right now.

After parting ways with Swimming New Zealand acrimoniously last year during a time of turmoil for the sports body, she’s learnt to relax and enjoy some downtime – although swimming runs too deep to give up altogether. “I’m really happy at the moment. With the whole Swimming New Zealand thing, it was a period of time I’ve turned the page on. Now I’m doing some mentoring of young coaches, assisting some clubs and, of course, commentating. “I’m enjoying having time for myself and having the opportunity to still help those who want help,” says Jan.

She’s also relishing being a grandmother to her husband Kevin’s 10 grandchildren, something she doesn’t take for granted after years of being in New Zealand with just Scott. “I left all my family in Australia when I first moved here with Scott, so having that big family is nice,” she smiles. “And we’re strong All Blacks supporters – definitely,” she laughs. “The only time I find that weird though is if we’re at a Wallabies game, but oh well, we’ve been in this country for too long now!”

With both Jan and Scott’s father, Australian Olympic gold medalist and coach Don Talbot, achieving at the highest level, it’s no surprise that he has followed in their footsteps. “I was swimming from an early age, but I never felt any pressure to swim,” says Scott.

“Being an Olympic swimmer was never really the goal until I was about 15 or 16. It was then I realised that it was a possibility. All three of my parents were really supportive of whatever I wanted to do.” Jan says she couldn’t be prouder of her only child. “He’s such a nice young man. He’s caring and he puts 100% into everything that he’s doing. “You can’t ask for much more than that, so I’m really proud of him,” she grins, as Scott rolls his eyes.

With Scott coaching four of our Olympic swimmers, he admits the pressure’s on, but at least he has Mum to go to when he needs some advice. “I love coaching, but it is challenging – it does suck a lot of time out of you,” he says. “There’s a lot of giving and the athletes don’t necessarily give a lot back. But you do build great relationships with them.”

With both Jan and Scott in London, the Kiwi swimming contingent won’t be short on advice. But while Scott will be holed up in the athlete’s village with his team, Jan will be in the hotel down the road – a nice perk after the countless villages Jan’s stayed in during her career. “That’s going to be wonderful actually!” she laughs.

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