Working through the worst conditions in Tokyo gave Ryan Allen plenty of ideas on how to make the Paris Paralympics a much better experience.
The restrictions imposed to deal with COVID resulted in stress and uncertainty for Allen and many of the athletes in Tokyo. There were no fans in the building. Athletes and coaches faced constant testing.
Every day the head coach of Club de natation Bleu et Or in Moncton, N.B., would wake up wondering if he or someone else on the team would test positive.
“Nothing could be worse than we what we went through,” said Allen, who will be part of Swimming Canada’s coaching staff at the Paris Paralympics. “It was a pressure cooker. I personally felt stressed each day. Every day could have been the last day.”
The biggest lessons Allen learned from Tokyo was to stay in the moment and not worry about things he can’t control.
“I think we’ve learning how to probably do a better job of taking care of ourselves and taking care of each other,” he said. “I think the Tokyo Games was an opportunity to highlight the need to control what you can control. Learning how to respond to adverse challenges, because something could go wrong.”
Allen believes being in Tokyo, and also Swimming Canada’s head coach for the 2023 Parapan Games in Santiago, Chile, helped him grow as a coach.
“Each of these opportunities have built up my personal comfort level,” he said. “Knowing how to self-regulate is a really big deal.
“I know early on, maybe even in Tokyo at times, there were instances where I maybe didn’t, at least inwardly, control myself. Now I know I can do a much better job of that and (keep) a calm, consistent presence for those around me, whether it’s staff or more importantly the athletes that we have.”
Allen’s coaching career began when he was in Grade 11. He was an age group swimmer who worked as a lifeguard and did some swim instructing. His coach at the time asked him if he would be interested in spending some extra time on Saturdays working with a new member of the club who had Down syndrome.
Allen remembers “being blown away” from his experience working with the student. He realized he liked coaching even more than swimming.
While attending university in St. John’s, Nfld., Allen got involved with coaching age-group swimmers.
A coaching job opened at a club back in New Brunswick and Allen was hired. In 2013 he began as an assistant coach at the Club de natation Bleu et Or and has been head coach for six years.
Being selected as part of the Paris staff is “an honour and privilege,’’ said Allen. He particularly enjoys the interaction with other coaches and athletes from across the country.
“The collaboration is the biggest thing I love about it,” he said. “It’s a huge learning chance.
“I try to take a lot home with me to my club.”
Allen is also prepared to offer advice to any of the coaches attending their first Paralympics.
“I will try and be available as a sounding board,” he said. “If I can be part of helping them guide their athlete in a supportive way, I always do that without hesitation.
“I’m very excited to work with this group.”
Danielle Dorris, who Allen has coached since she was 10 years old, will be attending her third Paralympics.
Now 21, Dorris was just 13 and “totally shell shocked” at her first Paralympics in Rio, said Allen.
In Tokyo, Dorris won gold and set a world record in the women’s 50-m butterfly S7. She also captured silver in the 100-m backstroke S7.
After the Games Dorris spent time at the High Performance Centre – Quebec in Monreal, then returned to Moncton in 2022.
“She went through a low after Tokyo,” said Allen. “I think she’s happier and healthier than ever.”
Tokyo was the first major Games experience for some Para athletes. Things will be very different in Paris, with fans cheering in the stands and people interacting at the athlete’s village.
“We know there’s noise,” said Allen. “Some of the village life, some of our team hasn’t experienced. I don’t think it will be too much of an impact, or at least once we get used to it.”
For Allen, success is measured by an athlete reaching their personal level of excellence. That level depends on the individual.
“For Danielle, that means defending her Paralympic gold medal,” he said. “That is success for her. But another athlete who maybe isn’t looking to defend a Paralympic gold medal they are going to have success too.
“Everyone’s level of success is different. As long as you are striving for your personal level of success, and we’re meeting that potential to the best of our capacity within the environment we have, I think that’s success.”