Anna Duncan (nee Thomas) is no stranger to diving into exciting opportunities. Sports editor Hayden Meikle talks to the former international diver who is now playing a key role in New Zealand's hosting of the Fifa Under-20 World Cup.
Hayden Meikle: Tell me about your new job.
Anna Duncan: I'm the national volunteer manager for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup. I'm basically recruiting and managing and doing everything around the volunteers to make sure they do a good job next year.
HM: How many volunteers will you need?
AD: We'll be looking for about 1500 around the country. Just over 200 per venue.
HM: What sort of person are you looking for?
AD: People who want to be involved in an event right up there on the world stage. People who are motivated and committed and reliable. It's going to be a well-oiled machine.
HM: Did you have any idea how big the tournament was when you first saw the opportunity?
AD: I had an idea. Being a Fifa event, I knew it was quite major. I probably didn't appreciate the scope of the role in terms of how much responsibility I would have. It's pretty cool.
HM: I hear it was originally an Auckland-based role but they've gone with the Dunedin woman.
AD: Yeah, that's right. They couldn't find anyone suitable in Auckland so they opened it up. Aaron Joy [Dunedin venue general manager) put my name forward and it went quickly from there.
HM: When did you finish competitive diving?
AD: Back in 2004. Exactly 10 years.
HM: What have you been doing between then and now?
AD: I did some coaching and started a dive school that is now the North Harbour Diving Club. Then I moved back to Dunedin and finished my degree. I spent about seven years in Edinburgh.
I got a job at Sport Scotland, then worked for Scottish golf, then got a job with the Edinburgh marathon. I worked there for three years as race director.
HM: And you got married and had children?
AD: Yes, I did.
HM: Who's your husband?
AD: Jonathan Duncan.
HM: The former swimmer?
AD: Yes. We met at Moana Pool a long time ago now. We're both fairly driven people. We like to succeed and achieve things.
HM: How many kids have you guys got?
AD: Just one at the moment. Myla is almost 2.
HM: Mum a diver, Dad a swimmer - I presume she is a water baby?
AD: Hah, yes, she loves the water. But she can do whatever she wants to do.
HM: When did you start diving?
AD: I was 12.
HM: How many national titles did you win?
AD: Oh, I wouldn't know. Quite a few. A lot of age group ones from when I was 14, probably. I started winning the open title when I was 16 or 17.
HM: What was it like competing at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002?
AD: A pretty amazing experience. Awesome to be part of a multi-sport event. I really enjoyed it. Competing against some of the best in the world was great.
HM: Your husband, Jonathan, swam at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. How close did you come to the Olympics?
AD: In 2004, I actually qualified, but I wasn't selected. There were some politics around the decisions. So things didn't end that great for me in the sport. It's a bit of a sore point. It's never easy when one of your big goals is taken away from you.
HM: Was it always a battle over the years to get funding and profile?
AD: Yeah, definitely. My family was very supportive and helped out a lot on the financial side. I had some other help down in Dunedin. It was an amazing sport and I made a lot of great friends through it.
HM: If you went back to the diving well today, what could you do?
AD: A belly flop, ha ha. There's a lot of spatial awareness required in diving. I felt, even after a week or two, if I had a holiday and went back, I would feel very uncertain of myself.
I remember trying a few months after I stopped diving. I overestimated how fast I could spin and totally wiped out. I guess I could throw a couple of somersaults in there.
