DRYSIDE TRAINING

TRAINING AMY BILQUIST

BY J.R. ROSANIA

Amy Bilquist is a different kind of animal. I’ve never been around someone who has had to persevere through so much adversity and still come out on top. I have been providing her dryland programs for the last year-and-a-half. This article is just a small highlight on the young woman and some of our training...and what makes her tick.

• She’s 23 years old and currently training in Phoenix, Ariz. I have had the pleasure of training her dryland and weights the past few years. She is a true delight.

• She graduated from Cal in 2019 after a successful four-year swimming and academic college career.

• She was a gold medal winner at the 2019 U.S. nationals in the 100 meter backstroke.

• She hardly ever complains...and when she does, it’s because she wants to understand what she’s doing so she can give the proper feedback.

• Previous Olympic Trials: 2016—3rd, 100 back; 4th, 200 back. 2012—swam the 50-100 free and 100-200 back.

• Injuries and surgeries in the last three years: three stress fractures, broken hand, broken foot, knee surgery and shoulder surgery!

• Amy’s philosophy in regard to life and swimming: “It’s changed a lot over the years. I have had a lot of obstacles, but it’s taught me to enjoy and respect the journey more than focusing so much on the destination. Life is never predictable, and we must find beauty and strength in the unpredictability that we conquer.”

• Amy’s comments about our relationship: “In this stage of my career, J.R. has given me the best opportunity I could have asked for. He has provided me with interesting, original and innovative workouts that allow me to gain strength, work around injuries and gain confidence in my athletic abilities.

“He has not only helped improve my physical abilities, but also my mental abilities as an athlete by exploring new ways to feel powerful and strong as a young woman. This has translated into my swimming by helping me still drop time and stay consistent even after training through multiple injuries and surgeries.

“Strength training with J.R. three times a week is consistently a high point because even if it was a hard session, I leave feeling refreshed and motivated.”

* * * As Amy’s trainer, I am very thankful for the opportunity to train this young lady. We have a very good rapport with each other, and she actually makes it easy for me to train her. Go Amy! v

MEET THE TRAINER

J.R. Rosania, B.S., exercise science, is one of the nation’s top performance enhancement coaches. He is the owner and CEO of Healthplex, LLC, and has finished the Ironman Triathlon 18 times. He also serves as Swimming World Magazine’s fitness trainer and was named one of “America’s Top Trainers” by Men’s Journal and Vogue magazines. Check out Rosania’s website at www.jrhealthplex.net. >> J.R. with Amy, who won the gold medal in the women’s 100 back at the 2019 U.S. Summer National Championships

>> Pull-ups from low position to high position