"After the operation, I was told I had to swim," he said. "So my father took on the manager's job at the local pool. I grew up around Australia's best swimmers - Fraser, David Tyler, you name them."
Meet one of the most remarkable men in Australia.
A former Wallaby, Lawrie Lawrence knows anyone and everyone. John Eales and Mark Waugh are simply 'Jonny' and 'Mark' and swimming legend Dawn Fraser is greeted over the phone with, "Hello 'darl. How are ya?"
As Team Australia's motivational manager - a title he finds distinctly amusing - you won't be surprised to hear that Lawrence is a passionate Aussie.
It is his job to ensure that every Australian athlete is focussed on gold - perhaps one of the more straightforward briefs as their medal tally already shows.
"It is true that we have some super personalities in our squad," he said. "And to be honest I can do nothing if they haven't put the work in pre-season.
"Look at Steve Redgrave - now that's motivation - if people need a crutch they're no good.
"I could bring the Pope in tomorrow, but it wouldn't do anything if an athlete isn't ready."
Debilitating
Lawrence, the son of a publican, suffered a debilitating illness as a child, which resulted in surgery and half a lung being removed. It was a moment that changed his life forever.
"After the operation, I was told I had to swim," he said. "So my father took on the manager's job at the local pool. I grew up around Australia's best swimmers - Fraser, David Tyler, you name them."
Although he represented Australia in rugby union on the 1964 tour to New Zealand, Lawrence could never break his ties with the pool.
"I had to pack in 'cause my lungs couldn't cope," he said. "So once I'd got my teaching qualification at university, and made myself comfortable financially, I began to teach kids to swim."
He quickly gained notoriety. In 1973, he coached his first world record holder, but it was some years later, at the Seoul Olympics, that he truly shot to fame.
When Duncan Armstrong defeated three world record holders to claim gold in the 200m final, Lawrence, who had taught Armstrong since he was a child, was caught on TV wildly celebrating in the stands.
Lost control
An animated man at the best of times, Lawrence admits he lost control.
"I was the one who told this kid to put his face in the water - when he was just a nipper," he said. "So can you imagine how it felt, when he defeated three world champions?"
After the event, Lawrence found himself on every chat show in the land where his amiable style and lightening quick wit made him an instant hit.
But do the Australian athletes really need motivating?
"What I try and do is create an atmosphere of unity in which they are relaxed," he said.
"When I go to bed tonight I have to be able to say to myself 'I've been useful', otherwise I'm just a leech on the team."
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