Swimmers gear up for elite camp

Gunnedah swimmers are preparing for an exciting opportunity that will take their sport to the next level and maximise performance, when they attend a special camp at the world class High Performance Centre on the Gold Coast early next month.

About 30 children will take part in the six-day intensive swim camp at Runaway Bay, where they will stay onsite and have access to state-of-the art facilities including two swimming pools, a 400m track and field, strength and conditioning gym and health club.

Now in its fourth year, the camp helps lay some important foundations and provides a stepping stone for future performance.

“It gives the kids a camp-style experience at a place where Olympians and high performing athletes train, work out and eat and exposes them to first-class facilities,” camp organiser and Swimming Gunnedah vice-president Aaron Smith said.

“The camp will lead into our long-course season where country, state and nationals are approaching.

“It’s a great time to up the fitness and conditioning and get them ready, but it’s also about team bonding and teamwork.

“Swimming is an individual sport but it’s also a team sport and this camp highlights that.”

Aged between nine and 14 years, the swimmers will take part in two intensive swim training sets a day, nutrition and strength and conditioning workshops and gym sessions.

There will also be a focus on development and team building with plans for laser skirmish, beach visits, movies and the Gold Coast Aqua Park.

The camp will be headed up by Gunnedah coach Colin Marley along with accredited coaches Dan Ramien and Aaron Smith, parent helpers, volunteers and medical staff.

Usually the Gunnedah squad is privileged to watch a pool session with legendary Australian swim coach Michael Bohl and his squad of Olympians at Southport, but this year will be different.

With Bohl stepping off deck for some down time after the Paris Games, the squad will travel to St Peters Western at Brisbane – home of Olympic and gold medal-winning coach Dean Boxall.

The swimmers will be given the opportunity to watch elite coaches and athletes in training, before speaking with coaching staff and listening to motivational talks with athletes including Olympian and Commonwealth Games medallist Kiah Melverton.

“It’s a wave to show the kids what it’s like to go to the next step at a club that is high performing and see the drills and the work that our coach Colin is doing, is very similar to what they’re doing up there,” Smith said.

“For them to witness that will be great value.

“They will see the 50m pool with four or five different sessions running with long and middle distance, sprints, drills and dryland and they will visit the 25m pool where the national age and state swimmers will be training.”

The camp, which will have a strong focus on drills, technique and individual racing and training skills, is a highlight on the Swimming Gunnedah club calendar.

It has grown in popularity each year and has now expanded to include athletes from other regional swim clubs stretching from the Hunter to the North Coast which includes country, state and national swimmers and medallists.

Olympian Mack Horton with brothers Darcy and Lewis Mainey at last year’s camp.