|
 |
Goal-setter: Queenstown Swimming Club’s Sophie Gibson
|
Four top Queenstown swimmers will prove what they’re made of during a prestigious training camp in Dunedin this weekend.
Patrick Harris, Sophie Gibson, Sami Hotop and Rebekah Paul, all 13, are attending the South Island Regional Age Group Development Camp at Moana Pool.
They’re among the South Island’s top 16 boys and top 16 girl swimmers who’ve made the cut – and the Queenstown Swimming Club teens make up the largest number from any club, coach Frank Wylie says.
“We have a good group of kids in the club of a similar age which has helped generate some good enthusiasm and competition.”
The camp will be run by legendary Kiwi long-distance swimmer Philip Rush, who holds the record for the fastest two-way and three-way swim of the English Channel and has swum the Cook Strait eight times.
Rush and a handful of club coaches – including Wylie and his former pupil-turned-coach Leanne Thompson – will put the teens through their paces, assessing technical aspects of each swimmer to see if they’ve got what it takes to reach elite level.
“The camp’s designed to help swimmers understand the commitment that’s required to achieve individual and team success,” Wylie explains.
Sophie, who holds South Island titles in 50 metre and 100m butterfly, says she expects to learn a lot.
“It’s a great opportunity and I want to make the most of it – I hope to come out firing, and even more motivated.
We’re all very excited to be selected and it’ll be awesome to train with other swimmers from the South Island.”
|
Your say
There are no comments on this article.
Have your say
You will need to register or login before you can post a comment.
