A small group of talented swimmers have continued their development in the Far East as part of a partnership between Britain and Japan aimed at enhancing medal prospects at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Eight of Britain’s brightest potential Olympians have returned from Japan as part of the Tokyo 2020 (3TP) Project where they trained with the Japanese national squad while sampling the environment and culture.
"Our recently launched '3TP Programme' is designed to equip some of our best young talent with a wide range of experiences over the coming years, with the ultimate focus of seeing British swimmers perform with distinction at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games," said Tim Jones, British Swimming Head of Performance Pathway who lead groups to Suzuka for the boys and Shizuoka for the girls.
"The intention is to expose swimmers, coaches and staff to a very different environment. The culture within is something you have to be comfortable with and that is part of the point and purpose of what we’re now setting out to do on 3TP.
“This camp is just one element of the wider strategy of accelerating the development of athletes we expect to be in their prime by 2020
“The opportunity to have some of our swimmers involved in the top Male and Female Junior Camps in Japan was something we could not afford to miss. We were extremely well received and looked after, and I have no doubt that all eight of our travelling British swimmers will have leaned a huge amount about both themselves as individuals and the Japanese high performance environment."
The girls' relay camp contingent added: "Our time with the Japanese swimming team was really challenging inside & outside the pool. We have all been totally immersed into the Japanese culture which will help in our quest & preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games."
The overriding essence of 3TP is one of partnership and as such both junior and senior swimmers from both nations will train together at camps in Japan and Britain through to the Tokyo Olympics and beyond.
The British squad which took part in the Japan Junior Development Camp comprised:
Charlie Attwood – Taunton Deane
Luke Greenbank – Cockermouth
Duncan Scott - Stirling Swim
Martyn Walton – Hatfield
Emma Cain – Millfield
Georgia Coates – City of Leeds
Holly Hibbott – Stockport Metro
Rosie Rudin – Nova Centurion