British Swimming will welcome the next generation of Olympians at a national camp in a new concept that has been developed in conjunction with the ASA, Scottish Swimming and Swim Wales.
The camp, which will be held at the Aberdeen Sports Village from 15 – 18 September, will see athletes split into gender and stroke-specific groups as they get the opportunity to come together at the beginning of a new sporting quadrennial.
A total of 80 junior swimmers (40 females aged 14-17 years and 40 males aged 15-18 year) are being given the chance to experience a national squad environment as the sport enters the Tokyo cycle.
The technical focus of the four days will be around starting and turning skills, whilst the camp will also include athlete profiling and education sessions. The selected swimmers will work with some of the country’s leading coaches and support staff from across the home nations.
British Swimming’s Head of Performance Pathway Tim Jones said: “This is the first time in a long period that we have embarked on bringing such a large group of junior swimmers together for one consolidated camp. At the start of the Tokyo cycle it is a great opportunity to be as inclusive as possible with a group of athletes who potentially see the 2020 & 2024 Olympic Games as longer term goals.
“The decision to split the camp by gender is in recognition of the differing needs of both groups of athletes, ensuring the best environment for each to develop. Whilst using just one facility, the groups will be accommodated, managed and coached separately. Starts and turns is an obvious technical focus for us and an area where all British athletes can make significant gains”
“We have already received some fantastic support from the people of Aberdeen, and this will be an exciting adventure for many of our young athletes”.