SWIMMERS FACE TOUGH TIME AT MARE NOSTRUM
British Swimming's most promising youngsters will follow
in the wake of their senior team mates as they take on the
world's strongest swimming nations at the Mare Nostrum tour
of the Mediterranean.
A 37-strong squad of World, European and Commonwealth medallists,
together with swimmers identified as real prospects for the
future, will meet the likes of Australia, USA, Japan, China
and Germany at meets in France and Spain this week.
And the British outfit, which arrived in France on Saturday,
will be expected to compete in adversity as they face their
rivals while in full training ahead of next month's European
Championships and European Junior Championships.
British Swimming National Performance Director Bill Sweetenham
is looking to use the outdoor events in Canet (7th - 8th June)
and Barcelona (10th-11th June) as ideal preparation for the
main events.
"These meets are about the process and not about the
outcome," said Sweetenham. "They're simply part
of a programme designed to make sure the athletes are ready
to compete at the European Championships and the European
Juniors.
"They're ideal preparation as they are held in outdoor,
50m pools which will give the athletes a real sense of what
can be expected when they take on Europe in a few weeks time."
For some of the younger members of the squad it will be the
first time they've competed outdoors but will provide invaluable
experience ahead of the European Junior Championships in Majorca,
Spain.
"These youngsters are the first to come to the Mare
Nostrum meets," explained Sweetenham. "They are
ideal because they our outdoor, in 50m pools and the conditions
are difficult with strong winds blowing through and the sun
beating down.
"The juniors here are going to have to fight like hell
in the heats. It will teach them to swim hard in the morning
while a second swim is going to be very difficult for some
of them but it's about learning at this stage."
Senior members of the squad will also find they're up against
it as they continue to train throughout the tour in readiness
for the European Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
"They'll be no rest because it's just part of their
training process for the major meet next month. They'll be
racing tough but I'm in no doubt they'll show lots of fighting
spirit," added Sweetenham.
"What we've done is put the best youngsters with our
best senior athletes and I'm sure by the end of the week the
swimmers will be better for it with some valuable lessons
learned."
The Mare Nostrum tour also offers a vital opportunity to
a group of coaches to gain international experience in what
will be testing conditions.
"We've got some great rookie coaches cutting their teeth
on the team and it's essential that they develop as their
swimmers grow," explained Sweetenham.
"We're now getting athletes on the team from a much
wider base of coaches. The European teams are made up of swimmers
from 25 different coaches and this signifies the strength
in depth within British Swimming at the moment.
"Having this mixture of coaches as well as talent working
together in this environment brings so many great positives.
It shows the coaches are taking the lead within the programme.
"Putting everyone together will bind the team and provide
great strength for the future with a World Championships next
year and an Olympics just two years away."
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