SWIMMERS TOUR WORLD FOR OLYMPIC PREPARATION
British Swimming will send three teams to major international
meets this summer as swimmers look to personalise their preparations
ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
The nation's best swimmers will first be in action at the
ASA National Championships in Sheffield next month before
they attend one or more of a number of events taking place
around the world this summer.
With no World, European or Commonwealth championships this
summer, swimmers and coaches have selected meets that best
suit their individual preparations and programmes as they
work towards next summer's Olympics.
Teams will compete at meets in Indianapolis, Paris, Bangkok
and Japan as they look to end their long course (50m) season
on a high 12 months out from Beijing.
For British Swimming Head Coach Ian Turner, the U.S. Championships
will provide the type of test he believes will best benefit
his group of Freestyle men.
"I shall take a group to the U.S. Nationals and this
will give our 200m Freestyle swimmers the chance to stand
up as individuals and as relay teams against some very strong
competition," said Turner.
"That's our focus for the year and we've done a great
deal of work in training towards that aim as we also look
to create that special bond that exists between relay teams."
Turner believes there will be real benefits for British Swimming
collectively as different programmes within the set-up look
to international events that offer a more specific challenge.
"Britain's coaches have had the option of which meets
will suit their programme best and have chosen accordingly.
It's an exciting time. A year out from the Beijing Olympics
and all programmes are focused on getting the right result
in China.
"This summer's meets will tell us where we are in that
preparation and give us an indication of the work that still
needs to be done to ensure people peak at the right time."
British Swimming coach Ben Titley will take a squad to Japan
for a training camp and open event at the end of August, and
this will mirror preparations ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
"Japan offers an invaluable chance for this group of
swimmers to race at the end of the summer in Asia which is
what they'll be focusing on 12 months down the line at the
Olympics," said Titley.
"It also provides the chance for both athletes and staff
to train beforehand in Osaka which is what we're looking at
as a venue for our Olympic preparation camp in 2008.
"They'll be able to acclimatise to the environment,
get used to the geography of the area and therefore settle
better when we arrive ready for our final Olympic preparation."
Ian Armiger (Loughborough University) as Head Coach will
take a team closer to home in Paris. Again a quality field
is anticipated with the world's most successful swimming nations
in attendance.
A squad of 19 British swimmers has also been selected to
compete at the World University Games in Thailand.
And the swimming contingent of the multi-sport event will
be looking to better the medal tally they achieved two years
ago in Turkey where they contributed 10 of the 19 medals collectively
won by the Great Britain team.
U.S. National Championships take place from 31st
July to 4th August. The British team comprises: Dave
Carry -Aberdeen Dolphins Daniel Coombs - Gallica/Loughborough
University Ross Davenport - City of Derby Andy Hunter - Stirling
Swimming Robert Lang - City of Edinburgh Dean Milwain - Loughborough
of University John Owen - City of Edinburgh Robbie Renwick
- City of Aberdeen Hannah Miley - Garioch
The Paris Open Meet takes place between 2nd and 5th
August 2007. The British team comprises: Rebecca
Adlington - Nova Centurion Georgia Davies - Swim Swansea Jess
Dickons - Borough of Stockton Megan Gilchrist - City of Edinburgh
Jo Jackson - Derwentside Jemma Lowe - Borough of Stockton
Mel Marshall - Loughborough University Robyn Matthews - City
of Edinburgh Cassie Patten - Stockport Metro Keri-anne Payne
- Stockport Metro Emma Smithurst - City of Derby
Chris Alderton - Wear Valley
Chris Cook - City of Newcastle
Craig Elliott - Loughborough University
Craig Gibbons - Maxwell/Loughborough University
James Gibson - Marseille
James Goddard - Loughborough University
Andrew Hodgson - Swansea Performance
Stuart Houston - Stirling Swimming
James Kirton - City of Sheffield
Andrew Mayor - City of Newcastle
Peter Thompson - Middlesborough
Chris Watkinson - Loughborough University
The Japan Open Meet takes place 21st to 24th August
in Chiba. The British team comprises: Julia Beckett
- Loughborough University Rebecca Cooke - City of Glasgow
Ellen Gandy - Beckenham Fran Halsall - City of Liverpool Kate
Haywood - Loughborough University Jemma Lowe - Borough of
Stockton Caitlin McClatchey - Loughborough University Hannah
Miley - Garioch Lizzie Simmonds - Lincoln Vulcans
Chris Cook - City of Newcastle
Todd Cooper - Stirling Swimming
David Davies - City of Cardiff
Kris Gilchrist - City of Edinburgh
Ben Hockin - Swansea Performance
Gregor Tait - City of Edinburgh
Liam Tancock - Loughborough University
The World University Games take place in Bangkok,
Thailand from 8th to 18th August 2007. The Great Britain team
comprises: Sophie Caul - City of Coventry Terri Dunning
- City of Birmingham Debbie Hall - City of Sheffield
Louise Henley - Swansea
Karen Lee - University of Bath
Louise Pate - City of Edinburgh
Stephanie Proud - Loughborough University
Katherine Wyld - Nova Centurion
Matt Bowe - Loughborough University
Matt Clay - University of Bath
Euan Dale - Loughborough University
Scott Houston - Stirling
Andrew Hunter - Stirling
Darren Mew - University of Bath
Michael Rock - Manchester
Joe Roebuck - Loughborough University
Charles Turner - Loughborough University
Matthew Tutty - University of Bath
Michael Unsworth - Loughborough University
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