BRITISH SWIMMING LEGION MOVES ON ROME
A 30-strong legion of British swimmers will compete in Rome
this weekend as the athletes continue to work through a period
of heavy training in time for a demanding summer schedule
of events.
The Seven Hills Trophy has attracted entries from Australia,
Poland, France, Sweden, South Africa and Hungary, and these
will provide a stern test to a British squad currently in
preparation for a busy season that begins at the British Championships
next month.
For Head Coach Ian Turner it's a change in direction but
it's something he's confident will benefit the swimmers in
Rome (8th to 10th June).
"Traditionally we've competed at the Mare Nostrum events
in late spring but this year we felt the Rome meet would give
our swimmers a stronger test before they begin a big block
of training," said Turner.
"It looks like a quality field and our guys will be
racing hard this weekend. It's going to be a big test for
the British swimmer at this stage of their season.
"Many of the British athletes in Rome will be fatigued
through a combination of heavy training, competition and travel
but we'll see who has the strength to overcome these obstacles,
stand up against the rest of the world and enhance their reputation
and confidence."
For many of the squad, Rome will continue a block of six
weeks' intense work that began in Phoenix in the U.S. with
a demanding three-week camp. This was followed by a meet in
California, which produced impressive results, return to Britain
and immediately back into the water in readiness for Rome.
And the work won't end there.
"At the end of the Rome event many swimmers will have
a 10-day camp in Sardinia to look forward to. This will be
the last major period of training before the summer season
starts and the events that will bring," explained Turner.
"This final element to what has been a challenging time
will really test the British swimmer. It puts them against
their rivals without being in any shape to race so they'll
have to find something else within themselves to stay in the
fight.
"We're looking to them to discover that little bit of
something extra and then be able to call on that again as
they prepare to focus on next year's Olympics in Beijing."
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