SYNCHRO TEAM READY FOR WORLDS EXPERIENCE
With just a week to go before the World Championships get
underway in Melbourne, Britain's synchronised swimmers are
being put through their paces at their preparation camp in
readiness for the toughest competition of their careers.
National Performance Director Biz Price, who joined British
Swimming at the start of the year, has spent the past two-and-a-half
months working tirelessly with the three athletes to enhance
their skills in time for Melbourne - their first appearance
at a World Championships.
Improvements during that time have been nothing but impressive
and Price is delighted with the attitude and aptitude of athletes
Olivia Allison, Jenna Randall and Lauren Smith, all from the
Rushmoor club.
"The girls have been doing very well," said Price.
"Our preparation is going well and it culminated today
in a competition simulation display at the Police Academy
in Melbourne which highlighted the progress they've made.
"It's been a week now since we arrived in Melbourne
and the girls have been working hard.
They came into Melbourne off a four-week camp in Canada and
have benefited greatly from their time in Montreal.
"They trained with an experienced Olympic coach and
were also able to work alongside girls from the New Zealand
team who were also there."
The difference in approach and training the athletes have
undergone since Price's arrival have taken their toll but
it is part of Price's preparation plan to ensure there are
fittest when the competition starts in Melbourne.
"The girls are fairly fatigued at the moment but will
be in great shape by the time the competition starts in a
week's time," continued Price.
"I've given them extra volumes in training this week,
more than they're used to doing, but they'll benefit from
it come competition time. I didn't want the girls coasting
into the competition after the good work they've done and
the gains they've made but they'll be ready next week.
"The girls will have competition simulations over the
next couple of days before they take a day off and then conclude
their preparations with four days of training in the competition
pool. Getting to know the venue itself will be good for the
athletes before the action gets underway."
Price is excited about seeing the girls in action at the
Melbourne Aquatic Centre which comes at the perfect time for
them to utilise the news skills and take advantage of the
enhanced fitness they've worked hard to achieve.
"Since January the girls have made significant improvements
and gains in many areas. There's still a lot of work to be
done but their strength has improved considerably in the past
two-and-a-half months as well their stamina and power,"
said Price
"Physically they look more powerful and this will give
them more height out of the water in the routines which is
something they'll be rewarded for when being judged at the
World Championships.
"Whether we see the growth and improvements bearing
fruit in Melbourne remains to be seen but one thing is certain
and that is it will at some stage in the future if not over
the next two weeks."
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