SWIMMERS TARGET ASIA TO PREPARE FOR BEIJING
World Championship silver medallist Cassie Patten will compete
as part of a British squad bound for China this week for the
latest leg of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup.
A British team of three will contest the Shantou leg of the
FINA series before travelling to Hong Kong for the next event
in the waters of Repulse Bay just a week later.
The events will provide both swimmers and coaches with a
valuable insight into climate and conditions in Asia ahead
of next summer's Beijing Olympics and is the main concern
of head coach Sean Kelly (Stockport Metro).
"Our aim for these events is to gain as much experience
as we can of racing in Asia in the summer months," said
Kelly. "It's going to be hot, humid and the water temperature
will be high but it will provide a glimpse of what we can
expect at next year's Beijing Olympics.
"It will be the last outing of a long season for these
athletes but it will be worth it as it will give them a very
good idea of what to expect of the conditions in just under
11 months' time."
Preparations have been geared towards next summer and the
Olympics as opposed to the next two events, and this has seen
the swimmers following a short break with a dedicated gym
programme but they are now back in the water clocking up 70,000m
a week.
"Our aim is for the best result in Beijing and not during
these next two weeks and therefore the athletes won't be in
the best racing shape but this is an important part of the
process leading to the Olympics," explained Kelly.
"The Beijing dream begins in February at a South African
event which gives entry to the Olympic qualification event
in Seville next May.
"That's the immediate focus and from there we will be
looking to Beijing and the event which is new to the Olympic
programme."
For Patten (Stockport Metro) and the team the two events
will provide another chance to test themselves against a world
field that is constantly evolving, with many pool-based swimmers
making the transition, due to the sport's inclusion on the
Olympic programme.
"I'm looking forward to the events, it's a great way
to familiarise yourself with an environment that will be very
similar to Beijing next summer," said Patten.
"The climate and conditions will tell us a lot as well
as the smaller details such as what food we should and shouldn't
eat. It's all very important when you're preparing for an
Olympics.
"We've been back in the water now for three weeks after
a short break but it will be a good test of our fitness at
this stage in our programme."
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