SWIMMING UNVEILS TARGET SQUAD FOR 2012 GAMES
A group of talented young swimmers with the potential to
ensure Great Britain achieves its goals at the London 2012
Olympics is to be unveiled by British Swimming.
The group of 139 athletes that make up the Target Squad will
come together for the first time this weekend in Nottingham
to start a process that will see them undergo a comprehensive
development and nurturing process in readiness for the London
Olympics.
British Swimming will offer support to the identified group
in terms of coaching advice, sport science education and training
opportunities to ensure swimmers are at the peak of their
development in the summer of 2012.
It is expected that swimmers identified for the Target Squad
will progress through the British Swimming World Class Pathway
of World Class Development and World Class Podium programmes
as they continue to develop and progress.
The end result for British Swimming and the nation as a whole
will be the best possible result at the 2012 Games as well
as a succession of role models to support a legacy programme
designed to keep Great Britain in the highest echelons of
swimming for Olympics of the future.
The programme will be lead by British Swimming Director of
World Class Programmes John Atkinson who helped to devise
the selection process for the Target Squad.
"Originally we identified the top six performers in
every Olympic event in the age groups we were targeting. We
looked carefully at performances, ensured athletes were advancing
within their event and attached results from international
competitions to chart their progression," said Atkinson.
"This criteria is based on times needed for international
events throughout a swimmer's development. We set these out
and looked at who has regularly reached these markers for
their particular age group and which athletes are improving
all the time.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for these athletes and
I'm certainly looking forward to leading the group. It's a
collection of some of the most exciting swimming talent I've
seen, together with a selection of coaches that are continually
delivering world class swimmers."
Athletes, parents and coaches will be introduced as the Target
Squad at the East Midlands Conference Centre on Saturday where
they will hear from British Swimming Acting NPD Michael Scott
as well as representatives from UKSport and the British Olympic
Association.
Olympic medallists David Davies (2004), Graeme Smith (1996)
and Paul Palmer (1996) will address swimmers to talk about
their experiences of the Games, while athletes James Goddard
and Cassie Patten will give an insight to what it is like
to compete on the international circuit.
The Target Squad will also hear how sports science can improve
performance while parents and coaches will listen to various
presentations including nutrition for elite swimmers and the
vital role this has to play.
"The journey for athletes to get to the 2012 Olympics
will involve a team approach from parents, the coach, the
club and British Swimming," explained Atkinson. "By
involving everyone from the outset we'll ensure the team is
working together towards that all-important goal.
"The swimmers selected come from 66 different programmes
and are coached by 70 different coaches. These large numbers
involved will have massive benefits not only on the 139 swimmers
but also on the hundreds of other swimmers in those club programmes
affected."
Due to a swimmer's lengthy development process, in contrast
to other Olympic sports, British Swimming has been aware that
those athletes who will thrive within the 2012 host nation
arena are already within the system and have now carefully
identified a group that is best suited to deliver in London.
But the door for young swimmers not on the original 2012
Training Squad certainly isn't shut. Each year the squad will
undergo a review process where swimmers have the ability to
be added while others will be released from the scheme.
"The process will evolve and the talent and confirmation
area of the World Class pathway will be looked at by British
Swimming," said Atkinson. "This along with the age
group, youth and development programmes in the home countries
will all play their part in targeting swimmers toward the
London 2012 Olympics
"We want to capitalise on the home Olympics by providing
opportunities for both the coach and swimmer. It's about putting
the best athletes with the best coaches and providing them
with the best support and opportunities. That's the essence
of the programme.
"It's a group of swimmers that British Swimming is excited
about and highlights the good work in developing young talent
that has taken place within the sport since 2001."
Swimmers, who will attend identified camps, will be set tough
standards to achieve in progressing with the Target Squad
and these tangible markers will be their focus until their
emphasis and gaze shifts to medal possibilities.
British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes is pleased
to see progress being made in identifying and preparing a
group of swimmers who will have an entire nation behind them
in 2012.
"The early identification of athletes who could form
part of the team in 2012 demonstrates British Swimming's commitment
to achieving medal success in London and endeavouring to get
our athletes through to as many finals as possible.
"We've started early to give ourselves the best possible
chance of success. It will involve a great deal of effort
from a great number of people and no doubt our results will
reflect that."
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