Sport
8 December, 2024
Swimmers ready for champs
MORE than 40 of the best swimmers in the Far North have gathered at the Trinity Anglican School’s aquatic centre for a development clinic to enhance their skills and technique ahead of the Queensland Championships on December 14.
National and state level swimmers across FNQ Swimming clubs dedicated last Saturday to taking their skills to the next level by the hand of the best at the development clinic hosted by FNQ Swimming and directed by Swimming Queensland representatives.
This year, Swimming Queensland’s club development coach Brant Best was joined by the world-renowned movement scientist Ryan Hodierne – who was flown from the Sunshine Coast through support from sponsors – to give the young athletes and their coaches the best advise and practical training to become the best in Australia.
“Ryan teaches them about the way the best in the world perform their skills, and how they apply it to their own swimming,” Mr Best said.
“We then work with them and the coaches to develop their skills in the water in a practical sense.
“This is a critical part of their performance pathway. This is the link between what they’re doing in their training environment and what it takes to be better.
“We explain the things that are in their way and we empower them to make changes to those things and improve their racing.”
Mr Hodierne said it was exciting to see the eagerness and raw talent of the FNQ swimmers.
“This is my second time in Cairns and it’s awesome to be back and see how open they (the swimmers) are to communication. Some of the best questions I’ve had from athletes in general have come from here and I thoroughly enjoy that they take everything in,” he said.
“It’s good to see the potential, the talent’s all there, the intent is definitely there, so we’re sparking that within them.”
Mr Best said he was always amazed at the level of talent in the Far North.
“Every pool that I’ve been to, I see talent that I think is able to make it at a higher level. It’ll go down to how well they commit and their level of discipline.”
State level swimmer from Saints Swimming club, Paige Carey, 16, said her goal was set in competing at the world championships.
“I’ve been to probably 10 clinics and I’d like to take my swimming as far as I can, but my main goal right now is to make it to worlds,” she said.
“Having Ryan here is so cool, he’s really insightful, he’s worked on Olympic teams with heaps of athletes around the world, so getting this opportunity is very inspiring for us FNQ swimmers.”
