Electric Eels do well in Swimming South Africa Grand Prix series
SUNNINGHILL - The Electric Eels Swimming Club of the Wahoo Aquatic Centre in Sunninghill recently competed in the second Swimming South Africa Grand Prix series in Durban –which also helped them gear up for the upcoming Olympic trials in April.
“Our major championship galas will be [held] in March and April, but my team achieved four golds with three meet records, and 14 silver [medals] and seven bronze [medals] at the Seasonal Provincial Central Gauteng Aquatic Championships,” said Matthew Josephson, coach of the Aquatic Centre, who coaches alongside Lynne Stockton.
“What keeps us motivated is our team’s motto which is ‘I am, so I can’. I try to instil confidence in all the swimmers and make sure our team is a solid family unit. So it is our unity that drives them forward,” Josephson said.
He explained that his swimmers practise nine sessions a week, with three gym and stretch sessions which they are required to do on their own.
“My team prepares themselves by following a programme that I set up, a two-year training cycle, which helps gear them up for major swim meets. Next season they will move onto a four-year training cycle in preparation for 2020 trials,” Josephson expressed.
Dain Heart, Kelly Fairon and Nora Segurola were the three swimmers who recently participated in the Durban leg of the gala.
“My team trains at a state-of-the art facility that has three enclosed pools. They run under the guidance of Mike van Hille, and our centre caters for all levels of swimming, from learning how to swim, to elite swimming, from triathletes and ironman athletes, to master swimming,” he concluded.
Details: 011 807 5118; mattrichardj@live.co.za
