The High-Performance Swimming Coaches Clinic took place in Vienna, Austria, on the 9th and 10th of September, beginning with a dynamic opening where the OSV President warmly welcomed attendees, distinguished speakers, and representatives from European Aquatics. This event, designed to provide top-tier professional development for swimming coaches, opened with a keynote address from the European Aquatics President. The keynote outlined the future direction of the European Aquatics Academy, highlighting upcoming initiatives to support coaches, athletes, officials, and national federation (NF) managers in facing future challenges.
The presentations commenced with Andi Manley, a highly regarded expert in long-distance swimming, who shared valuable insights into the preparation of elite athletes, focusing on Dan Wiffen’s journey towards the Paris 2024 Olympics. Manley addressed the differing training models for male and female athletes and explored the unique distinctions between pool swimming and open water disciplines.
Robert Greenwood, a leader in technology-driven sports performance, followed with an insightful session emphasizing the importance of adopting a data-centric approach to coaching. Greenwood discussed how advanced metrics and technology can empower coaches to build confidence in their programs by effectively monitoring training loads, preventing injuries, and tracking key performance indicators such as sleep and illness risks.
Performance analyst Marek Polach, who has worked with several national teams including the Austrian Swim Federation, delivered an in-depth session on strategies for achieving excellence in coaching. His presentation examined the crucial relationship between technique and race performance, particularly with the upcoming Paris 2024 Games in mind. Polach also delved into the synthesis of data for various race strategies, focusing on 200-meter events in both men’s and women’s categories, analyzing both elite and sub-elite athletes.
The clinic continued into the second day, offering practical sessions and discussions designed to equip coaches with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance athlete performance.
Tom Rushton opened the day’s presentations with a session on altitude training, offering detailed guidelines on running successful altitude training camps in preparation for Paris 2024. He covered the key benefits and challenges, as well as best practices and common pitfalls, while also looking ahead to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, discussing how to continue leveraging altitude training for long-term athlete development.
Jon Rudd concluded the clinic with a reflection on his experience as a coach and team leader in multiple Olympic Games, including London, Rio, Tokyo, and Paris. His presentation offered an in-depth overview of the high-pressure Olympic environment, providing valuable insights and lessons for the next generation of coaches navigating the challenges of the global stage.
To watch the full recordings of the clinic, visit euroaquaticstv.com.
