Just prior to the Christmas holiday, British Swimming sent a squad of 8 talented youth swimmers to Japan in a unique opportunity to train with the Japanese National Team.
The grounds were fitting, given that they are a part of the “3TP” project aimed at getting swimmers to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
“Our recently launched ‘3TP Programme’ is designed to equip some of our best young talent with a wide range of experiences over the coming years, with the ultimate focus of seeing British swimmers perform with distinction at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games,” said Tim Jones, British Swimming Head of Performance Pathway who lead groups to Suzuka for the boys and Shizuoka for the girls.
“The intention is to expose swimmers, coaches and staff to a very different environment. The culture within is something you have to be comfortable with and that is part of the point and purpose of what we’re now setting out to do on 3TP.
This is a unique take of focusing young athletes not just on the training and racing part of elite-level competition, but the culture and focus of both elite-level competition, and of the different swimmers against whom they’ll race.
“Our time with the Japanese swimming team was really challenging inside & outside the pool. We have all been totally immersed into the Japanese culture which will help in our quest & preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”
This is part of a partnership that has developed between the two countries that will allow junior and senior swimmers from both countries to train together at camps in Japan and Britain through the 2020 Olympics and beyond.
The British swimmers who participated in the camp included 2014 European Junior Champions Luke Greenbank (200 back – 1:58.05) and Duncan Scott (2:01.57 – 200 IM). See the full roster below.
Charlie Attwood – Taunton Deane
Luke Greenbank – Cockermouth
Duncan Scott – Stirling Swim
Martyn Walton – Hatfield
Emma Cain – Millfield
Georgia Coates – City of Leeds
Holly Hibbott – Stockport Metro
Rosie Rudin – Nova Centurion
