St. Peters Western club in Australia, home to Ariarne Titmus and Elijah Winnington, is hosting a unique pre-Olympics star-studded simulation event. Archive photo via Anti Wave
The storied Australian swim club that is St. Peters Western will be opening its doors to the public for the first time in 4 years.
On Saturday, May 11th, head coach Dean Boxall will be coaching a simulated Paris 2024 Olympic competition, complete with a marshaling room, event board and team room for all participants.
Corridors inside the pool will be set up to give swimmers the feeling, energy and nerves they could experience entering the Paris 2024 Stadium.
The morning will consist of several simulated racing sets, all timed and with squad staff acting as officials.
Per the SPW description, “We’re looking to have an MC in place who will explain to the crowd what is happening in the water. And we are organising a row of VIP attendees which will include swimmer families and importantly, well-known people from the world of swimming, considered “swimming royalty” worldwide.”
SPW is home to Olympic champion and world record holder Ariarne Titmus and world champion Elijah Winnington among others.
Get up close with Dean Boxall and his world beating high performance squad for their final training session before they head off for the 2024 Paris Olympics swimming trials.
This is a rare opportunity to come into the SPW aquatic centre – normally closed off to the public – and watch Dean and his squad lay down the final training block in their preparations for the 2024 Olympic trials. Sitting close to the action, you will see all of SPW’s Olympic and World Champions together, suited up, and in full race simulation mode.
You will feel the heat, hear the breathing, absorb the energy, and be part of the Olympic pool action as Dean re-creates the Paris atmosphere right here in Brisbane.
The full squad will be there – Kai Taylor, Ariarne Titmus, Mollie O’Callaghan, Elijah Winnington, Shayna Jack, Brianna Throssell, Jack Cartwright, Kiah Melverton, Abbey Harkin, Jenna Forrester and more.
Because all swimmers will be deep in training and race mode, there will not be an opportunity to meet the swimmers or take individual photos or get autographs. But you will be up close with them and witness these athletes in their home environment behind the curtain where the magic happens.
Spectator seating is close to the pool and the starting blocks, and so gates will open at 6am sharp with spectators required to take their seats no later than 6.25am. Dean will start his simulated Paris racing at 6.30am with the session going for approximately 2 hours.
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Troyy
19 days ago
Sydney Open no longer has a stream listed on the event page so I guess there’s no stream again. Swim NSW are useless 💩
Emily Se-Bom Lee
19 days ago
sydney open entries are out.
zsc
temple
mcevoy
dekkers
champion
wunsch
grant
jansen
armbruster
casey
southam
coleman
ramsay
da silva
mackinder
woodward
petric
conias
yang
de lutiis
clareburt
fairweather
ikee
seto
no spw obviously. none of bohl’s squad, cooper or chalmers. cooper being a surprising absence because the skins event is his fantasy. also a reminder that this is uni nationals, so some people are representing the uni they are enrolled in. zsc and dekkers haven’t left chandler
Nearly every swimmer who isn’t a dead cert for top 2 in their events is missing. Many names who are safe are showing up so there is a lot of caginess going on before Trials.
Makes SPW’s event very interesting, perhaps a show of force or devious sandbagging to trick spies?
Daniel
19 days ago
In other news – Sydney Open start lists are out and they look a bit sparse. ZSC and Temple the biggest names.
There were a few domestic meets earlier for autographs and the like. Keeping it an eyeballs only event means that you really have to be there, and keeping the swimmers insulated from casual stuff keeps them focused.
This is a rare opportunity to see something that is quite special, and it is trying to kill two birds with one stone, a simulation of what is to come and to show that people are really invested in their success.
It is really a special exhibition of what is basically an internal prep meet.
Certainly an odd thing to try, but who are we to question Boxall’s methods?
I was never an elite athlete, but I can’t understand what elite athletes describe as “distractions”. If taking 30 minutes out of a year’s worth of preparations to sign autographs and take pictures is some massive distraction, then I would recommend discussing tools for a more healthy mentality with a sports psychologist.
I don’t necessarily agree with you Braden. As the other person commented, there are other opportunities for autographs. Dean must want to simulate a big meet atmosphere.
I am annoyed at the cost ($43 AUS). This club (and a couple of others) go on weeks long training trips fully funded whilst good swimmers and Australian team members at smaller clubs struggle to get any sort of sports science help at all for example.
This is a big issue, Swimming QLD, QAS and the top SE Queensland programs have multiple layers of funding and SOTA resources that other programs cannot hope to match without philanthropy or government support.
Swimming Australia burns money every year doing their elite program support on top of trying to cover their other responsibilities.
SPW has their very expensive tuition (they can afford sports scholarships even without grants), rich backers and performance bonuses on top of their nominal support, so they are very privileged. The results do back up the investment, it is what it is.
Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.
Sydney Open no longer has a stream listed on the event page so I guess there’s no stream again. Swim NSW are useless 💩
sydney open entries are out.
zsc
temple
mcevoy
dekkers
champion
wunsch
grant
jansen
armbruster
casey
southam
coleman
ramsay
da silva
mackinder
woodward
petric
conias
yang
de lutiis
clareburt
fairweather
ikee
seto
no spw obviously. none of bohl’s squad, cooper or chalmers. cooper being a surprising absence because the skins event is his fantasy. also a reminder that this is uni nationals, so some people are representing the uni they are enrolled in. zsc and dekkers haven’t left chandler
Entries a bit lighter than expected. SPW doesn’t usually do this meet but really thought Griffith Uni would be there.
Nearly every swimmer who isn’t a dead cert for top 2 in their events is missing. Many names who are safe are showing up so there is a lot of caginess going on before Trials.
Makes SPW’s event very interesting, perhaps a show of force or devious sandbagging to trick spies?
In other news – Sydney Open start lists are out and they look a bit sparse. ZSC and Temple the biggest names.
Pay per view? Or at least a stream.
Limited admission viewing only.
Just a blatant money grab
They don’t need the money for sure, but they are drawing a line for the truly committed supporter who will enjoy it for what it is.
Kind of weird.
Yeah, I can’t figure out why they’re selling tickets to this for this much money but not allowing autographs or photos.
Seems like a weird line to draw.
There were a few domestic meets earlier for autographs and the like. Keeping it an eyeballs only event means that you really have to be there, and keeping the swimmers insulated from casual stuff keeps them focused.
This is a rare opportunity to see something that is quite special, and it is trying to kill two birds with one stone, a simulation of what is to come and to show that people are really invested in their success.
It is really a special exhibition of what is basically an internal prep meet.
Certainly an odd thing to try, but who are we to question Boxall’s methods?
I was never an elite athlete, but I can’t understand what elite athletes describe as “distractions”. If taking 30 minutes out of a year’s worth of preparations to sign autographs and take pictures is some massive distraction, then I would recommend discussing tools for a more healthy mentality with a sports psychologist.
I don’t necessarily agree with you Braden. As the other person commented, there are other opportunities for autographs. Dean must want to simulate a big meet atmosphere.
I am annoyed at the cost ($43 AUS). This club (and a couple of others) go on weeks long training trips fully funded whilst good swimmers and Australian team members at smaller clubs struggle to get any sort of sports science help at all for example.
This is a big issue, Swimming QLD, QAS and the top SE Queensland programs have multiple layers of funding and SOTA resources that other programs cannot hope to match without philanthropy or government support.
Swimming Australia burns money every year doing their elite program support on top of trying to cover their other responsibilities.
SPW has their very expensive tuition (they can afford sports scholarships even without grants), rich backers and performance bonuses on top of their nominal support, so they are very privileged. The results do back up the investment, it is what it is.
Yep. It’s surprising now when a small club gets anyone on an Australian junior or senior team. Really it’s a credit to them.
I’m sure none of them would have issues doing autographs, just not the purpose of the event, I guess.
Now THIS is a high-level international meet.