British Swimming has announced what they’re calling a “systematic” series of 10 altitude training camps between now and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, beginning this month as 16 swimmers head to Flagstaff, Arizona for 3 weeks at the Hypo2 High Performance Sport Centre.
The camps will target swimmers in races 200 meters and longer, whom they feel will receive the most benefit from the altitude training.
“We believe there are some significant gains for a group of swimmers that we need to explore further and ultimately perfect ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games,” said British Swimming National Performance Director Chris Spice.
“British Swimming will implement a testing programme prior to, during and post each altitude exposure to ensure we’re maximizing the positive effects such training can have on an athlete.”
“Flagstaff is just the first in the 10-camp altitude programme. We will be holding two a year in October and then either January or February, for three weeks at a time.”
The Flagstaff camp will be led by Head of Performance Pathway Tim Jones and will include double Olympic silver medallist Duncan Scott as well as Olympians Max Litchfield and Georgia Coates and Scottish National Record holder Kathleen Dawson.
“The athletes on this first camp have been identified as a group who are expected to be at their performance peak by the time we reach the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.” explained Jones.
Roster for the first camp:
- Charlie Attwood – National Centre Bath
- Luke Davies – City of Birmingham SC
- Luke Greenbank – City of Derby SC
- Caleb Hughes – National Centre Loughborough
- Daniel Jervis – City of Swansea Aquatics Club
- Max Litchfield – City of Sheffield
- Duncan Scott – University of Stirling
- Tim Shuttleworth – National Centre Loughborough
- Georgia Coates – City of Leeds
- Kathleen Dawson – University of Stirling
- Holly Hibbott – Stockport Metro SC
- Katie Matts – Stockport Metro SC
- Tazmin Pugh – Ellesmere College Titans
- Rosie Rudin – City of Sheffield
- Laura Stephens – Plymouth Leander SC
- Abbie Wood – National Centre Loughborough
