Samoa, one of the largest islands in the South Pacific and recent host of the Commonwealth Youth Games, held a FINA Development Clinic earlier this fall. From September 1-7, the Samoa Swimming Federation, supported by FINA, hosted a group of four coaches and 40 intermediate-level swimmers from four clubs and two schools, along with two Samoan swimmers from overseas, for an informative, instruction-based clinic.
The goal of the clinic was to act as a high performance training event for both the coaches and swimmers, helping all to achieve all-around higher levels of swimming. Stroke technique instruction took place, as did a review of essential training skills and exercises for all stroke disciplines. Hawaii-based Willem Sakovich led the clinic, as he did back in 2013 and reportedly noted much improvement in the time span between the two events.
Said Sakovich,“Most of these coaches have made enormous efforts to continue their own education within swimming and have committed their schools and clubs to be involved with regional meets wherever possible.”
At the Commonwealth Youth Games, host Samoa saw several of its young swimmers score final-session swims including Sitivi Sooaemalelagi, who finished 8th in the 200 butterfly, Alania Suttie who earned 7th in the women’s 200 fly and 8th in the 400 free, and Brandon Schuster who wound up 6th in the 400 IM.
