Of course we’re fired up following the progress of Team USA at the upcoming world championships. The pool events don’t kick off until the 28th – but our open water team will see action on the 20th with the 5K event.
Here’s an update from national champion Christine Jennings on how the team is doing during training camp:
As you know the pool World Championship team left today to head to training camp in Bilbao, Spain, but what many of you do not know is that the Open Water World Championships team has been at it all week in Mataro, Spain training in preparation for the OW competition to start on the 20th.
Welcome to the wonderful world of open water swimming!
We arrived into Spain on July 11th. We have the veterans: Alex, Andrew, Sean, Eva, Haley, and myself. And then we have the newbies: Becca and Jordan. We’ve had some awesome training sessions in the pool where I’ve been able to see several people step up and swim lights out while cheering each other on. Also, in the open water sessions I have been able to see the veterans stepping in to teach and mentor the newbies. This is what “TEAM” is all about.
Here is a quick recap of our trip thus far: Mataro has welcomed Team USA with open arms. The people have been hospitable and caring. If we ever needed something, it was no problem for them. We also were able to meet the Mayor of Mataro today where we were given a history lesson about the city of Mataro (which is actually very interesting!). We have made friends with the coast guard patrol several times while out in the open water (the coaches got in trouble). And we are enjoying gelato just about every day here!
We’ve all been having a fantastic camp. Being part of the Open Water team is always a special privilege. We don’t just bond; we become family. The time we spend together, the memories we make all make me come to realize just how truly special it is and how blessed I am to be able to be part of this family.
Adios! Christine
USA Swimming and its new partner, the Catholic Church, oppose SB 131 (a bill that allows child victims of sexual abuse get justice) because it doesn’t include criminal punishment, yet neither has supported ANY LEGISLATION OR BILLS TO PROTECT CHILDREN. THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT PROTECTING CHILDREN. THEY DO CARE ABOUT PROTECTING THEIR RESOURCES BY SHELTERING AND PROTECTING THEIR PEDOPHILES. IF YOU SUPPORT THEM YOU SUPPORT PAEDOPHILES! Please, for the sake of the children, remove all support from these morally bankrupt institutions. USA SWIMMING just hired a high-powered Sacramento law firm to kill SB 131 before it even makes it to the Assembly. Don’t let USA SWIMMING and their pedophiles get away with it.