The Harbour Swim Club held an intensive training camp at the National Sports Centre and Grotto Bay hotel over the mid-term break.

The “away” camp presented an opportunity for Gold Squad swimmers, who typically travel to Toronto, Canada, during this period, to train locally at an intense level, while enjoying some time on the island, and focus on swimming away from “home.”

The camp included 14 local swimmers and five overseas swimmers, led by coaches Shona Palmer and Jenny Smatt.

“It’s very important to maintain a high level of enthusiasm and motivation amongst the swimmers during this time when travel isn’t an option,” Palmer, the Harbour head coach, said.

“This has been our largest group yet, as we enter our third year of the programme. There are seven new younger members of the squad, so each of them were able to see what training at the next level looks like and engage with their fellow team-mates.”

The intensive, daily double session of training was complemented by local guest professionals in yoga, Rollers and Stretching.

Ashley Aitken, a former world championships swimmer, led the team through a customised body-awareness and movement session at the Grotto Bay hotel at the start of the camp.

As the week progressed, Karen Adams, a two-times Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby winner and Front Street Mile champion, worked with the swimmers using rollers, while instructing them on the physical benefits gained through regular use.

Rounding out the guest professionals working with the swimmers through the week was Michael Watson, a certified Anatomy Trains educator and movement specialist. He led advanced training programmes throughout the world and has worked extensively with world-class athletes for more than 20 years.

“The local talent we were able to partner with to augment our training in the pool is a testament to the level of expertise available to athletes locally, particularly during this time,” Smatt said.

“As coaches we must find ways in times like these to be creative and resourceful to engage, educate and inspire our athletes in order to keep our competitive swimmers psychologically and physically fit and focused.”