Three young Salford swimmers have been chosen for England youth programme.
The three swimmers – Katie Lee, Ben Ross and Viyana Sefi – will be training with the England camp, with Katie and Ben also starting and continuing a Diploma of Sporting Excellence (DISE).
Katie Lee, 17, started her first year of the studies alongside her national youth team call up.
“I’ve been chosen to do DISE and through the two years it will consist of multiple camps down in Loughborough for education on the body and science of sport,” she said.
“It will also mean that i get to go away with the team in the second year which will be really fun and another good international competition.
“By having the opportunity, I am able to do an extra BTEC alongside my A levels at sixth form. It’s a great opportunity and I am very grateful to have been chosen.”
Viyana Sefi, 15, was also selected for the English national talent program, while Ben Ross, 17, starts his second year of the Diploma of Sporting Excellence.
Thomas Nelson, one of the coaches who has been working with the trio, said: “For Viyana, this is her first opportunity to be picked for a national squad of some sort. So, for her, it’s a massive opportunity.”
Ben and Katie will both be striving to do well in their Diplomas of Sporting Excellence.
He said: “It will benefit them massively. It sets them up for their further education, to aspire to go to university, as it provides extra UCAS points for the swimmers.
“Ben and Katie have had prior international experience, they’ve also swum for Great Britain, so they’re quite seasoned veterans when it comes to being called up to occasions and being picked for teams and opportunities.”
City of Salford Swimming Club have had a rich history in recent times with young prodigy Amelie Blocksidge taking most of the titles.
But both Katie and Ben have had national call ups.
“Ben and Katie have had quite a bit of experience already with being picked for Great Britain in the 2023 European Junior Open Water Championships.”
On these programmes and call ups the three swimmers will be doing many different sessions.
He said: “They help supplement what they’re doing in the pool, on top of all knowledge about strength and conditioning, nutrition, work-life balance.
“It’s all linked back into swimming, and it’s all linked back into further education and awareness of the sport from a sports science perspective.“
On the club’s success, he said: “It goes to show the strength of the programme, the strength and depth that we do have.
“It sets a benchmark for others to aspire to, and shows the calibre of athlete that we’re able to raise from the ground up from our Learn to Swim programme headed by Head Coach John Stout.”
Listen to the full interview with Thomas Nelson below.
Recent Comments