A group of Manly Swimming Club’s most promising athletes will embark on the opportunity of a lifetime this October when they travel to Southern California for an intensive high-performance training camp with The Race Club, one of the world’s most respected elite swimming organisations.
The seven day tour will see 12 Manly swimmers train in Carlsbad, California, immersing themselves in one of the world’s most innovative swimming environments. Founded by three-time Olympian Gary Hall Sr. and his son, five-time Olympian and ten-time Olympic medallist Gary Hall Jr., The Race Club has earned an international reputation for developing elite swimmers through advanced stroke analysis, cutting-edge technology and world-class coaching. More than 50 Olympians and 23 Olympic medals have been associated with its programs.
Gary Hall Sr. is regarded as one of swimming’s great innovators. A three-time United States Olympian, he won three Olympic relay medals before becoming one of the sport’s most influential coaches and thinkers. His passion for stroke efficiency, biomechanics and technical excellence has shaped The Race Club into a destination for swimmers from around the globe seeking to gain a competitive edge.
The High Performance Swim Tour has been designed to expose Manly’s athletes to new coaching philosophies, elite training methodologies and an international swimming culture as they continue their journey towards future Australian Dolphins teams and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. Manly Head Coach Justin Rothwell and Senior Assistant Coach Michelle Thomas will also travel with the squad, taking the opportunity to learn directly from Gary Hall Sr. The visit is the result of a professional relationship that has developed over the past 18 months, after Rothwell sent Hall Sr. a simple email praising his innovative approach to breaststroke technique. What began as a message of admiration evolved into an ongoing exchange of ideas and coaching philosophies, ultimately leading to this unique opportunity for both Manly’s swimmers and coaching staff.
This is about giving our swimmers an experience that will challenge them both in and out of the pool. They’ll train with coaches who have been at the pinnacle of our sport, learn from decades of Olympic knowledge, build lifelong friendships and return to Manly with skills and experiences they can share throughout our entire club.
During the camp, swimmers will participate in intensive pool sessions covering all four strokes, starts, turns, underwater skills and race-specific technique. They will also receive individual technical feedback using The Race Club’s advanced video analysis systems while taking part in strength, recovery and performance education sessions.
The tour will also provide athletes with the opportunity to experience the unique sporting culture of Southern California, one of the world’s premier destinations for elite swimming. Based in the coastal communities of Oceanside and neighbouring Carlsbad, the athletes will train in world-class facilities while experiencing the environment that has helped produce generations of Olympic champions.
For many of the swimmers, one of the highlights of the tour will be learning directly from Gary Hall Sr. and The Race Club coaching team. The opportunity to hear firsthand from one of swimming’s most respected coaches and innovators is expected to leave a lasting impact long after the athletes return home.
The initiative forms part of Manly Swimming Club’s long-term vision of providing pathways for athletes to reach the highest levels of the sport.
The High Performance Swim Tour has generated significant excitement throughout the club, with swimmers earning selection through their commitment, performances and dedication to training.
As the countdown begins, the blue caps of Manly Swimming Club will soon be making waves on the opposite side of the Pacific, strengthening an international partnership that promises to benefit not only those travelling, but the entire Manly Swimming Club community for years to come. The tour will culminate with a dual meet against local clubs
With guidance from one of swimming’s most respected Olympic families and eyes firmly fixed on future Australian teams and international competition, the journey to California marks another milestone in Manly Swimming Club’s proud tradition of developing swimmers capable of competing with the very best in the world.