Traralgon Represented at National State Talent ID Camp

This article (in part) appeared on the SVI website:

The future of swimming in Victoria is in great hands as 16 of our most promising male swimmers attended the first State Talent ID Camp last weekend. Representing Traralgon were Alex Tsebelis (National Age finalist in multiple events) and Caiden Gill (National Age silver medallist 50 free).

Under Swimming Australia’s (SAL) National Talent ID Program, Victoria has identified athletes from the 2014 Australian Age and/or Open Championships using expert scouting coaches including our Victorian State Technical Director, Leigh Nugent as well as the Victorian Development Program Selection Criteria

Victoria identified 20 males and 20 females to take part in the State Talent ID Squad which will consist of two assessment camps per year, the first taking place last weekend. Male swimmers across eight different clubs attended the camp while the females will have their opportunity at the end of the month. During these camps, a range of assessments are conducted including swimming performance tests, anthropometry measurements, strength & conditioning tests and physiotherapy screening. Nugent was impressed by what he saw from the young Victorians and the success of the camp, which was the first of its kind in Australia.

“This Victorian camp was the first to be conducted by any State and was the litmus test for how the ensuing camps are run. From all aspects it was a resounding success which was largely due to the responsiveness and willingness of the swimmers and the professional conduct of the staff involved” explained Nugent.

The support received from these camps will ensure athletes are regularly exposed to environments that will help to mould our future champions. The impact from this program will transfer back into their home training environments with support provided to the Home Coaches by Swimming Victoria through Technical Director, Leigh Nugent.

“In the shorter term the test results will assist coaches in their workout design and identification of more relevant performance targets in training sets. The critical information collected on these camps over time will enable Swimming Australia to build a data base which can be used by coaches, athletes and scientists to monitor and quantify an athlete’s progression as they develop through their teenage years” said Nugent.

Thank you to the coaches who assisted on the day, Alex Hirschauer (Melbourne Vicentre), Ash Wain (Bendigo Hawks) and Sam Ashby (MLC Aquatic).

The female camp will be held at MSAC and the VIS on 31 May & 1 June.  Ellodie Reid, Mikaela Cornelissen and Melina DeCort have been invited to this camp of elite swimmers.  All swimmers will come together in January 2015 for the second round of assessments.

Congratulations to Alex, Caiden, Ellodie, Melina and Mikaela on their inclusion in this group.