SA swimming coach hopeful for relaxation of training regulations

Staying at home is a challenge for many. When you’re a star athlete used to daily training sessions for hours, isolation brings many challenges.  

Japan's prime minister and the head of the International Olympic Committee agreed to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Games by a year in an extraordinary move, unprecedented in peacetime, as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic.

Training has become impossible for many athletes and exposes them to the risk of contracting or spreading the disease. 

What about swimming?

South Africa is home to the best swimmers in the world; however, they cannot train due to lockdown regulations. 

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What is happening regarding our Olympic swimming hopefuls?

Breakfast with Martin Bester spoke to SA National Swimming coach, Graeme Hill.

Hill emphasises the importance of consistent training, ‘It’s very difficult for the swimmers, especially those who were gearing up to have great results as well as those who would’ve experienced their first Olympics. For us to be back in the water is a lot safer than being in a team sport.’

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The National coach is still hopeful the swimmers would be able to train if there’s a possibility of relaxation of regulations in Level 3 of the national lockdown.

SA swimmer Michael Houlie told Martin Bester about his training during lockdown and preparation for the Summer Olympics 2021. 

Ravi Govender, the acting CEO at SASCOC joined the conversation and gave local athletes motivation.