As he gains experience, Weinberger’s performances will surely improve, and the same can also be said for 21-year old Irish swimmer Chris Bryan, who fi nished 33rd in China and 9th in the Serpentine race. “I’m expecting to come on loads this year,” says Bryan, who trains at Ireland’s high-performance swimming centre in Limerick. He is studying sport science at college but says swimming takes up the vast majority of his time, joking that the commitment is like “a full time job with constant overtime and terrible pay”. His schedule incorporates up to 11 sessions a week, with long distances in the mornings – sometimes Bryan swims 17 or 18km at a stretch, which can take up to 4.5 hours. In the evenings comes speed work and gym sessions. Between September and December, meanwhile, he builds strength, covering 60-70km in the pool – where it’s easier to monitor performance – but his weekly distances will increase up to 120km this spring. Many ambitious young open water swimmers follow tough routines but while the hard yards are important, Bryan believes the
In 2011 in China, Chris Bryan was the fi rst open water swimmer to race in an open water swimming event for Ireland at a World Championships
right mental conditioning is critical too. “The biggest diff erences between open water and the pool are mental,” he says, which is why he works regularly with a psychologist. “Swimmers need to maintain focus for long periods under pressure.” He also recognizes how crucial it is to develop tactical
awareness, which can only be learned through racing. “I do so many 10km events, and each is completely diff erent – you need that knowledge,” he says. For Bryan, the Shanghai race, in which over 60 swimmers competed, was a huge learning experience: “I was unsure how much the heat would take out of me, and so I hung back. By the time the kick came, I was too far behind the leading group to catch up,” he says. He adapted his approach immediately, pushing ahead from the start in the 5km event, where he fi nished eighth. Like Weinberger, Bryan’s aim is now to qualify for London 2012. He wants to fi nish in the top three in the next qualifi cation event, which is in Setubal, Portugal, in June.
Alex Panayides aſt er winning the SwimFest 5km swim in 2011,
fl anked by Pip Bennet (2nd) and ex-UK open water swimmer, Simon Emm (3rd)
HOW CAN YOUNG SWIMMERS
BUILD FOR SUCCESS? SwimforTri’s Dan Bullock also coaches youth open water swimmers in London, and says there’s increasing interest among young swimmers for the open water. Here he spells out what it takes to make it to the top.
START EARLY
Studies show if you’re not swimming four times a week aged 9-10, then your potential is somewhat limited. You won’t have the best feel for the water and technique. Specifi c open water skills can wait. You need skills like sighting and swimming close to others, but good swimmers are good swimmers – a lot of open water swimmers come to it quite late.
LEARN TO LOVE THE COLD
Swimmers need to be happy with cooler temperatures. Racing in cold water needs some preparation. You can sense someone who doesn’t want to be there.
EAT NORMALLY
Eating sensibly and healthily is important, but young swimmers shouldn’t be obsessing about foods or counting calories.
MASTER TIME MANAGEMENT
It’s rare you fi nd a dedicated swimmer that isn’t doing well in school. Their social lives also tend to be narrower – oſt en other swimmers are their immediate circle of friends.
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Photo © Inpho
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