High Performance Swimming Academy opens at the Tyger Valley College in Pretoria
The aim of this initiative is to build capacity at Universities to support regional High Performance structures that incorporate schools and clubs in a hub that can access coaching expertise and sports science support and which, in turn, will form Regional Swimming Academies.
The Swimming South Africa partnership with Tyger Valley College has seen the first school academy being formally established with the experienced SSA Olympic coach Igor Omeltchenko at the Head of the Operations. Igor, who was formally with the University of Pretoria, will bring a set of competencies and skills that will greatly benefit the Academy.
Tyger Valley College has a wealth of swimming talent that needs to be nurtured and with some of South Africa’s Olympic swimmers based at the academy, serving as role models for the up and coming swimmers at the college.
The learn-to-swim and coaching programmes currently at the college will significantly complement the SSA High Performance Strategy.
The academy is a culmination of the hard work of the school’s leadership and the Swimming South Africa team lead by Igor and SSA’s gratitude goes out to them for ensuring that the plan is implemented.
Tyger Valley College has excellent facilities with an open-air heated 10 Lane 25m Pool conforming to FINA Standards, this facility lends itself to producing athletes of an outstanding calibre and it is hoped that in the not too distant future there will be, Regional and National Short Championships being held at the Tyger Valley facility.
Swimming South Africa has identified twenty such schools across the country to form part of the Schools High-Performance Academy system and this strategy will now be rolled out over the next two years.
Swimming South Africa is particularly grateful for the support received from SASCOC, The Department of Sports and Recreation, our Sponsors the SABC and the National Lotteries Commission. Our affiliates and, in this instance, Aquatics Gauteng, The Centurus Group of Colleges and in particularly Tyger Valley College for entering into this partnership with Swimming South Africa.
Gratitude is also extended to members of the media, without whose support, SSA’s activities and achievements would remain unknown to the South African public.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Swimming South Africa
011 404 2480
Swimming South Africa is the governing body of aquatics in South Africa.
Its objective is to encourage the practice of aquatic disciplines for all in South Africa with the purpose of promoting swimming as a life skill through Learn To Swim programmes; providing healthy exercise to South Africans of all ages and races; recruiting recreational swimmers to compete in the various competitions; and promoting competition and athlete development to the highest level. Swimming South Africa is kindly supported by SASCOC, National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Arena, Sport & Recreation SA and Rand Water.