Mbombela played host to the next generation of South African swimming talent as nearly 100 youth athletes gathered for an intensive High Performance training camp, culminating in a competitive Grand Prix meet over the weekend. The event focused on identifying and developing top up-and-coming talent in the 13 to 18-year-old category.
Under the guidance of Swimming South Africa’s High Performance team, the swimmers underwent a rigorous schedule before battling it out in the two-day Mpumalanga Grand Prix.
"From High Performance, we’re very happy with the Nelspruit swimming camp," said Swimming SA High Performance manager Dean Price. "We had just on 100 swimmers attending the camp… We managed to train really hard, two hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon.
“A lot of our top up-and-coming swimmers were part of this camp and we really had a great work ethic among these young swimmers.”
Education and long-term athlete development formed a key part of the programme. "We gave them a lot of education in terms of swimming training, swim preparation, and how to improve their skills in swimming. So I think it was very beneficial to everyone,” explained Price.
The intensity of the programme resonated with the young swimmers. Caitlyn Dube, a 16-year-old from Gauteng representing Mandeville Dolphins, said: "This year was my sixth Nelspruit [camp] and it was definitely one of my favourite by far.
“The training throughout the week has been a little tough but it’s definitely been very fun and very well put together by all the coaches. I’ve learned a few new things and learned from all the coaches' insights and I’ve also enjoyed making new friends and having lots of fun".
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
The weekend concluded with a Grand Prix meet where several athletes delivered standout performances, giving coaches an idea of the emerging talent in the country.
“We had Jayden Williams from the Cape showing some excellent breaststroke times in the 50, 100, and 200m breaststroke; Miela Banza from Nelspruit, really the same story… Gabriella Helberg swimming some good freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly events… Jason Briggs in the sprint free and fly, and also in the middle distance Caleb Eaton and Juan Nel. We had some great races going on there.”
Reflecting on the week’s impact, Williams emphasised the discipline required to reach the pinnacle of the sport. "What I learned about this tour is that you must stay focused. You must train hard if you want to be the best… if you want to be in the Olympics," he said.
Price also emphasised the broader value of bringing young swimmers together in a high-performance environment. "These camps really make a huge difference when the kids get in and they train together. They can’t back down; they become part of a group, and you just see the standard being raised, and that’s what we saw this week in Nelspruit".
The second Swimming South Africa Grand Prix event of the year will take place from 21-22 February.