BMAC Geckos Train With Olympians
More than thirty BMAC swimmers attended a weeklong swim camp featuring instruction by
U.S. Olympic champions
Neil Walker, Ian Crocker, and Andrew MacKay. Hosted by Biloxi Elite Swim Team (BEST), the event attracted 60 swimmers from
Australia,
Russia, the Cayman Islands, and the
United States. Australian national swim team head coach Dave Kelsheimer led the coaching staff that included BMAC’s head coach Rich Suhs. Coach Rich Suhs was excited about the opportunity to assist with this camp,
“When Dave asked me to help coach this camp, I was happy to accept.
This was an opportunity for our swimmers to receive hands-on instruction from Olympians.
They also were able to spend time getting to know incredibly talented swimmers from all over the world.”
Neil Walker, winner of four Olympic medals, including two gold, entertained the swimmers with stories of his career. He also emphasized the importance of correct technique as he gave hands-on instruction at the Biloxi Natatorium.
Ian Crocker, who has five Olympic medals, including three gold, not only worked with this group of dedicated swimmers in the water, but he also spent an evening describing his journey as a swimmer. Kelsheimer remarked, “It was very encouraging to hear Ian talk about how many of his so-called ‘failures’ at big meets became turning points and facilitated him ultimately becoming a stronger swimmer and individual. We appreciated his honesty.”
Swimmers not only worked on their technique for particular strokes, but on turns and starts. Coaches observed them from under the water as well as above the water. The participants also were able to watch videos of their training to help them analyze their technique. By week’s end, many swimmers turned in the best times of their careers.
The
Landon Von Kanel Memorial International Gold Medal Swim Camp
honors the legacy of the native Mobilian and
Tupelo,
Mississippi swimmer. Von Kanel was a gold medal winner for the Cayman Islands National Swim Team, who died in an auto accident his freshman year at
Louisiana
State
University. Now in its fourteenth year, the camp unites people from many cultures who share a passion for swimming.
The Eastern Shore Parents Aquatics Foundation operates Eastern Shore Aquatics Center (ESAC), formerly known as BMAC, which offers swimming lessons for all ages, tri-athlete training, master’s swimming, lap swimming, high school swimming, and summer league swimming. For more information about the available programs, visit
www.esaquatics.org
or call 251-625-0950.
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Cutline:
Current swimmers of the Southern Waters Aquatics Team (formerly known as BMAC) recently traveled to
Biloxi to attend the 14th Annual Landon von Kanel International Gold Medal Swim Camp |
