On Sunday 28 September, nine members of the Gresham’s Swim Team attended The AP Race Ultimate Clinic. The clinic gave them the opportunity to learn how to overcome the pressures of performing, and to practice racing in the aquatics arena.

The tailored Race Clinic started with an exciting activation lead by Olympic Strength and Conditioning Coach, Rob Norman and Olympic Performance Psychologist, Tom Bates. Rob and Tom gave an insight into how the AP Race Team prepares to race on the world stage. They guided the swimmers through the pool station and performance psychology station.

In the pool, swimmers focused on the ‘race warm up’, where useful skills and strategies that the AP Race Athletes put into use at the highest level. Our swimmers also engaged in a Performance Psychology Experience aimed at refining their mental focus and optimising performance during competition.

The AP Race Athletes who ran these sessions, between them, hold a total of thirteen Olympic medals, multiple World Championship titles and numerous World Records. 

Adam Peaty – Triple Olympic Champion
Anna Hopkin – Olympic Champion
Luke Greenbank – World Champion
James Guy – Triple Olympic Champion
Matt Richards – Double Olympic Champion
Lauren Cox – World & European Medallist
Alex Cohoon – European Champion & British Record Holder

After both groups had finished their pool and psychological preparation and were mentally ready, they moved on to their dry-land warm-up. This stage is a crucial component of a swimmer’s competition routine, with a focus on ‘priming’. During this phase, swimmers followed a dry land pre-race routine specifically designed to prepare their bodies to perform at the highest level.

The swimmers were introduced into the aquatics arena with a very special entrance and a chance to put into practice their newly learnt skills in front of our Olympic crowd. Swimmers raced a 50m time trial of their choice in one of the most iconic aquatic arenas in the world.