British Swimming opts for 'best' training environment

August 13 2009

British Swimming has entered into a new partnership with the Blue Water Elite Swimming Training Centre (BEST Centre) that will see warm weather training camps being held at a purpose built centre in Mallorca, Spain.

Based around an outdoor, 10-lane, 50m pool at Colonia de Sant Jordi on the south coast of the island, the deal until 2013 sees British Swimming become a priority client in terms of warm weather training camps.

The new outdoor swim training centre opened its doors in July and will host club and national teams in a state of the art facility. The first British Swimming camps will be held in September and October with a national relay squad as well as Bath, Stockport and Stirling ITCs making immediate use of the facility.

British Swimming National Performance Director Michael Scott believes the partnership will enhance the continued development of Britain's swimming talent.

"British Swimming, via the World Class Swimming Programme, is delighted with its partnership with the BEST Centre as it will provide both the National Squad and five Intensive Training Centres with the opportunity to train off shore at various times during the course of the year," said Scott.

"This world class training facility will assist British Swimming over the coming three years to attain its goal of improved performances at the World and Olympic levels."

The BEST Centre is the brainchild of British Olympic swimmers James Parrack and Matthew O'Connor. The pair have been running Blue Water Training Camps for seven years and recognised the need for a pure swimming environment in which club and elite swimmers can train.

O'Connor, who competed in the Barcelona Games in 1992 and who lives in Mallorca, sourced the location and Parrack, who swam in Seoul 1988 and is Eurosport's swimming commentator, began the process of raising the finance.

O'Connor said: "There are nowhere near enough good sites for warm weather camps so we built our own. We wanted to build the perfect site where swimmers and coaches can work towards their dreams and be better swimmers for coming here.

"As British swimmers ourselves we are proud to be able to play our part to help British Swimming prepare for 2012."

Parrack added, "We want swimmers to come here and be inspired. It's an awesome facility and we know Britain's swimmers are going to do great things here.

The BEST Centre also includes an on-site gym, underwater filming windows, massage and treatment room, relaxation area, dry land training area and viewing terrace. It cost 2.6 million euros and took six months to build.

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