Harrogate swimmer selected for British Squad
DATE PRESS RELEASE ISSUED: 5 December 2008
ANOTHER HARROGATE SWIMMER SELECTED FOR BRITISH SQUAD
Talented young Harrogate swimmer, Maddy Winzer, has been selected for the British Triathlon National Talent squad.
At just 14 years of age, Maddy is the youngest member of this national squad.
Her coach at Harrogate District Swimming Club (HDSC), Diane Binns of Harrogate's Hydro, said that Maddy is a great asset to her local swimming squad.
Harrogate Borough Council's head swimming coach, Bill Evans, added:
"Maddy only joined the HDSC in September and she has already made massive improvements in the swimming pool where she has knocked 21 seconds off her 400m freestyle in just six weeks.
"Only 15 athletes from England have been selected for this national training squad which shows the level that Maddy has reached and at such a young age.
The purpose of this national training programme is to graduate athletes to the world-class podium squad where they will be competing for major medals leading to European and Olympic events."
Maddy, who attends Harrogate Ladies College, has already been to her first talent camp in Loughborough.
As well as receiving training led by experts in specific sports' science areas, including British Cycling, Maddy also got to meet Olympian Hollie Avil who ran a Question and Answer evening for these young athletes.
"The main focus of the camp is to educate athletes through the British Triathlon Performance Programme and work on triathlon specific skills", added Bill Evans.
"As well as building on team unity which is vital to success in a national squad, these experts also gather data which is used to inform athletes and their coaches on training directions.
Maddy will now attend a further five training camps and we look forward to helping her improve her stamina, performance and timings in the pool."
Maddy won the under 15 Triathlon Inter-regional Championships in August representing the Yorkshire and Humber region.
She won gold in the Yorkshire Cross Country Championships in 2007 and is Yorkshire Schools' Champion in the 1500m run.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT:
Lynne Mee, Communications and Media Manager 01423 556022 or email lynne.mee@harrogate.gov.uk