Squad gets own boot camp

OLYMPICS BOUND: Monique Irvine (left), Stephen Moody, Matthew Sloane and Sam Muir-James, members of the NZ Special Olympics aquatic team at Wanganui Splash Centre on Sunday. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 190415WCBRCSWIM02

JUST three months before they touch down in Los Angeles for the biggest sporting event of their lives, the six members of the Special Olympics NZ aquatic team were testing themselves against other regional athletes in the Wanganui Splash Centre this weekend.

The six squad members, plus two non-travelling reserves, were getting their own specific swimming camp to help prepare for the Special Olympics World Summer Games, in California from July 25-August 2.

Part of a 36-strong team, it is the first time the swimming squad have had their own specific training camp, rather than the whole team getting together in the one place.

"They're from all over New Zealand. It's just getting together with the coaches that are going to go with them," said Max Brooking, the NZ head of delegation.

The wider team was announced in July last year and had one combined camp in Wellington on Labour Weekend, where the final swimming squad was chosen.

Brooking said with Special Olympics, the policy is to select athletes for one specific international event each. Occasionally some might attend a second but this would be years later if they have stayed with their sport.

The goal was to get the athletes with intellectual disabilities to be in the fittest state of their lives, Brooking added.

The pressure put on them was just to give their best possible effort in Los Angeles, with a medal only being a bonus.

"Generally speaking, athletes that go to the world games will get one personal best.

"They know what they're there for."

After training at the Splash Centre on Saturday, the squad raced against visiting special athletes from a number of regions yesterday.

The New Zealand team, which includes two unified partners(athletes without intellectual disability) will compete in a variety of sports including aquatics and athletics, basketball, bocce and equestrian, golf, powerlifting, and bowling.