'Endurance, stroke versatility are keys for improvement'

In the aftermath of the ASA Swimming Championships held over the weekend, Alex Vella seeks the views of national team coach Istvan Kormos and also of Gail Rizzo who is in charge of the squad to compete in the FISEC Games in Madrid between July 22 and 29

Nine new records between age-group and national marks in this year's Aquatic Sports Association (ASA) National Championships left a better imprint on this annual event than in recent years. Something is indeed moving at the base, and once such a momentum is maintained the future of this sport can reserve some satisfaction.

While acknowledging that these championships were a cut above those we had in these last years, national coach Istvan Kormos had one eye on a wider picture, that of putting in more work in order to keep our swimmers abreast of the thresholds of, at least, those of the small countries.

Coming from someone who has been involved for many years in the coaching of young swimmers, besides the more established ones, this idea of comparing progress with that of other nations is akin to keeping our coaches and swimmers in sight of constantly changing targets.

"We have to keep in touch with what is happening in countries like Iceland, Luxembourg, Cyprus and the others that make up the group of the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE). Our records, especially the age-group ones, have to be compared with those in these countries," Kormos said.

"What is also very important from a technical point of view is to work for more stroke versatility at a young age. With the exception of the breast-stroke and back-stroke, the eight age-group records in this year's Championships came in the freestyle events.

"Diversifying so that we could have swimmers capable of breaking new ground in all strokes is very important. This has to be complemented with endurance qualities.

"Longer races should also be the target of our youngsters.

"This will help their resistance, a quality which in turn will yield results in the shorter races. Such a comprehensive picture must be kept in mind in order to maintain improvement in this sport," the Hungarian coach stressed.

Equally assertive on this point was the Neptunes coach Gail Rizzo, who is also in charge of the group of swimmers due to represent Malta in the FISEC Games in Madrid this month.

A crop of young Neptunes WPSC swimmers under her charge were the protagonists of last weekend's event, and her satisfaction was evident.

"I don't remember such successful championships. This shows that the work started five years ago is bearing results and leading the swimmers in the right direction. We have to keep moving on, though," Rizzo remarked.

"My boys and girls have been working hard to peak at this time. Their medal count was impressive and I think they've done extremely well. We also wanted to taper for the FISEC Games where several of my swimmers are also involved."

Besides the records, there were countless personal bests from the Sliema ASC and Sirens ASC swimmers.

Significant times

But the most significant were the Age-Group records from Neptunes' participants Kyle Scerri (including his national mark in the 100m free), Melinda Sue Micallef, Talisa Pace, Gabriel Pace and the Sliema swimmer, Daniel Galea.

Four boys from the Balluta Bay club then combined to post a new 4x100 metres freestyle record, the team being made up of Neil Agius, Adrian Buttigieg, Paul Herrera and Scerri, who anchored his colleagues home.

The next commitments for the Maltese swimmers are the European Junior Swimming Championships to be held in Budapest between July 14 and 17 and the FISEC Games. Scerri will be taking part in the European Junior Championships.

Five days later he will be joining a group of 12 other swimmers who are due to compete in Madrid.

These are Andrea Agius, Adrian Buttigieg, Paul Herrera, Quelin Zammit, Larkin Mallia, Michael Attard Previ, Francesca Paolella, Melinda Sue Micallef, Tamsyn Sciortino, Stephanie Said, Kim Attard and Nicole Cremona.

Currently undergoing a second cycle of intensive preparation are Neil Agius, Angela Galea, Davina Mangion and Roberta Callus - hence their low-key role in the national championships.

These swimmers will be making a token appearance in the Montreal World Championships in Canada later in July.