Tancock to share expertise and passion with Lankan swimmers
Liam Tancock
World 50-metre backstroke record holder (24.04 secs) and Olympian Liam Tancock says that he will use a five-day training workshop in Colombo to “help develop skills of the swimmers by sharing his passion and transferring his vast knowledge and experience”.
Tancock–a multiple World and Commonwealth Games medalist with over ten years of experience in high performance sport–will arrive in the country on June 21 and will have a five-day high performance training workshop for swimmers and coaches starting from June 23 at the Sugathadasa pool and the British School swimming pool in Colombo.
“I will use my years of experience of competing at the highest level of the sport by sharing my passion in swimming, by transferring my knowledge to the athletes, and by giving technical advice on how and where one can improve,” Tancock, who took up coaching since his international retirement, told the Sunday Times.
“Methods and formulae applied to one’s training schedule do differ but the ultimate goal remains the same, which is to improve on timings and to represent your country at the highest level,” he continued.
Liam Tancock, from Britain, is a double Olympian and brings with him a wealth of swimming experience. He represented his country for 16 years and is regarded as one of the most decorated and experienced members of the British team. Tancock travels the world hosting and conducting swim clinics and master classes, educating and promoting key levels of swimming success.
The workshop here will create a golden opportunity for budding swimmers to gain expert knowledge and technical input on a one-to-one basis from a world record holder.
Tancock will analyze the swimmers’ stroke techniques and skills and advise them on how to improve to achieve faster times.
“As this camp is open to coaches, I plan on working alongside some of the best instructors in Sri Lanka, to educate and encourage swimmers both in and out of the pool,” he said. “From the first day of the camp, I will be analysing the swimmers’ stroke technique and skills and pursuing it with sound advice on how to improve and, by doing so, how you can achieve faster times.”
The workshop is organised by Ceylon Tours, a travel company creating opportunities for future Sri Lankan athletes to dream big by hosting camps of this nature. It gives all Sri Lankan swimmers an equal opportunity to gain foreign coaching experience as well as education for local coaches to groom and prepare swimmers for domestic and international competition.
“ I thought it was an incredibly forward thinking move by Ceylon Tours to help develop the sport further in the country and to provide, not just the elite swimmers of Sri Lanka, but all swimmers an opportunity to be part of what will be an amazing camp,” Tancock, who has been conducting swim clinics around the world for all ages and abilities, said. He insisted that the sport has evolved greatly and that swimmers and coaches should embrace new techniques quickly if they are to succeed at the highest level.
“It is pivotal that swimmers and coaches move with the times, by actually introducing new methods and technique into a swimmers’ daily training schedule,” he elaborated. “That is what I intend to share with the swimmers and coaches of Sri Lanka. Come with an open mind, with the right attitude to learn and have fun at the camp. It will be challenging, exhilarating and definitely motivating.”
Tancock, who has also academically qualified in sports science and marketing, said that it’s important to balance sports and education.
“Swimming is a demanding sport and requires immense time, dedication, self-discipline, fitness, motivation and sheer determination to keep pushing yourself to achieve results,” he explained. “Basically, if you have an open mind, a positive mindset and a good attitude, nothing is impossible. It is very important to excel in both sports and education.”
Tancock is one of the most decorated British swimmers and has broken the world 50-metre record thrice during his career. He admitted that it took a lot of hard work.
“A lot of long hours and hard work went into achieving my goal,” he said. “To break the world record was an unbelievable experience. I have broken the 50m backstroke world record three times. The last time I competed, I also became the world champion in the same race. Standing on the podium with the gold medal around my neck whilst listening to the national anthem was a very special and emotional moment which I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
The camp is open for all school swimmers between the ages of 10-18, elite swimmers and coaches. Registration can be done by contacting Ceylon Tours.