Speedo Swim Coaches Conference

The keynote speaker at the Speedo SA Swim Coaches Conference in Pretoria in October 2010 was Coach Clive Rushton, currently Head Coach of the Singapore Sports School, formerly performance director of New Zealand Swimming, Canadian British Columbia, Great Britain Swimming & Greece. Clive was the captain of Great Britain swimming team at the 1972 Olympic Games and won awards from the British Coaches association, Greek swimming federation in addition to being a world renowned coach educator and swimming specific scientific researcher. He personally coached swimmers to Olympic medals, European medals and Commonwealth Games success.

The aim of the conference was to update coaches on his latest training methodology published as: “The effect of Biomechanics on Physiology”. Rushton introduced a unique approach to coaching and monitoring training which has been dubbed “the ultimate cheat sheet” by some coaches.

The integration of technique and physiological adaptation is comprehensively covered in an understandable language that coaches can use as an additional skill in their everyday programme prescription and application. Specific attention is given to using stroke rate as prescription & monitoring tool.

For more info on the “ultimate cheat sheet”, click here

For more info on Rushton, click here

The Ripple Effect Speedo Straits of Gibraltar Swim Challenge 2010

Four Capetonians swam the gruelling 18km Straits of Gibraltar from Europe to Africa and proudly hoisted the SA flag after braving 3m swells, hectic sea currents and jelly fish stings in the one of the world's busiest straits.

Toni Enderli , Ryan Stramrood, Kieron Palframan and Nigel Cones this week celebrated the "roller coaster swim of their lives" safely back on shore in Cape Town. They recollected being given the 'all clear' for their swim the day after they arrived in Spain, despite relatively stormy weather. And they laughed at the 'in hindsight' realization that the day they swam was probably the worst of the weather during their weeklong stay and their swim might have been easier any other day but the one the officials chose.

The four are part of a non-profit organization called The Ripple Effect which aims to create positive change by creating opportunities to 'make a difference by doing what you love'. The Speedo Straits of Gibraltar Swim Challenge is their first international swimming event.

Simon Borchert, founder of The Ripple Effect, says they team swam the Strait to fund the Waves of Change program, a sustainable swim school and life skills initiative. The programme will be run by The Ripple Effect and is supported by Speedo, Big Bay Events and hosted at The Big bay Surf Lifesaving Club

In the wake of their swim, disadvantaged kids in the West Coast's Atlantis area will learn swimming and life skills and be trained as lifeguards for the very under resourced Life Saving Station at Silverstroom, on the coast bordering Atlantis.

Toni Enderli who co-founded The Ripple Effect with Borchert last year says the swim was his toughest to date.

"We set off ready for the challenge expecting to wait in Tarifa in Spain for the weather to conditions to be perfect before we took on the ocean between Tarifa and Morocco in Africa.

"The 18km distance is equal to almost three times the times the distance swum between Robben Island and Blouberg. Very few people in the world have swum across the Strait, only 10% of the number of people who have summated Mount Everest.

"We needed special permission and were at the mercy of the officials who had to give us the green light depending on the weather and other factors. We were shocked when we got the green light the day after we arrived without having much time to psych ourselves up over a few days as we had originally anticipated.

"The officials felt the weather was good for the swim and we set off despite overcast and rainy conditions with huge swells and heavy winds. I suffered cramping throughout the swim and ended up slowing the other guys down a lot. With about 5km to and just off the coast of Morocco I nearly gave up. But with huge emotional and physical pressure, ended up battling my way through the swell and I cant
tell you how incredible it felt when we got to the end. The worst part
was really swimming against the current which increases dramatically with the tides and the sea was not at all the mild Mediterranean we were looking forward to!

"But there were smiles all around when we realized we had made it. We hoisted the SA flag on the boat which took us back to the harbour - having swum across to end on a very rocky shore. And we had a few days to recover and celebrate our feat. What a great feeling," he said with a broad smile.

Ryan Stramrood, an English Channel veteran and the only South African to have completed the Straits of Gibraltar swim twice, said, "Attempting the mighty Gibraltar Strait crossing for a second time was a fantastic and humbling experience. And lessons were learned. It once again reminds one just how important the strength of mind and its conditioning is in this sport of Open Water Distance swimming. Although the conditions in the beginning were challenging, most of the swim was in good confditions, I learned again that any ocean swim has a mind of its own and it will throw all it has at you, especially if you dare underestimate it".

It also proved an epic swim for Palframan, who said of the swim, ?We were blessed with encounters of many fish, dolphins, whales, as well as ships making this swim even more interesting. I remember lying on my back, feeding, in the middle of the Mediterranean Ocean and being in awe of where I was & this amazing experience. We were well supported by The Gibraltar Strait Swimming Association and their crew. Speedo did well to equip us to conquer our challenge?

A special facebook site has been set up for those interested in joining other Ripple Effect events and to follow the swimmer's progress as well as to sign up to add your skills to the Waves of Change
initiatives or donate funds or time. Find out more at www.therippleeffect.org.za.

For further information please contact Simon Borchert on simon@therippleeffect.org.za or on 082 999 3330.

"Speedo believed in me" - Natalie Du Toit

SA swimming sensation Natalie du Toit has praised her sponsor, Speedo, for believing in her when her career had yet to take off.

She has also credited Speedo’s new, high-performance swimsuit for helping her achieve three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.

Du Toit said she wore exclusively Speedo swimwear and in particular, the new LZR Racer Elite -- the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuit ever created.

“The Speedo suit is the most comfortable fit at the moment for me…I have never swum in any other brand but Speedo. They were my very first sponsor.

“They believed in me when no one else did and I have come to know and like their brand and swimwear for the fit and comfort.”

“Speedo at the moment has the best technology.”

Du Toit also praised her support team for their hard work, dedication and perseverance without which “I would never have achieved what I have today”.

Du Toit recently announced that this was her last Commonwealth Games. “I am sad but excited for what’s to come in two year’s time in London. I am going to try and qualify for the Olympic Games one more time in the 10km freestyle and definitely take part in the Paralympics (all seven events in my category)”.

Du Toit said she would be participating in all major competitions leading up to the qualification rounds for both the Olympics and Paralympics as well as in events within Gauteng and SA to qualify for the provincial and national teams”.

Team Speedo ranks in medals at COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2010

19th October: Speedo made waves at the Delhi Commonwealth Games with 34 of the 44 gold medals in swimming events awarded to athletes who competed in the Speedo LZR Racer Elite suit – amounting to an astonishing 77.3% of gold medal winners.

Highlights from the five day competition included Australian Team Speedo star Leisel Jones securing the most ever gold medals at a Commonwealth Games, claiming victory in the 100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke and 4x100m Medley Relay. The three gold medal haul takes Jones’ total to 10, equalling the most golds won by a Commonwealth Games competitor. Her team mate Emily Seebohm also enjoyed an eventful week taking home an impressive eight medals in total, including a games record time of 59:79 as she took gold in the 100m Backstroke.

Newly signed Canadian athlete Ryan Cochrane picked up gold in the 400m before powering home in 15:01.49 to pick up a second gold in the 1500m Freestyle. Cochrane’s Speedo sponsored Canada teammate Brent Hayden was victorious in both the 50m and 100m Freestyle with Commonwealth Games record times of 22:01 and 47:98 respectively.

Team Speedo’s English representatives also enjoyed a successful Games, with teammates Liam Tancock and Rebecca Adlington taking four gold medals home in the 50m and 100m Backstroke and 400m and 800m Freestyle respectively. Adlington also broke the Commonwealth Games record in the 400m Freestyle with a time of 4:05.68.

Claiming a total of 102 of the 132 medals available, Team Speedo’s achievements at the Dr SP Mukherjee Aquatic complex were all the more remarkable after many swimmers were troubled by stomach upsets.

David Robinson, President of Speedo International, said: “We’re delighted with the success of Speedo’s athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. With over three quarters of gold medallists wearing the Speedo LZR Racer Elite, Speedo once again is the choice of champions. We look forward to seeing our athletes building on these successes on the world stage in Dubai this December”.

Team Speedo now looks towards its next challenge with the 10th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) set to take place in Dubai from December 15th-19th 2010.

SPEEDO SA launches its first Concept Store in Cape Town

The first SPEEDO concept store to launch on the African continent has opened in Cape Town! The store is at Canal Walk, one of the city’s premier shopping centres. Swimming stars Natalie du Toit, Chad Ho and Herman Heerden were among the special guests at the opening on 18 November.

Canal Walk is home to 400 shops and restaurants, including a host of top ended branded stores, so it makes sense for the world’s swim lifestyle brand to make the centre its home too.

Manufacturers of the world’s best swimwear since the 1920’s, SPEEDO is synonymous with high-performance swim wear and supporting products for competitive swimmers, as well as everyday fashion-forward beach and poolside gear for non-competitive customers.

Not only is the local SPEEDO concept store be the first to launch in Africa, it will also be the prototype concept store across the globe. The store design is clean, fresh, eco-savvy and uncomplicated, with unique features like modular fitting-room ‘pods’ with strategically placed cut-out pockets in the doors to help facilitate a more convenient fitting experience. The store is divided into two main sections with a black colour scheme denoting performance gear and red colour denoting everyday swimwear and fashion items.

The store will be a one-stop swimming sports and leisure information hub. In-store assistants will be trained to advise customers on all aspects of serious swim training, from nutritional advice, to preparing for competitive swims.

The SPEEDO concept store will showcase the widest selection collection of SPEEDO swimwear and equipment available in Africa. Highlights of the range include key items like the iconic high-performance LZR Racer swimsuit, distinctive SPEEDO footwear, the range of SPEEDO swimwear that appears in the annual local Sports Illustrated swimwear edition, and the Aquabeat, the world’s first underwater MP3 player. To co-incide with the launch, world renowed 3D artist Manfred Stader is creating a unique artwork in Canal Walk's Centre Court which will be on display until 29 November 2010.