2020 Vision for swimmers at Junior Pan Pacs

The 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships begin in Maui, Hawaii tomorrow with five NSWIS supported athletes named as part of Australian team being led by head coach Glenn Beringen.

National 200m breaststroke champion Matthew Wilson (SOPAC, NSWIS) and emerging freestyler Vincent Dai (SOPAC, NSWIS) will be joined by backstroke Australian age group medallists Leon MacAllister (Carlisle, NSWIS), Bradley Woodward (Mingara, NSWIS) and Francesca Fitzhenry (Trinity Grammar, NSWIS).

Also attending will be national team coach’s Brant Best (SOPAC, NSWIS) Adam Kable (SOPAC, NSIWS) and physiologist Erin McCleave. Kable spoke about his optimism of what could be achieved over the weekend.

“Anything is possible,” Kable said.

“It’s a swim meet, so that’s always enough to get me out of bed in the morning. 100%.

“Preparation has been on point, we aren’t getting to ahead of ourselves, taking it one day at a time and focusing on the process not the outcome.

“We just need to make some plays, play at our tempo and go out there and execute. 100%.”

The event is being touted as a ‘mini-Olympics’ with the best emerging athletes in swimming facing off against each other. The Aussies will race against swimmers from the USA, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and other Pacific Rim teams.

Head coach Beringen said that he was working with an outstanding group of athletes, including national medallists who will feature on the Aussie scene come the 2018 Commonwealth and 2020 Olympic Games.

“This is a very exciting group – swimmers who could have quite easily been going to Rio,” said Beringen.

“Such is the depth in some of our events – the likes of Matt Wilson, Minna Atherton and Laura Taylor all won medals at the Open Nationals. They will certainly be on the radar as we get closer to 2018 and 2020.

“And in saying that the contribution of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association makes this team possible and on behalf of the team and Swimming Australia we acknowledge their support.

“The Junior Pacs has been a breeding ground for future Olympians and I can see the tradition continuing from this year’s group.”

The Junior Pan Pacific Championships take place in Maui, Hawaii and begin on Friday August 25, concluding on Sunday August 28.

You can follow the event via Live Streaming HERE: http://livestream.com/accounts/12139129/events/6005426

Results can be found here: http://www.swmeets.com/Realtime/Jr%20PanPacs/2016/