From Sunday, June 23 – Saturday, June 29, 16 swimmers from the Senior and National SSYMCA Stryper’s swim team groups (8 girls and 8 boys) attended an altitude long-course meters training trip at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
While in Colorado, the athletes swam 4 hours a day, plus dry-land work outs in the center’s strength and conditioning center. The Strypers also listened to speakers from SafeSport, USA swimming, and USADA.
“As swimmers are training alongside world and Olympic champions from para-athletes to able-bodied athletes from a multitude of sports, they learn and see the work it takes to be at that level,” said Bernie Dickman, Director of Competitive Swimming and Head Coach of the SSYMCA Strypers Swim Team. “As we had expectations of maturity, practice performance, and working as a team, the swimmers became stronger as a team and as athletes, as many of our speakers talked about leading by positive example.”
The number one benefit of a trip like this according to Coach Dickman is becoming better team mates. “Everyone was in the same boat and working together got them through the tough work,” she said. “Being around the top para-athletes in the world was humbling. We got to know several of the swimmers as they had practice right after us. They were open, supportive and easy to talk to. Their perseverance, attitudes on life and stories were powerful and inspiring.”
During their trip, the Strypers shared a dorm with the U.S. men’s World Cup rugby team, who were there for two weeks training for the World Cup in September. The men’s World Cup para-rugby team was there as well. The U.S. men’s para national basketball team, The U.S. national para-swim team, the men’s and women’s wrestling teams, and the U23 triathlon national teams were also training.
“Our kids behaved and worked so well that we were complimented by a member of the wrestling organization and the aquatics staff who said we were a favorite group – a great testament to the caliber of young men and women we took with us!,” added Dickman.
To learn more about the South Shore YMCA Strypers, visit www.ssymca.org.
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About the South Shore YMCA
The South Shore YMCA is a not-for-profit association of individuals dedicated to improving the quality of life for all through programs that promote healthy spirit, mind, and body. Serving the communities of Quincy, Randolph, Holbrook, Weymouth, Braintree, Milton, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate, Norwell, Hanover and beyond, the South Shore Y provides the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive through its services and programs. Financial Assistance is a Y community benefit available to all families in need, applicable to all Y programs and services. To learn more about the South Shore YMCA, visit www.ssymca.org. The South Shore YMCA. The Better You Belongs Here.
