Young Swimmers Nominated for Commonwealth Youth Games

Eight swimmers have been nominated by Swimming New Zealand for September’s Commonwealth Youth Games.
 

The swimmers, among the most promising young prospects, comprise Sophia Batchelor (AquaGym, Canterbury), Emma Robinson (Capital, Wellington), Natasha Lloyd (North Canterbury), Kate Godfrey (Nepture), Corey Main (Howick Pakuranga), Alex Hancock (Howick Pakuranga), Matthew Hutchins (Wharenui) and Michael Mincham (Waterhole).

Qualification is for the fastest males 15 to 18 years (born 1993) and females 14 to 17 years (born 1994) who achieved the qualifying standard.

The fourth Commonwealth Youth Games will be held at the Isle of Man from 7 to 13 September.

“It’s an important part of our swimming development for our young swimmers to gain experience in an international competition and also competing in a multi sport environment,” said Swimming New Zealand’s Phillip Rush.

“These swimmers are among our prospects looking ahead to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2016 Olympics and beyond.”

Swimming New Zealand will also continue its successful initiative of selecting promising young swimmers to attend the Outward Bound leadership course.

The initiative is to encourage young swimmers to become more balanced, positive and motivated young adults.

“The programme was an outstanding success last year and we received tremendous feedback on its benefits both from the swimmers but more importantly from their coaches,” Rush said.

Selection is for swimmers 16 to 20 years based on the highest FINA points scorers at the New Zealand Age and New Zealand Open Championships, excluding swimmers who attended last year’s course.

The 14 swimmers selected for the week-long course later this month are:
Females: Samantha Lucie-Smith (Capital), Jessie Blundell (North Shore), Emily Thomas (HPC North Shore), Emma Robinson (Capital), Chloe Francis (North Shore), Shelby Wilson (Fairfield), Danielle Koni (Roskill).

Males: Nathan Capp (Greerton), Matthew Glassford (Neptune), Troy Balvert (Waves), John Gatfield (Capital), Nick Gillum (Tawa), Shayne Kiekebosch (Fairfield), Jonathan Pullon (Waterhole).