Why Italian swimmers love Joburg
20 February 2017
A team of Italian swimmers will fly back home on Tuesday February 21 after spending three weeks in Johannesburg fine-tuning their skills and techniques in preparation for tough swimming competitions in the coming weeks and months.
Every year for the past seven years, the team has used the Ellis Park Swimming Pool as a training base during breaks from the Italian Swimming Federation’s training camps in the United States or Spain.
During their training stints in Johannesburg, the Italian athletes have imparted their skills, expertise and knowledge of the sport to young local swimmers. Some of the learners who have benefited are from Yeoville Boys School, New Nation School and Jeppe High School for Girls.
“We’ve chosen to come here because Johannesburg is situated at an altitude of 1 753m above sea level,” said coach Carlo Chelli at the team’s farewell function at Ellis Park on Friday February 17.
“When we do our training here, it’s a little harder. That gives our athletes good training.”
Chelli said Johannesburg was an excellent training venue as it helped to test his athletes’ endurance. “The weather is most ideal for the activity. Whenever we go back home, we perform better as a result of training in this kind of landscape,” Chelli added.
He said the camp improved the athletes’ blood levels and speed.
Bidding farewell to the swimmers, Mbulelo Bezu, the City’s Deputy Director of Sport and Recreation, said Johannesburg was proud and honoured to host the Italian squad every year.
“You’ve been our friends for seven years now. We’re aware of the efforts you’re making of imparting your skills to our aspiring swimmers. Each time you visit our city, you inspire local swimmers who are starting out in the sport.
“We believe that at the end of the day, through this partnership, we will produce swimming champions like yourselves. As the City of Johannesburg, we want to see this centre becoming a centre of excellence for swimming. We want the centre to be envied by people from all over the world,” Bezu said.
Chelli said among the reasons he and his team loved Johannesburg was its atmosphere and diversity. “We always enjoy coming to South Africa because it’s a country full of history and desire to change. For us, Joburg is more than just a place for training. This is an incredible city. Whenever we visit we always feel welcome and we enjoy the hospitality,” Chelli said