Weather affects swimming preparations
By Ronald Mpaso:
Cold weather the country is experiencing has affected preparations for six swimmers who have been selected to compete at two international competitions.
Malawi Aquatic Union (Mau) has earmarked four athletes to represent the country at the 18th Fina World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, from July 21 to 28.
The four are Tayamika Chang’anamuno, Amara Pinto, Filipe Gomes and Micheal Swift. They will be accompanied by National Coach Yona Walesi and Team Manager Cristina Yiannakis.
Mau will also send two athletes to the Fina World Junior Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The two, Jessica Makwenda and Murray McPherson, will travel with Coach Brave Lifa.
Walesi said it was difficult for training to commence as the country did not have heated pools.
“It is just too cold for us to go into the water and begin our preparations. But we are relieved that some of our swimmers are outside the country, where they are training using state-of-the-art facilities,” he said.
Amara is in Thailand on a scholarship while Swift and Gomes are in the United States and Portugal, respectively.
Meanwhile, Mau is scheduled to hold a training camp at Sun ‘N’ Sand from August 2 to 8 with 24 athletes and three coaches set to participate.
Yiannakis said Makwenda and McPherson would attend the camp to enhance their preparations, which are underway in Lilongwe.
“We are encouraging young swimmers to continue training because there are many opportunities. After the junior event in Hungary, there will also be the Cana Zone VI Championships in Botswana in February next year. So, our swimmers should just continue working hard,” she said.
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