RIVERTON Leisureplex now boasts professional starting blocks that enable swimmers to train and compete under Swimming WA meet conditions.
The $17,000 project was funded by a $7500 grant to Riverton Aquanauts from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, and contributions by the swimming club and the City of Canning.
Riverton Aquanauts president Vanessa Jackson said the starting blocks could also attract new members.
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READ NOW“The blocks will allow swimmers to train in an environment that replicates what they encounter at local and national swimming meets, and our members will be able to practice their race starts which can improve their times quite significantly,” Ms Jackson said.
“It will absolutely improve the profile of our club and will increase our professionalism when Aquanauts holds swim meets at Riverton Leisureplex.”
Among those able to make the most of the new starter blocks is a group of swimmers from China who are undertaking an intensive training camp until late August.
For the past three years, the Passion and Sunshine Teenagers Sports Club teens have travelled from Shanghai to improve their swimming technique and general fitness.
Eighteen swimmers aged 11 to 14 arrived with three coaches to train twice a day, six days a week at Riverton Leisureplex with personal training sessions also added in.
Past students are now part of the Chinese Olympic Swimming Squad.