Filipino teenage swimmers James Manese and Kara Colaste thrived at the recent Olympian swimming program
Last Saturday, 60 young Filipino swimmers from various clubs in Bulacan, Iloilo, Bicol, Cavite, and Metro Manila had the chance to learn invaluable training and swimming skills from former English Olympian Anthony James and Maltan national swimmer Matthew Zammit.
Out of the 60 swimmers, 14-year-old James Dominic Manese from Bulacan and 16-year-old Kara Colaste from San Beda Alabang were selected to go through with the Ben Proud’s Talent Pool program where they will compete alongside other swimmers from Cebu, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia.
“The way we pick is we have a look at all the kids. We look at who’s kind of taking in all the information the best. Are they implementing what we’re saying? Are they listening? And we’re also trying to pick out talent as well,” says Zammit. “Just a combination of their attention, how focused they are, how driven they are, how talented they are.”
Out of the 60 swimmers, 14-year-old James Dominic Manese from Bulacan and 16-year-old Kara Colaste from San Beda Alabang were selected to go through with the Ben Proud’s Talent Pool program where they will compete alongside other swimmers from Cebu, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia
The intensive training camp would include gym sessions to improve strength and body conditioning, classroom sessions focused on sports psychology and physiology as well as swimming sessions to improve tactical aspects of competitive swimming. “They have that something special and we see a lot of potential in them,” James says.
The swim clinic held at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex under Ben Proud’s Talent Pool program organized by AirAsia aims to support the Olympian’s journey towards qualifying for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.
“AirAsia’s success story has inspired so many people to dream big and we are delighted to bring this inspiration to a sport that is so well-loved,” says AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador. “Through coaching clinics with world champion athletes, AirAsia is taking part of the journey that encourages and empowers young talents to strive and become future Olympic medalists.”