More than 90 of Australia’s Dolphin elite swimmers and coaches are in the midst of their unique ‘Rio Protocol Camp‘ experience, which began this past Sunday in Canberra. The idea of the camp is to help prepare the athletes both mentally and physically for the unique prelims and finals timing they will face when in Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games.
As announced late last year, Olympic organizers have finalized a swimming events schedule which has prelims starting at 1pm local time and finals taking place at 10pm in order to accommodate American TV broadcasters. That time translates to Midnight/9AM Perth Time and 2AM/11AM Sydney Time; a schedule most different from the Dolphins are used to in international competition.
As such the camp is aimed at assimilation into the anticipated Rio schedule, including eating breakfast mid-day, training at 1pm, lunch at 5pm with more training in the late hours of the day, including simulated competition at 10pm.
In a press conference today, the Aussies indicate they are enjoying the experience and can already see the value it will have on their behaviors come Rio. Says double 2015 World Champion Emily Seebohm, “it’s good to do this now, so I know what I’ll need to do to get myself to bed in Rio.”
Bronte Campbell echoes her teammate’s thoughts, saying, “Everyone seems to be adjusting really well. We have monitors that tell us what we’re doing right and what we’re doing wrong.”
Additionally, Kitty Chiller, Australia’s 2016 Chef De Mission, reiterates her supports of the initiative, commenting to the press that “it’s good preparation for a very challenging and foreign environment.” She also stated that “the countries who are going to be successful are those that deal with those challenges the best ad turn those challenges into opportunities. That’s exactly what the swimmers are doing here now.”
Also seen in the video is sprinter Cameron McEvoy, distance legend-turned-comeback-kid Grant Hackett, as well as the other member of the dynamic Campbell duo, sister Cate Campbell. James Magnussen is indeed at the camp, although he was not seen at the press conference.