A LAUNCESTON swimmer and coach are heading off for five intensive days in the premier sports training facility in the country.
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Thirteen-year-old Launceston Aquatic swimmer Ariarne Titmus and Matt Barwick, the 23-year-old head coach at Riverside Aquatic, will join Tasmanian state technical director Leigh Nugent and other swimmers and coaches from Victoria and South Australia on a training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport.
After a gold-medal-winning performance at the Australian age championships in April and assessments at a state talent identification camp in May, Ariarne has been identified as one of Australia's best young female swimmers.
"Everyone invited is there to train hard so everyone will be pushing each other so we can all get the best out of our training sessions," she said.
"I am looking forward to making new friends, learning more about the technical side of the strokes and being filmed underwater to help improve my technique, and learning what it's like to be away from home and in a high performance training environment like the AIS."
Barwick was excited to be drawing on former Australian Olympic swimming team coach Nugent's vast experience and knowledge.
"I am going up there with my eyes and ears open with no real expectations," he said.
"I really am just hoping to learn as much as I can. As a coach, to be given the opportunity to assist in the training of such talented athletes is something I will not forget quickly.
"I am excited to see how the elite juniors of the country prepare themselves before and after training."
Swimming Tasmania's community sport administrator Tim Bingham said the camp, which will run from Monday to Friday, represented a wonderful opportunity for two of Tasmanian swimming's brightest prospects.
"Tasmanian swimmers now have a clear high performance pathway from grassroots clubs through to the national stage," Bingham said.
"Ariarne and Matt will experience the elite athlete and coach lifestyle in the AIS accommodation and dining hall, and will take part in training across pool performance, core strength and stretching, weights, nutrition and filming.
"Ariarne has been identified as one of Australia's best young female swimmers with a massive future, and Matt has shown great commitment to developing as a coach and in supporting swimming in Tasmania, and this provides him with the opportunity to work with and learn from the best coaches in Australia."