World Aquatics partners with Bond University to open Gold Coast Development Centre

August 25, 2023

World Aquatics and Bond University have announced a partnership that will see swimmers from developing countries train out of the Gold Coast hub for the Paris 2012 Games and beyond.

The partnership will see Bond University host athletes from various developing nations train in a program that has produced Olympic gold medallists and world champions, training under head coach Chris Mooney.

Swimmers from the Pacific Islands including Fiji and Cook Islands will be the primary pool of athletes headed to the centre which is currently is home to swimmers including 2023 World Championship medallists Elijah Winnington, Flynn Southam and Alex Graham, along with Tokyo Olympic finalist Maddy Gough.

Advising that he’ll initially be training athletes for the Paris Games next year before looking into the future and eventually, Brisbane 2032, “beyond (Paris) we’ll be working towards World Aquatics Championships, Los Angeles 2028 and ultimately the Brisbane Games.

“Having the Olympics in their backyard in 2032 is going to be huge for all Pacific nations and the Development Centre will ensure they can make the most of a once-in-a-generation opportunity.”

World Aquatics will nominate athletes for the swimming scholarships in consultation with their national federations.

Bond University Director of Swimming, Kyle Samuelston noted “the raw talent is undoubtedly out there but if you don’t have access to an Olympic-size swimming pool, never mind the coaching expertise, it’s incredibly difficult to reach the elite level.

“This partnership between Bond and World Aquatics will prepare swimmers to compete at the highest level and perhaps one day stand on the dais at a World Championships or Olympics.”

The Bond University Aquatic Centre includes 50m and 25m pools, and gives athletes access to an altitude and heat training chamber, hot and cold recovery plunge pools and a 25m heated indoor pool at the nearby Bond Institute of Health & Sport (BIHS) and its High Performance Training Centre. Later this year the university will open a $45 million expansion of BIHS.

World Aquatics now has established Development Centres in five continents, with three in Europe, two in North America, one in Asia and one in Africa to go along with this new addition in Oceania.

Image credit: World Aquatics.

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