Georgina Hope Foundation National Swimming Championships

While many of us enjoyed a break from the clinic over Easter, one of our senior therapists & pilates instructors, Vickie Furk, was up bright and early Saturday morning to travel with UWA West Coast National Age Team to compete at the Georgina Hope Foundation Age National Swimming Championships in Adelaide. For the second consecutive year Subiaco Sports Massage Clinic has sent Vickie to work at the National Swimming Championships, providing pre and post event treatment to keep the young top Australian Swimmers in optimum condition.

After arrival on Saturday, it was straight to the pool to swim off the flight, followed by light training Sunday with competition starting on Monday 28th March and concluding Saturday 2nd March. Vickie was very much considered part of the team and as such was involved in the daily operations team meetings, and program planning swimmers in priority of who was competing the next day, and who was making finals.

Vickie said of her time with UWA West Coast at the Nationals;

"It was such a privilege working with such a cohesive group from the mum's supporting and cooking, to the endless organisation needed by the Team Managers, to the collaboration with the coaches and of course working with the amazing young athletes. The PB count was exceptional, with some swimmers achieving highs of 6,7 & 8 second PBs. With such a successful campaign, morale was always high making it a great atmosphere and truly inspirational. The role was very intense, travelling to the pool at 7:15am and returning as late as 2pm, only to program plan the evening, quickly eat, team meetings at 3:45pm, then travelling back to the pool by 4pm, and with relays and finals, I was always the last to leave at 9:30pm. The whole experience was so rewarding with every day, every heat, and every final bringing instant confirmation of my importance within the team, as each swimmer returned with smiles on their faces, another PB/Final/Medal. On the final night we had a big celebration and I was presented with a present and card, from the kids, and commendations from the coaches and presidents, it was overwhelming to receive such admiration, as I said, it was a real privilege."

During competition, Vickie not only provided soft tissue therapy, but also assisted stretching techniques, cupping, rock taping when required, along with foam roller self massage techniques. Vickie and the coaches intend to follow up post event with the proposal of workshops for the kids throughout winter, using her pilates background combined with her sport therapy and remedial massage experience, to develop a program of self massage, swimming specific strengthening and activation as part of a 'pre-hab' approach with the aim to reduce injury rate, and improve performance ready for their 2017 National campaign.