Phuket home to newest sport facility
ASIA'S newest world-class sports, fitness and training facility – the Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club (TSLC) in Phuket – hosted the Canadian Olympic Synchronised Swimming Team as it prepared for the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships in Shanghai.
The Canadian Olympic Synchronised Swimming Team take some time out at the Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club during their preparations for the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships in Shanghai recently. Download high res version here.
Training in world-class facilities produced great dividends for the team who were able to win the bronze medal in the keenly contested Free Combination competition behind Russia and China.
Synch Canada Coach, Julie Sauvé, said she would have no hesitation in returning to the TSLC for training in the lead up to the 2012 London Olympics, which the team will strive to qualify for.
“This facility is just fantastic,” Ms. Sauvé said. “I have never seen anything better in the world. I mentioned to the team that our pool (in Canada) was not as good as what we have experienced at the club in Phuket, so it was the perfect opportunity to tune our routines and being able to walk from the hotel to the training facilities was a huge advantage.”
As well as providing accommodation for Canada Sync’s athletes and team managers, the TSLC was responsible for their strict dietary programme – using fresh organic ingredients from the TSLC’s DiVine Restaurant – during the gruelling training regime. The elite squad were seen training everyday in the club’s state-of-the-art gym and its three-metre deep, 50-metre eight-lane swimming pool.
Thanyapura Chief Executive Officer, Nick Seaver expected that the Olympic athletes from Canada would be the first of many world-rated teams across a number of different sports and disciplines that would make use of the TSLC’s facilities.
“It should be made clear though, that our sports club is not just for elite athletes. We are also very much focussed on bringing children, teenagers and amateurs from all over the world through our facility so they can get enjoyment out of their sport and hopefully pick up a few tips on how to improve their performance,” Mr Seaver said.
The TSLC also runs a number for different programmes for amateur athletes, children and teenagers in many areas including, soccer, triathlon, swimming and tennis.
