With Brisbane 2032 among its long-term goals, Manly Swimming Club has sent a squad of athletes to California for a high-performance training camp focused on technical development and race preparation.
The 12 swimmers, aged 16 to 23, are taking part in a seven-day program at The Race Club in Carlsbad, north of San Diego. The camp focuses on stroke efficiency, race technique and speed, giving the athletes access to specialist coaching and performance analysis.
An October 7 update from The Race Club confirms the squad is several days into the program, with swimmers learning new skills and refining existing techniques while training in the Californian sunshine.
The camp introduces the northern beaches athletes to different coaching methods, with The Race Club focusing on stroke analysis and technical improvements.
Inside the Californian training program
The camp focuses on the details that can influence performance in the water, with swimmers working across all four strokes and practising starts, turns and underwater skills. The program also includes individual technical feedback through video analysis, alongside sessions on strength, recovery and performance education.
The seven-day schedule includes two pool coaching sessions and one analysis session each day. The combination of pool sessions and video analysis is designed to help swimmers review their technique and identify areas for improvement.
Manly head coach Justin Rothwell, senior assistant coach Michelle Thomas and club president Matt Patterson are accompanying the swimmers. The club says the visit also gives its coaching staff an opportunity to learn from Gary Hall Sr. and engage with the methods used at The Race Club.
The trip follows a professional relationship between Rothwell and Hall Sr. that developed over the previous 18 months. According to Manly Swimming Club, the connection began when Rothwell emailed Hall Sr. to praise his approach to breaststroke technique, leading to an ongoing exchange of coaching ideas.
Long-term ambitions beyond the pool
The Race Club was founded by Gary Hall Sr., a three-time United States Olympian, and his son Gary Hall Jr., a five-time Olympian and 10-time Olympic medallist. Its programs focus on swimming technique, stroke analysis and performance development.
More than 50 Olympians and 23 Olympic medals have been associated with the organisation’s programs, according to Manly Swimming Club. The camp forms part of the club’s broader ambition to help athletes progress towards the highest levels of the sport. Manly hopes the experience will support the swimmers’ development as they pursue opportunities to represent the Australian Dolphins and potentially seek selection for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
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The club said the camp is intended to expose swimmers and coaches to new training methods and coaching philosophies. The experience adds an international dimension to the athletes’ development as they continue their competitive careers.
In its October 7 update, The Race Club said the swimmers would soon have an opportunity to race and assess their progress after several days of training.
Published 10-October-2026
