A Neptunes swimming contingent have just returned from a three-week high-altitude training camp which was held in Belmeken, Bulgaria.
The training venue is 2,000m above sea level and sits between Rhodope Mountain and Rila Mountain.
The organisation of the training camp faced a number of challenges due to the current pandemic, school and the financial burden yet, thanks to the cooperation of the competent authorities and careful planning the training camp was described as a huge success.
The team was headed by Neptunes Head Coach Roland Eskudt.
The team was composed of Kristina Camenzuli, Sarah Demicoli, Nicole Saia, Martina Valletta, Jacques Boffa, Andre Camilleri and Thomas Woods.
The team trained for six hours a day covering 200km of swimming over the three-week period. The day schedule started with an early morning breakfast and the team would train twice daily in the pool.
Between morning and afternoon sessions the team would attend online lessons. Hungarian coach Eskudt has attended a number of high altitude training camps with swim teams in Hungary and when asked to comment about the outcome of the training camp he said: “ I am extremely happy with the whole team. They all showed a high level of commitment and dedication and rose up to the desired level of training.
“Such training camps are demanding both physically, mentally and emotionally and the athletes worked together and delivered to my expectations. I am a happy as a coach and we look forward to the coming weeks.”
In a statement, Neptunes thanked Sport Malta, the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta and Neptunes Swimming section for their financial assistance to make this trip possible.
“A special mention also goes to lecturing staff and Headmaster at GF Abela Junior College and the University of Malta for supporting this training camp and making the necessary arrangements for the athletes to attend this training camp and continue with their studies,” the club statement concluded.
