PG Barracuda season should help athletes’ physical, mental health

PRINCE GEORGE — The Prince George Barracuda Swim Club season starts September 8. After months of back and forth with city and provincial groups to make sure a season could be held, the club is excited to be able to get back in the water. However, with COVID putting things such as swim meets in doubt, the year is going to look a bit different. There will be a few changes here and there for practices, such as wider lanes, limited swimmers and coaches in at one time, and stricter rules around personal belongings.

Some of the lower tier groups will not be able to be supported due to the pandemic, reducing the total number of athletes from about 200 down to around 70. For those athletes fortunate enough to get back in for training, it could be a great chance to take their training head-on.

“I’m kind of nervous to come back because I haven’t been doing much swimming at home. I’m definitely just looking forward to getting back in the water and regaining my strength,” explained D1 Swimmer Rielle Hamilton.

Meanwhile Tommy Brown, a swimmer who qualified for nationals last year before it was cancelled due to COVID-19, said, “I’ve been doing a lot of trail riding up at Pidherny and running for cardio, doing some of the same dryland training I’d be doing for swimming at home. Trying to stay in shape for when swimming comes back.”