09.10.2012

Australia’s women’s youth coach Aleks Osadchuck hopes a recent camp at the high tech Australian Institute of Sport will be a key to a successful performance on home soil in December’s FINA World Youth Water Polo Championships in Perth.

Led by Osadchuck, the women’s Born ’94 squad were afforded the privilege to train in the prestigious facility and gained exposure and support from a number of different departments at the AIS including High Performance, Physiotherapy, Performance Analysis, Strength and Conditioning and Sport Science.

The AIS has long been a home away from home for the Aussie Stingers – Australia’s senior women’s national team – playing an integral part in the Stingers’ success that has produced two Olympic medals and a number of other elite international achievements over the past eight years. 

“The AIS is one of the best sporting facilities in the world and we have been the part of it,” Osadchuck said.

“A big and special thank you goes to the AIS and Australian Sports Commission, and Water Polo Australia’s senior women’s program for organising all the logistics.

“We tried to uphold the mark of the Australian women’s water polo program and the athletes did their absolute best to prove it. I am proud of each individual in my squad for how they conducted themselves during this tough Camp. They all showed so much great passion and dedication in training and the organised games.”

Osadchuk said a lot was accomplished at the camp and he believed all the girls will have long lasting memories of their time at the AIS.

“I am absolutely sure that the girls will remember the AIS pool, dining hall and new residents rooms for the rest of their lives and we all greatly appreciate an opportunity provided by AIS and WPA,” Osadchuk said.

“During this camp we had the opportunity to play eight training games against the QAS and NSWIS and I would like to acknowledge both institutes for their input into this camp as well as the coaching assistance of Eddie Denis, Jack Lusic and Ryan Moar.

“Lastly, I would like to thank to the referees Noel Harrod, Rowan Woodburn and Rene Bol for their help with officiating all of our games.”

The Born ’94 squad is in the final stages of the selection process for the World Youth Championships. The squad list of up to 15 athletes, who will travel to Perth, will be announced in the coming week with the final 13 athletes to contest the tournament to be named on 28 November 2012.