First Posted: 2/10/2015
LIMA — If you want to be the best, learn from the best.
Lima area swimmers will get that chance this weekend at the Lima YMCA will bring coach Steve Lochte to town Sunday for two swimming clinics.
Lochte gained fame as the father and development coach of 11-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte. Steve has coached U.S. Olympic, U.S. World Cup, U.S. Pan American and U.S. Empire State Game teams.
YMCA aquatic supervisor Blake Zickafoose said that having connection paid off in bringing Lochte to Lima. A swimmer on the YMCA team was related to Lochte’s wife.
A clinic for 9 to 12 year olds will take place from 9 a.m. to noon. Another clinic for swimmers 13 and older will take place from 1 to 4 p.m.
Registration is $75 per swimmer and $30 for spectators. Call 419-223-6045 to register.
Zickafoose said the clinic can be just as beneficial to coaches as it is for the swimmers.
“As a coach,” Zickafoose said, “I like watching Olympians train. You can learn new techniques and drills. For the swimmers, they can also learn new drills. Or sometimes it is even nice to say I was coached by an Olympian.”
During the clinic, Lochte will overview the training program used at the club where he currently coaches, Daytona Beach Swimming, as well as the training program of his son, Ryan.
“We like to get the experts here so people do not have to travel so far,” said YMCA Vice President Terri Averesch.
