Meet one of our NZ Swimmers: Jacob Garrod

0
4478
Jacob Garrod. New Zealand Age Group Championships, Session Five, Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre, Kilbirnie, Wellington, Thursday 7th May 2015. Photo: Simon Watts/www.bwmedia.co.nz
Jacob Garrod. New Zealand Age Group Championships, Session Five, Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre, Kilbirnie, Wellington, Thursday 7th May 2015. Photo: Simon Watts/www.bwmedia.co.nz

AUT Millennium Scholarship Athlete, Jacob Garrod, is set to represent New Zealand at the Oceania Championships later this month!

Having recently completed a gruelling domestic camp, the 20 year old breaststroke specialist trained for 24 consecutive days. Racking up a whopping 40 sessions to build base fitness during the camp, speed is now on the menu as the Championships draws closer.

The eight day competition will see athletes from over ten nations compete in swimming, open water and synchronised swimming events. Jacob will contest the 50, 100 and 200m breaststroke races, his feature event is the 200m. Having debuted at the Auckland 2014 Oceania Championships, Jacob hopes to take everything he learnt at those Championships and build on his performance this time round. The Oceania Championships is an open event held every two years.

As an employed athlete and student, Jacob has said that “having to balance everyday life with training is quite hard” but the feeling of representing New Zealand is “pretty surreal, it’s hard to explain”.

A multiple National Age-Group Record Holder and Open National Medallist, Jacob will fly to Fiji with a 33 strong New Zealand team to begin racing on Friday the 17th of June.

Do you love breaststroke? Jacob’s number one tip for breaststroke swimming is

“Don’t rush the stroke. Rating faster does not always mean you will swim faster! It’s important to make sure you finish the breaststroke kick-off”

Some of the countries represented at the 2016 Oceania Championships include:

Oceania Championships flagsPS: Jacob will be coming in to Swim School later this term to demonstrate for Swim School! Don’t miss your chance to meet one of New Zealand’s fastest breaststroke swimmers and ask what it’s like to race overseas!

LEAVE A REPLY