CANTON, GA (FEB. 19, 2025) — Sixteen swimmers from the Cherokee Swim Club, operated by Cherokee Recreation and Parks, traveled to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for a training experience at one of the nation’s premier athletic facilities.
The trip, open to all Cherokee Swim Club members ages 12 and older, provided a unique opportunity for young athletes to train in the same facility where Olympians such as Michael Phelps, Ryan Murphy and Katie Ledecky have honed their skills.
“The trip is a great way for our young athletes to train like an Olympian in the very campus that has hosted elite swimmers for decades,” said Cherokee Swim Club Head Coach Bill Waldo. “It’s also an opportunity to experience training at a high altitude, 6,130 feet above sea level, which can contribute to overall performance improvement.”
The team departed Atlanta on Friday, Feb. 14, and spent five days in Colorado. Their itinerary included two two-hour swim practices daily, dryland workouts in the Olympic gym featuring weight training, cardio and resistance exercises, and classroom sessions with Olympic staff.
The athletes also toured the Olympic Training Center and visited the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in downtown Colorado Springs. In addition to their rigorous training schedule, the swimmers participated in team-building activities, including nightly “UNO Olympics,” other games, and a team pizza night.
For more information about the Cherokee Swim Club, visit playcherokee.org or contact Coach Bill Waldo at wawaldo@cherokeecountyga.gov.
