The highly successful Kingscliff Swimming Club is set to build close ties with a Japanese Swimming Academy following a visit from the group’s hierarchy late last week.
Miyoshi Swimming Academy Representatives, General Manager Yukio Ichida, president Yasuyu Shioya and manager Naoaki Shioya dropped in to the Kingscliff pool on Friday morning to watch the Kingscliff squad in action.
The visit was part of a week-long tour of the region by the group – which is hoping to expand to include a triathlon arm.
Kingscliff Swimming Club coach Ian Walker said the club was pleased to have the group come along to a squad training.
“It is the start of a long term relationship with Japanese swimming,” he said.
“It is really great to see them here.”
Tony Luxton of Japan Holidays, who organised the visit along with meetings with a number of local triathlon clubs and representatives, said the visit could be a pre-cursor to the Japanese Academy coming to the area to compete and train.
Mr Luxton said the club, from the Aichi Prefecture, was a very strong swimming group and was looking for tips on how to move into triathlons as well.
“They have spent the week meeting with people and studying the Australian system and events,” he said.
He said in the longer term he could see Japanese athletes coming down to Australia and competing. The visits could end up benefitting groups and businesses in the local area from accommodation places to local triathlon and swimming clubs as well.
The visit came about after Mr Luxton met with club members in Japan on a recent visit although the club has a long association with Australia.
“Mr Ichida has been bringing groups to the Queensland Championships for the past 13 years,” Mr Luxton said.
He said this visit could lead to the group also coming here for summer training.
During their visit the group also checked out the Twin Towns Triathlon Club Saturday event as well as meeting with other triathlon officials on the Gold Coast.
