Following Prime Minister Carney’s recent visit to China, the China International Culture Association has been tasked with organizing a series of activities aimed at strengthening cultural exchange between our two countries. Sichuan has been selected to host a high-performance swimming camp, where participants may choose to attend for one, two, three, or all four weeks.

We’re also very honoured to share that Canadian Olympian Yuri Kisil will be joining the camp to provide specialized private sessions, and he will attend our information session to share insights about elite training, international competition, and his own journey in the sport.

🔹 Program Overview

We hosted an info session on March 29^th, during the session, we introduced the upcoming “Tracing the Source” Elite Swimming Summer Camp to be held in Panzhihua, Sichuan, China this summer.

Coach Zhang provided an overview of the Sichuan Provincial “Star Selection Program”, a flagship initiative aimed at developing high-potential athletes by providing access to top-tier training resources and competitive opportunities.

Coach Steven Zhang also shared details about the training camp structure, including:

Training at a sub-altitude performance base (approx. 1060m elevation)

Grouping athletes based on level (from developing to national level)

Support from a full professional team (coaches, strength & conditioning, translators)

🔹 Training Environment Advantage

The camp will take place at a sub-altitude training base (~1060m), which offers unique physiological benefits for developing athletes.

Training at this elevation can help stimulate red blood cell production and oxygen-carrying capacity, supporting improvements in aerobic efficiency and overall endurance, without the excessive fatigue often associated with higher altitudes.

In addition, this environment is particularly effective for improving lactate metabolism, helping athletes better tolerate and clear lactate during high-intensity efforts. This translates directly to stronger finishes, improved speed endurance, and better performance in race situations, especially for sprint and middle-distance events.

🔹 Special Guests

We were pleased to introduce Yuri Kisil, current Team Canada member, 3-time Olympian and World Championship gold medalist, who shared his experience and expressed his excitement about connecting with athletes in Sichuan.

🔹 Key Highlights

Opportunity for China–Canada athlete exchange and joint training

Potential future exchange visits between Sichuan teams and Canadian high-performance centers

A high-performance environment designed to support athlete development both technically and physically.

Interested? Contact us today!