Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
At a local swimming club in Ibiza, Olympians Angela Martinez and Paula Otero hosted a coaching clinic for young swimmers, transforming regular training into an inspiring session focused on connection and skill development for emerging athletes.
The session began with dryland activation exercises to strengthen shoulders and prevent injury, emphasizing the importance of body awareness before entering the water. Martinez and Otero demonstrated these preparatory techniques, highlighting their role in athlete longevity.
Next, the duo guided swimmers through freestyle technique, breaking down body position, stroke efficiency, and breathing patterns into practical advice. This was followed by open-water-specific skills, including navigating a buoy-turn course to develop the precision and timing necessary for competition in unpredictable environments.
A standout aspect of the clinic was practicing feeding while swimming, a vital but often undertrained aspect of open water racing. Martinez and Otero shared insights from their international racing experience to help participants maintain momentum during feeding.
The clinic concluded with young swimmers practicing a finish-line board simulation—a final lunge that can decide race outcomes by fractions of a second—cheered on by their peers. Martinez, coaching youth for the first time, was noted for her ability to engage and hold the children's attention throughout the clinic.