Swimming sensations Peerapat “Garfield” Loessathapornsuk, 18, Patarawadee “Ploy” Kittiya , 21, Kornkanjana “Golf” Sapianchai, 17, and Tanakrit “Nok” Kittiya, 19, will come up against the best in the region at Southeast Asian (SEA) Games swimming competition from June 6-11.
The four athletes will compete in ten races over a seven-day period, while representing both Thailand and Thanyapura on the international stage.
More than 4,700 athletes from 11 countries will travel to compete in 35 different sports at the 28th edition of the SEA Games, which are held every two years.
Head of Aquatics at Thanyapura Miguel Lopez said: “It’s going to be a very intense week where a lot of exciting things will happen.
“I expect to come back with a handful of medals. The best outcome would be to return with two individual gold medals, a gold medal for the relay and a couple of bronze medals.”
Thanyapura President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Philipp Graf von Hardenberg, said: “I wish our athletes the best of luck at the SEA Games in Singapore next week. They have all worked very hard to get to this point and I know they will do Thanyapura proud.”
Garfield will be competing in the 1500 freestyle at the swimming Asian Games; while Ploy will race in the 100m, 200m butterfly and 4x 200m freestyle relay. During the week, Ploy can also qualify to compete in an additional race – the 4 x 100m independent medley.
Golf will come up against some of the best in the 4 x 100m freestyle, the 50m butterfly and 4 x 200m freestyle. Nok, who has already gained a qualifying time for the 2016 Rio Olympics, will swim in the 400m and 1500m freestyle.
The swimmers also have their eye on Olympic glory and are hoping to gain qualifying times at the swimming Asian Games. Garfield has received a wildcard to the Olympics from FINA – the aquatics governing international body – but Ploy and Golf will both have to fight for their places.
Thanyapura Phuket has teamed up with FINA – the aquatics governing international body – to award 38 scholarships to talented Southeast Asian swimmers. As part of the scholarship, the swimmers will train and live at our world class facility for the year while preparing for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Each scholar will receive a wildcard entry for both the Rio Olympics and the 2015 FINA World Championships.
Thanyapura’s swimming facilities include a 50m Olympic competition pool, a 25m training and teaching pool, Omega Track start blocks, a Daktronics timing system and scoreboard, an underwater video analysis window, ozone filtration and sports science services.