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www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #97 February 2021 23

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Swimming with the Sea Lions: Dryland During a

Lockdown

By Victoria Klassen

hile the latest lockdown

Win Ontario forced the Sea
Lions out of the water, training
has not ended for the athletes
whose parents are coaches.

Sheilagh McNeil’s nine-year-
old daughter, Adele, is working
through a dryland program three

times a week at home. Every
workout has an upper body
strength and mobility section
and a core strength section, with
high intensity cardio between
each rep.

“My favourite part is the pull
throughs because it helps make
my shoulders stronger and more
flexible. I also like the leg lifts
and twists because it helps me
Adele McNeil working out with weighted bands to develop strength and reinforce proper body positioning
get my balance,” said Adele. Photo Submitted
dryland training plan four times a week. Eleven-
When the weather is mild,
year-old Maddy and 13-year-old Alivia are also
Adele goes outside to do
athletes with the Sea Lions.
sprints. During the colder days,
she does 30 seconds of high Before heading into lockdown, they worked
knee running or jumping lunges with their trainer to develop their personal
inside as cardio instead. dryland programs. Their training also focuses on
balance, mobility, and movement. Their strength
“I used the lockdown in

the spring to experiment with exercises include push ups, chin ups, squats, and
at home workouts, and this squat jumps.
one worked really well. It is “The work outs are challenging. I really have
challenging and reinforces good to think and be aware in order to make sure I’m
technique. When we were able in the correct position and using the right muscle
to get back in the water in the groups. But I feel stronger and more confident,”
summer and fall, Adele was fit said Maddy.
and ready to go,” said McNeil,

head coach of the Sea Lions. Until the Sea Lions are able to jump back
into the water, Adele, Maddy, and Alivia will
Coach Cory Kyer’s daughters be doing at-home dryland training to stay in
Adele McNeil doing core exercises as part of her
have been following their swimming shape.
dryland training. Photo Submitted