Over 100 Young Swimmers Set For Ikoyi Club Time Trials

More than 100 young swimmers from the Ikoyi Club 1938 Swimming Section are expected to take part in the club’s Categorisation Time Trials 1 (CTT1) at the National Stadium, Lagos, this weekend.

The two-day event, scheduled for Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, is an important assessment point in the club’s 2026/27 training programme and will provide an opportunity for coaches to evaluate the progress of swimmers across different categories.

The trials are designed to measure improvements in performance, identify areas requiring further development and determine whether some swimmers have reached the required standard to progress to a higher training category within the IC Marlins squad.

Activities are scheduled to begin at 10am on both days, with about 100 children expected to compete across a range of swimming events.

Speaking ahead of the competition, Chairman of the Ikoyi Club Swimming Section, Akin Onabolu, said preparations had been concluded and expressed optimism that the trials would provide valuable indicators of the swimmers’ development.

He said the participants would compete in all four swimming strokes, different race distances and Individual Medley (IM) events, allowing coaches to assess each swimmer from a broader perspective.

“The swimmers will compete across the four strokes, different race distances and Individual Medley (IM) events. This gives the coaches a broad view of each swimmer’s development rather than simply looking at performance in one event,” Onabolu said.

The chairman explained that the time trials would go beyond determining winners, with the emphasis placed on tracking individual improvement and helping swimmers progress through the club’s training structure.

He said the coaches would be looking for stronger performances, personal bests and improvements in race times across the various age and training categories.

“We are looking forward to seeing stronger performance, a number of personal bests and time drops across the different categories, as well as swimmers taking the next step in their development within the IC Marlins squad,” he added.

The CTT1 will also provide swimmers with an opportunity to experience competitive conditions, assess their race preparation and build confidence ahead of future competitions.

Onabolu stressed that the significance of the event could not be measured solely by the times recorded on the clock, noting that the trials were also intended to help the young athletes understand their progress and develop the right mentality for competitive swimming.

“The time trials are about more than just the times on the clock. It is about helping every swimmer understand their progress, build confidence, develop a competitive mindset and continue moving towards their full potential,” he said.

The assessment is expected to give coaches a clearer picture of the strengths and areas for improvement of individual swimmers as the club continues its 2026/27 training programme.

For the young competitors, the trials will also serve as an opportunity to test themselves against their teammates, improve their personal records and demonstrate readiness for progression within the IC Marlins system.

With participation expected across the different training categories, the event is set to provide a comprehensive assessment of the club’s young swimming talent as they continue their development at Ikoyi Club 1938.