By Steven Munatones
SAN LUIS POTOSI, Mexico, October 11. MIKE Bottom of the University of Michigan kicked off the three-day VII World Swimming Clinic at the La Loma high-altitude training camp in San Luis Potosí, Mexico Friday to an overflow crowd of coaches, trainers and administrators.
Hosted by Professor Nelson Vargas for the seventh year, Button opened the first day with a talk about coaching Olympic sprinters throughout his career where he provided tidbits of information on Anthony Ervin and Gary Hall Jr. Button ended the first-day with a riveting talk on Threestyle Freestyle where he explained the characteristics and elements of hip-driven freestyle, shoulder-driven freestyle and body-driven freestyle. The Clinic, hosted by Professor Nelson Vargas, saluted the life and teachings of Ron Johnson, the former long-time coach of Arizona State University and the Mexican Olympic swim teams of 1968 and 1972, who passed away earlier this year.
The three-day conference continues until Sunday with invited speakers from Mexico, Spain, France, Australia, Brazil and the U.S. providing the latest information and global trends in areas ranging from how-to-swim programs to masters swimming.