Speed Coach Tiffany Forbes Boosts Synchro Swimmers

Tiffany Forbes 800x500
Tiffany Forbes works with the U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Squad two days a week. Photo Courtesy: USA Synchro

Commentary by Dax Lowery, Swimming World Contributor. 

Tiffany Forbes didn’t know a lot about synchronized swimming at the time, although she was impressed as she watched members of the U.S. National Squad work out a few years ago. The synchro athletes were sharing a pool with the Orinda (Calif.) Aquatics Masters team that Forbes was coaching, and she would often interact with U.S. officials while learning about the sport.

A short while later, USA Synchro CEO and High Performance Director Myriam Glez, seeking to improve the athletes’ breathing and endurance skills, asked Forbes to be the organization’s speed swimming coach.

“I knew very little about synchro before coaching these athletes. However, I had a few swimmers I coached in Boulder, Colo., who went on to do quite well in synchro, so I was quite aware of the sport,” Forbes said. “I attended the 2016 Olympic Trials team selection and asked many questions of some great athletes (Bill May, Phoebe Coffin, and Claire Barton) who were in the stands near me. I’m very much still learning about this amazing sport.”

Competitive swimming was Forbes’ sport while growing up in Columbus, Ind. She enjoyed early and fairly consistent success that fueled her passion for the sport. She knew coaching would be in her future. “As a college swimmer and exercise physiology major, I became very interested in the process of preparing athletes to excel,” Forbes said.

After earning her master’s at the University of Colorado, she found quick success as a coach. She was the Age Group Coach of the Year in 1996 while leading the Boulder (Colo.) Poseidons, and she was selected to two USMS World Masters Championships. Forbes founded the Boulder Swimming Academy in 2003 and worked as a masters coach for the Boulder Aquatics Masters for over a decade. In addition to her role with USA Synchro, Forbes is head coach of the Cal Aquatic Masters and assistant coach at Orinda Country Club.

Synchro has been called a mixture of gymnastics, swimming and dancing, and the elite athletes prepare accordingly. For members of the U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Squad, training includes weights, ballet, Pilates and pool sessions.

And speed swimming. Forbes puts them through the paces twice a week, having them swim for an hour and a half.

“I train them as I would elite swimmers, with an emphasis on things that will complement their synchro routine,” she said. “We generally swim 4,000-4,500 yards each practice, and in a two-week period we will have one workout focused on distance, IM and stroke technique, anaerobic threshold (interval training, short rest), and speed/race pace training (short, fast swims with a fair amount of rest). They, of course, do quite a bit of breath control swims as well.”

Victoria Woroniecki, a member of the U.S. National Training Squad Duet, said the training is paying off.

“I had never done speed swimming before I came to California to train on the senior team,” she said. “Speed swimming helps me by letting me be able to be more efficient and quick with my moves.”

Forbes believes the special training is having a substantial, positive impact on the athletes and has heard from U.S. coach Lolli Montico that the workouts have boosted their routines.

“What I see is a group of hard-working, happy girls who are continually improving their technique and getting better swimming endurance,” she said. “(2016 Olympian) Anita (Alvarez) could have been an amazing swimmer, I believe, had she chosen a different aquatic path. Clearly, the path she has chosen is a great one.

“I could not be happier to have been asked to work with this team. It is an honor and a joy that I get to work with such great, committed, hard-working athletes.”

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Bill Kellick
Bill Kellick
7 years ago

Nice article Dax!

1
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x