Alice aims for Olympic wonderland
“In the future I would love to go to the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.
That means I
would have to choose between Italy and Scotland, but I already know I’m going to choose Scotland!”
With ambitions for a career in sports psychology, Alice Alcaras is one of several students benefiting through the University’s Sports Bursary Scheme, funded by the University’s Development Trust through fundraising, the support of business, and alumni. Growing up in Genoa on Italy’s Ligurian coast, Alice has been swimming for as long as she can remember.
Moving with her family to Aberdeen five years ago, she quickly became involved in the north-east’s club swimming circuit, which has produced talents such as Robbie Renwick, David Carry and Hannah Miley.
As a psychology student and member of University of Aberdeen Performance Swimming (UOAPS) Alice knows how mental strength can pay dividends in the pool.
“Psychology is one of the most important things about swimming – you think it’s only about strength and power – yes it’s about that, but how you use your mind is just as important.”
Alice now trains alongside Hannah, whose father Patrick Miley - the University’s High Performance Swimming Coach - puts the UOAPS squad through their paces each week at Aberdeen Sport Village’s Aquatics Centre.
“The training I do in the pool is about technique, keeping steady in the water, working on your kick, your pull, your breathing position... it’s not just about going fast, you have to rest and recover in the right way so you can be at your best,” Alice explains.
“I also do strength and conditioning work in the gym - I’m lucky that my bursary covers gym membership which includes coaching and physio support, as well as yoga and pilates – it’s a full training regime but I’m supported all the way by the University’s Sport and Exercise Team.”
Alice’s involvement with the UOAPS high performance squad comes at an exciting time in the programme’s development, with a £420,000 investment in an underwater camera system enabling coaches and swimmers to view their technique from every angle.
Funded through a donation to the Development Trust from Saltire Energy, with support from sportscotland, Aberdeen Sports Village, Aberdeen City Council and the University, the system is one of only a handful worldwide and is helping Alice and others identify marginal gains that can help them make the leap to elite level.
“I got a medal at the Championships two years ago as part of our relay team, but I’d love to get one in my own right. In the future I would love to go to the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. That means I would have to choose between Italy and Scotland, but I already know I’m going to choose Scotland!”
In the meantime her main ambition is to complete her degree. Now moving into second year, the demands of training mean that she is often in the pool before her classmates are out of their beds.
“I do eight sessions a week of swimming, each lasting two hours, as well time in the gym,” she explains. “On my busiest days I’m up at 5am and in the pool for a couple of hours, then on to the gym for the hour before uni starts. Those are the days I’ve been careful to keep classes to a minimum!”
