Athletes and Coaches from around the world had enriching discussions at World Aquatics development workshops.
The first day of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) Budapest 2024 was more than a showcase of sporting power - it was a hub of learning and empowerment as athletes, coaches, and experts came together for insightful development workshops. These sessions, designed to address vital topics in sports performance and coaching, set the tone for a brilliant competition.
Athletes Workshop: The Menstrual Cycle – The Impact on Training and Performance
Following a workshop for coaches on the menstrual cycle, it was athletes who sat down today with Olympians, Olympic champions and world-record holders Caroline Jouisse, Pernille Blume and Ranomi Kromowidjojo and esteemed sport scientist Marine Dupuit to discuss the topic. This time, conversations focused on the impact of the menstrual cycle on athletes’ training and performance. Maria Lopes Freitas and Lia Lima of Angola attended the session and shared their insights afterwards.
‘The Menstrual Cycle – The impact on Training and Performance’ provided athletes the opportunity to discuss their experience with Olympians and renowned sport scientists (Martin Csanadi/World Aquatics)
“It’s about embracing the fact that you go through a menstrual cycle” Maria Lopes Freitas said. “It’s less about saying, ‘this is hard, and I’m embarrassed to share it with my team,’ and more about acknowledging it and saying, ‘I’m going through this and still achieving my goals.’”
Following the session, Olympic champion Pernille Blume highlighted the significance of empowering athletes to empower others:
“My hope is that these athletes that we were able to meet and speak to, now feel empowered to use this information in their lives beyond sport. By creating strong individuals who understand how their bodies work, they can educate others, whether it’s their own coaches or teammates.”
Olympic champion Pernille Blume will be sharing her insights throughout several workshops during the Championships (Martin Csanadi/World Aquatics)
Three-time Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Ranomi Kromowidjojo also emphasised the importance of normalising conversations around the menstrual cycle experience, noting:
“So many athletes have periods and must manage them throughout their careers—it’s something we need to be talking about.
“We have delivered, and continue to deliver, lots of workshops around mental health, performance and competing. And these are all vitally important. But it was great to be able to open up the dialogue on this specific topic, share my experiences, and show that the menstrual cycle doesn’t have to be a taboo.”
Three-time Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Ranomi Kromowidjojo emphasised the importance of normalising conversations around the menstrual cycle experience (Martin Csanadi/World Aquatics)
The workshop drew a packed room of athletes, reflecting a growing willingness and enthusiasm to tackle such topics openly.
Coaches Workshop: Shaping the Future of Development
The second workshop of the day shifted focus to the coaching community, with representatives from World Aquatics presenting the redeveloped Coaches Certification Pathway. The session provided an initial overview of the current coaches pathway programme which saw 608 coaches certified between 2021 and 2024.
This was followed by an open discussion to gather feedback directly from the over 50 coaches in attendance. Coaches were encouraged to contribute their insights and experiences, ensuring that the certification pathway aligns with real-world needs.
New updated material within the Coaches Certification Pathway was also discussed, including ‘New Technologies in Sport’, ‘Integrity & Safe Sport’ and ‘Nutrition and Hydration’.
World Aquatics expressed its vision for these programmes. James Gibson, who works with World Aquatics’ Development Centres and National Federations around the world, said:
“Our goal is to develop pathways that not only elevate coaching standards but also encourage environments where athletes can truly thrive. With a global aquatics community comprising coaches from diverse backgrounds and experiences, we recognise that no two journeys are the same. That’s why we are committed to ensuring that coaches are actively involved in every step of the pathway creation process. This workshop was a great example of that.”
Day one of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships proved that sport and competition are not just about breaking records but also about breaking barriers. With topics ranging from athlete health to coaching innovation, the workshops showcased World Aquatics’ commitment to inspiring change and confidence in its global community.