The clinic welcomed young swimmers aged 11-15 from local sports schools and regional clubs take to the pool alongside three of the sport’s most accomplished international stars.
Organised as part of the World Aquatics Athletes’ Experience programme, the initiative aims to provide specialised training for young talent, support community swimming development and inspire future generations to engage with aquatic sports.
Action gets underway from 1-3 October as Azerbaijan hosts its first-ever World Aquatics event, launching the three-stop Silk Road Tour.
Psych Sheets Released for Opening Stop of World Cup Circuit
The opening leg set for Baku’s state-of-the-art Aquatic Palace brings together 216 athletes representing 44 nations, competing for USD $1.2 million in overall series prize money and wildcard places for the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Beijing.
For the athletes conducting the session, connecting with local youth offered a meaningful start to their time in Azerbaijan before competitive action gets underway tomorrow.
“Three athletes, three Olympians from three different countries got to help run a swim clinic with kids from Azerbaijan, which was so fun,” said two-time Olympic medallist Foster.
“Just getting to help them with their strokes, take some of our advice and our knowledge that helped us get to the place we’re at today, and hopefully instil that into them at a younger age” – Carson Foster
Foster was impressed with the technical level displayed by the young Azerbaijani swimmers during the clinic.
“My expectations when I came here – they blew them away. They were much more advanced and technically correct than I was expecting. So they were great,” he added.
The swimming clinic highlighted the core mission of the Athletes’ Experience programme to empower young athletes to dream big and build a lasting legacy in host communities. Reflecting on his own childhood, Foster remembered how meeting his idols set his career in motion.
“My journey in swimming started with stuff like this – getting to swim with some of my idols growing up, like Ryan Lochte and Aaron Peirsol, and doing swim clinics with them when I was about these kids’ age. It inspired me to continue to go all-in on swimming,” he said.
“More than any stroke or technique advice that we gave them, I hope that they feel inspired to continue to pursue swimming” – Carson Foster
“I hope that getting to swim with some of their idols or Olympians inspires them to continue to push and have a dream of competing in the Olympics for Azerbaijan.”
With action kicking off tomorrow at the Aquatic Palace, the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2026 gets underway with a reminder of how elite sport can leave a lasting impression on the communities it visits.
Tickets for the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2026 in Baku are available to purchase here.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with World Aquatics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.