Charlottetown Bluephins return to Bell Aliant Centre 'like coming to a brand new pool,' says coach - Action News
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Charlottetown Bluephins return to Bell Aliant Centre 'like coming to a brand new pool,' says coach

Swimmers with the Charlottetown Bluephins Aquatics Club are excited to be back in their home pool at the Bell Aliant Centre after months away due to facility repairs and the pandemic.

The aquatics club was out of the pool for months due to facility repairs and the pandemic

Charlottetown Bluephins return to the competitive pool at Bell Aliant Centre after months away

4 years ago
Duration 2:25
Swimmers with the Charlottetown Bluephins Aquatic Club have been able to return to the competitive pool at the Bell Aliant Centre in Charlottetown after months away due to the pandemic and facility repairs.

The stillness of the water in the competitive poolat the Bell AliantCentre was broken as the first swimmer with the Charlottetown Bluephins Aquatic Club plungedin ata Wednesday night practice.

The club uses the facility in Charlottetown as their home pool a place that they were unable to use for months due to closures during the pandemic and facility repairs.

They were finally able to meet in the leisure pool at the centrein late November, and then the competitive pool at the end of December.

"It felt really good," said Bluephins swimmer Elena LeClair. "I had already beenin the waterat Montague but to get back in our home pool and see my friends again it was really, a really great thing."

Swimmer Elena LeClair says being in the pool with more swimmers helps push them to further their training. (Jane Robertson/CBC)

"We got out of here on March 15th and so it had been a long, long, long time had been over nine months, nine and a half months," said Tom Ponting, the club's head coach.

"So to be able to have a nice wide lane, a nice deep pool with clear water ... to be nicely lit and to have the blocks, it was a homecoming. It was like coming to a brand new pool."

The pool originally closed in March following public health restrictions. Then, upgrades to the dehumidification system were approved as the pool was not yet open to the public, and the work requireda closed facility.

Then, in the fall, a tricky leak in the competitive pool kept it closed even longer as staff worked to repair it.

Tom Ponting, head coach of the Bluephins, says training intensity will pick up once the swimmers get comfortable in the water once again. (Jane Robertson/CBC)

This meant the swimmers had to waitto get back to the sport they loved.

"Over COVID without swimming I found I never felt as good. I was always bored and looking for things to do,"said Bluephins swimmer Hunter Pierce.

"I felt weaker and I didn't eat asmuch. I just felt terrible to be honest with you. So good to be back in a routine helps a lot with just everything."

Swimmer Hunter Pierce says he is excited to get back into the routine to find his competitive edge once again. (Jane Robertson/CBC)

The swimming community was very supportive, Ponting said, as other facilities opened their doors to the club.

They were able to use the swimming facility at Simmons in Charlottetown and the pool at theT.C.A.P. Family Aquaticsin Montague.

Now the club is pushing the swimmers to improve on their personal times with very few meets on the horizon.

"Yeah, that's really great, like I can get back to the pace to be a swimmer and be competitive again," said Bluephinsswimmer Hercules Cheng. "I hope I get a new personal time in the coming months or weeks."

Swimmer Hercules Cheng says being able to swim in other pools in the meantime was great but it feels good to be back in their home pool. (Jane Robertson/CBC)

Ponting said they are following all the public health guidance and the protocols at the aquatic centreto keep everyonesafe.

Registration is still down a little from last year, but with the pool open once again, he said he expects that number to rise.

Large indoor swimming pool with designated swimming lanes. Some people are swimming, others sit on the side of the pool.
The swimmers follow all public heath guidelines when they are around the pool areas. (Jane Robertson/CBC)

The Bluephins are working on their form, Ponting said,and looking to the future in their swimming careers.

"Get them ready for the next Canada Games.Get them ready for the next Olympic trials. Get them ready for any competition that comes on hopefully this year," Ponting said.

"Have them thinking about,'Where's the world at?''Whereis Canada at?' and not just in this little pond that we are so excited about being back in."

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