IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE FUTURE OF SWIMMING
A FULL REACP OF THE SWIMX
TOKYO SUMMER CAMP
Our Tokyo Summer Camp was a one-of-a-kind international high-performance training experience held in Tokyo, Japan, in collaboration with Kitajima Aquatics. Swimmers trained at the world-renowned Tokyo Aquatic Centre alongside Olympic-level coaches and athletes, combining SwimX technical sessions with authentic Japanese training culture.
The camp was led by an incredible coaching staff including Multi-time breaststroke Olympic gold medalist and legend Kosuke Kitajima, 3-time Canadian Olympian Yuri Kisil, and 400IM Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Hagino. Athletes had the opportunity to learn directly from some of the sport’s most accomplished swimmers while experiencing different coaching styles and approaches to elite performance.
Throughout the week, swimmers focused on technical precision, mindset, race preparation, and long-term development through high-level pool sessions, dryland training, and personalized Swim Lab video analysis. The experience was designed to immerse swimmers in a culture of excellence and expand their understanding of what world-class training truly looks like.
The entire camp was an incredible experience for both SwimX athletes and staff! As our first international camp, it was a huge step forward in our mission to continue spreading knowledge and learning from some of the best swimming environments in the world.
A massive thank you to @kitajimaquatics for welcoming us into their training culture and allowing us to collaborate alongside their coaching team and athletes.
While we aren’t able to share many photos to protect the privacy of swimmers, we wanted to share some of the biggest takeaways we brought home from this experience.
The training environment itself was something special.
Athletes and coaches carried themselves with humility, focus, and professionalism. There was a deep respect for the process and for the people around them. Ego never overshadowed the work being done.
Another major takeaway was how collaborative the coaching structure was. Different experts led different aspects of training including swimming, technical skill development, and dryland. No one coach tried to do everything. Instead, athletes benefited from multiple areas of expertise working together toward the same goal.
Every set, drill, and correction had intention behind it. Practices weren’t just hard for the sake of being hard. Everything was purposeful and connected back to racing.
One of the most impressive things we observed was the level of intention behind every part of training, especially outside the pool.
Dryland and activation were not treated as “extras.” Athletes were taught how to move properly, understand body positioning, activate specific muscle groups, and build athleticism that directly translated into swimming performance. Mobility, stability, posture, and body awareness were constantly reinforced from a young age.
What stood out most was how aware the swimmers were of why they were doing something. They weren’t just completing exercises because a coach told them to. They understood the purpose behind the movement and how it connected to performance in the water.
A major highlight of the trip was learning from some of the sport’s most accomplished athletes and coaches.
Olympic breaststroke legend Kosuke Kitajima and Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Hagino shared insight into what truly separates elite athletes from the rest. Their attention to detail, understanding of racing, and respect for the fundamentals was incredibly impactful for both swimmers and coaches.
One message from Mr. Kitajima stood out above everything else: skill is everything.
At the highest level of swimming, strength and fitness alone are no longer enough. Every underwater, every breakout, every turn, and every finish must be trained with racing in mind. The smallest technical details, repeated consistently and intentionally, are what ultimately create elite performance.
We also had the opportunity to work in the Swim Lab environment, where athletes received individualized video analysis and technical feedback tailored specifically to their stroke mechanics and goals. The Swim Lab allowed swimmers to slow down and truly understand what their body was doing in the water through detailed visual feedback, underwater footage, and personalized correction strategies. Instead of simply telling swimmers what to change, the process helped them understand why the change mattered and how to apply it consistently in training.
Final Thoughts
One of the most exciting parts of experiences like this is bringing the lessons back to the athletes we coach every day.
Age group swimming can sometimes lose sight of the importance of technical mastery and long-term development. This trip reinforced our belief that swimmers should learn proper movement patterns, technical awareness, and intentional training habits from the very beginning of their careers.
At SwimX, we want to continue building an environment that values precision, education, discipline, and curiosity. We believe athletes grow the most when they are exposed to different coaching philosophies, cultures, and perspectives from around the world.
This trip was an incredible reminder that there is always more to learn, and we are excited to continue bringing those lessons back home to help elevate the next generation of swimmers.
