By Staff Reporter, Dar es Salaam
In support of the vision of the Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda, to actively promote the development of all sports in the country, Monti International School has announced a major and unique sporting event for the East African region — a special 10-day swimming camp that will be led by renowned American coach, Austin Pillado.
The high-performance swim camp is scheduled to take place from May 5 to May 14, 2026, at the school’s Mikocheni campus in Dar es Salaam.
Coach Pillado, who serves as Associate Head Coach of the women’s swimming team at Washington State University, was also part of the technical bench that won the 2024 national collegiate championships organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) while at Arizona State University.
With experience working alongside Olympic champions and world record holders, his arrival is seen as a significant step forward for the development of youth sports in Tanzania.
Speaking about the event, the school’s Founder and Director, Fatma Fernandes, said the main goal is to elevate local talent to international standards.
“We aim to bridge the gap between local talent and global standards. By bringing in top-level coaches like Austin, we enable our youth to receive professional training and analysis comparable to that of the world’s best athletes,” she said.
The camp will be the first of its kind in the region to utilize underwater camera technology, providing real-time feedback on swimmers’ techniques. In addition to physical training, participants will receive sessions on race strategy, nutrition, and the “Fifth Stroke” — a modern swimming concept focusing on advanced technical efficiency in competitive performance.
According to the organizers, the program is designed based on curricula used by U.S. universities competing in NCAA events, aiming to strengthen proficiency in the four main swimming strokes while also enhancing endurance and speed.
Monti’s management noted that its investment in sports infrastructure — including a modern 25-meter Olympic-standard swimming pool — is intended to benefit not only its students but also the wider community in Dar es Salaam and across Tanzania.
The camp is also expected to attract participants from neighboring East African countries, with limited slots available to ensure close monitoring of each participant’s development.
This initiative is seen as a significant contribution toward placing Tanzania on the global swimming map, in line with the goals of the National Sports Council to develop, coordinate, and regulate sports in order to nurture talent and enhance competitiveness.
