Wales will host the Celtic Tri Nations Championships for the first time this weekend. Swimmers from Wales, Scotland and Ireland will go head to head at Wales National Pool, Swansea.



Georgia Davies clinches bronze in Delhi



Catherine Shearer, Senior Sports Psychologist at Sport Wales, explains why the event will assist our next generation of swimmers on the road to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

·         Familiarity breeds confidence - the more accustomed an individual is when competing on ‘the big stage’, the more their confidence is enhanced

·         Major events can be stressful for athletes so if they can get as much experience as possible at performing under pressure, the better they will become at handling it!

Welsh swimmers at the 2010 Commonwealth Games - in the final minutes before racing

·         There are a number of distractions at events such as friends, family and the media which can disrupt optimal preparations. Events like this give swimmers the chance to practice at not letting these distractions get in the way of their performance. Instead, they can focus on delivering a good performance.

·         Competing at a high level also allows swimmers the opportunity to watch experienced and successful swimmers prepare for an event. Learning by example, they can feel more confident that they are doing the right things.

• Competing also gives the opportunity to put into practice the hard training they put in everyday

If you fancy going to the Celtic Tri Nations, you can buy tickets here