Injury Rehabilitation and Sports Training in water

MY STORY

Tony Mitchell

I have been Director of Sport at Hill House International school for 20 years before turning to personal speed coaching with my wife Virginia. We then formed Young Athletes Club at Spectrum Guildford and have 350 members.

Pool to Pitch

Injuries

Gallery

Testimonials

Following major back surgery in 1987, I was told that I would not run competitively again. This advice literally turned my world up-side-down since at 28 years old I was a track athlete who loved the 400m and I was used to training and competing for my club and county.

After much Hydrotherapy, I started working in the pool using fins and a float, and then tried a sprint belt in deep water.
I found this method somewhat unsatisfactory since it did not give me the feeling of a proper workout compared to a track session.
So I decided to experiment with my own version of a hydrotherapy belt.
I added a jacket and attached it to the side of the pool with a bungee cord so I could run against the resistance.
AQUATONE was born!

I was back in the County team within the year.
I went on to become County and British Champion in 400m and 400m Hurdles and European and World Masters Champion in 4x400m and 4x100m relays. I am still competing for GB Masters and I am in training to compete for honours in the next World Masters Championships.

I am a qualified England Athletics Coach and a former Director of Sport at Hill House International School.
With my wife Virginia, we launched the Young Athletes Club in 2011 and we now coach athletics and run competitions for 350 young athletes aged 6 to 12 years based at Guildford Spectrum Track.
www.young-athletes.co.uk

Therefore, it gives me great satisfaction to use my teaching skills and my coaching and to pass on my knowledge and experience of how water-based therapy and training can help those who are injured get back to the sport they love, just as I did.