MEN AND WOMEN SWIMMING ELITE PROGRAM
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
PROGRAM DATES, COSTS AND DEADLINES
FAQ’s
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
Summer 2025 Applications Are Open - Only 3 Spots Available!
Contact Program Manager, Sean Chipres at seanrc@saiie.com
Men and Women Swimming Elite Program
At SAIIE we work with local swimming clubs where our students can swim with other Spanish swimmers.
Students in this program train 5-6 days a week on a Spanish swimming team.
Swimming Program Includes:
- Highly Qualified Technical Staff
- 5-6 weekly trainings
- Double Session Water Workouts / Depends on students class schedule
- Complementary Physical Preparation
- Starting block
- Hyperbaric Chambers
- Lactact Analysis Kits
Please note: students will have the option to practice six days with the team if they want.
Swimming Program Requirements
- To train weekly with the team, your swimming times should align with these benchmarks:
For Men
- 100 m Freestyle: 00:57.00
- 100 m Backstroke: 01:03.00
- 100 m Breaststroke: 1:13.00
- 100 m Butterfly: 01:01.00
For Women
- 100 m Freestyle: 1:04.00
- 100 m Backstroke: 01:12.00
- 100 m Breaststroke: 1:21.00
- 100 m Butterfly: 01:10.00
Please note: If you exceed these times, please contact Sean Chipres the Program Manager at seanrc@saiie.com
Where will you swim?
At SAIIE, we partner with the renowned Club Natación Mairena, where our college swimmers train alongside the Sevillian swim team. You’ll balance your training with your courses at the SAIIE center.
The Mairena Swimming Club is one of the leading swimming teams in Spain and Andalusia. Founded in 1983, the club has grown gradually to become, despite its youth, among the elite of Spanish swimming. This sporting project and a way of training athletes and individuals has positioned Mairena del Aljarafe as a benchmark for this sport at the national level. It is the first and only club in Andalusia to have participated in the Honor Division of the Spanish Swimming Cup in both categories, the most important team competition of the season, which brings together the best national teams.
Academic Program
Students on this program will have the option to participate in session I, II or both while taking a minimum of 3-4 credits each session. We offer courses in Art, Business, Exercise and Sports Sciences, and Spanish language during our summer terms.
To learn more about the academic program that we offer at SAIIE through the summer please visit our website here.
Program Cost & Dates - 2025
$400 (This is an additional cost to the overall program cost. Tuition and fees still apply)
Cost Includes:
- 4 weeks of training
- 5 weekly training sessions
- 1 club hat
- Gym membership.
Dates:
Session I: May 18 - June 16, 2025
Session II: June 1 - June 28, 2025
Application Deadline: April 1
$550 (This is an additional cost to the overall program cost. Tuition and fees still apply)
Cost Includes:
- 6 weeks of training
- 5 weekly training sessions with local Swimming club
- 1 club hat
- Gym membership
Dates:
May 18 - June 28, 2025 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: April 1
FAQ’s
If you do not see your question listed here please contact us.
Do you have college sports in Spain?
Yes, but most students play or in this case swim for clubs. In Spain usually the level of club teams is higher than college.
Is the swimming team I am swimming with Coed?
Yes, the different swimming clubs SAIIE collaborates are all coed teams
When do the training sessions take place?
Trainings happen twice a day. One part of the team practices early in the morning at 7:00am and the other part of the team will practice in the early evenings (Around 4:00pm). Depends on class schedule. You will have the option to practice in the mornings or evenings.
How is the weather in Seville throughout the year?
During the summer please expect really warm weather. You will be swimming outsde in the Olimpic swimming pool (50 meters) Seville's summer's are hot and dry, and usually at the end of May it can easily reach the high 30's C (Around 95F), and in June it can reach the 40's C (Low 100's F). During fall it will be nice weather but you will be swimming in an indoor size swimming pool (25 meters). Spring term you will also be swimming inside.
How long are training sessions?
Trainings will be 2 hours long.
How many training sessions take place per week?
There will be 5 training sessions per week but if you want to you will be able to train 6 days per week.
How many weeks of training will I do?
In each summer session you will complete 4 weeks of training. Since session I & II overlap you will complete a total of 6 weeks if you decide to participate in both sessions. During the fall & spring you will have training every week of class.
Will I have access to a gym?
Yes, the club has a gym for its athletes, and you will have access to it.
Are the trainings held in Spanish?
Yes. You will be training with Spaniards on a Spanish team with Spanish coaches. This is an important aspect of the cultural immersion part of the program; through the swimming program you will be surrounded in a constant Spanish speaking environment and this will give you a great opportunity to improve your Spanish.
What age are swimmers on the team?
The swimmers are between 17 and 25 years old.
How many swimmers does the team have?
It varies each year but about 28-32
How far are the training facilities from the school?
All training facilities are no further than a 20 minute bus ride away or a 20 - 40 minute walk.
How much money will I spend on transportation to trainings?
In the case you are not in walking distance and you have to cath a bus to trainings you will not spend more than $25 for the entire month. Around the city they are bikes and motor electric scooters that can be use for a small fee (great to move around the city for students). The city of Seville has a great bike lane.
What equipment should I bring?
Fins, paddles, and a kickboard. Snorkels are used but are not required.
Student Testimonials
"It was great to experience and see a new perspective of swimming compared to home. I got to see how swimming is in Europe and I manage to make many friends on the team! I would recommend this program to anyone that is swimming back home and wants to continue swimming while studying abroad."
Matheus Sousa Avelar, John Abbott College, Canada, Summer 2023
"I liked meeting new people and training at a nice facility. Everyone on the team is very nice and those who can speak English were very helpful."
Madison Hagberg, Tufts University, Summer 2023
"I really liked how fun all the team members were and their relationship with their coach. The pool is beautiful and the coach is super nice."
Penelope Celtnieks, Emory University, Summer 2023
"I love meeting the people on the team, the swimming practices, the coach, everything, etc!"
Hannah Lesser, Tufts University, Summer 2022
"I enjoyed getting back into hardcore training, and found myself to be the slowest person in the pool, but it motivated me to go faster which was enjoyable. I also enjoyed practicing my Spanish with the people I met."
Calvin Fagley, Gustavus Adolphus College, Summer 2022
"I love meeting the new swimmers and practicing my Spanish during practice with them. Finally understanding the practice was a breakthrough for me and was my favourite part of learning Spanish thus far. The swimmers were welcoming and were helpful in explaining the workout when I didn’t fully understand."
Kristen Wolf, Colorado State University Pueblo, 2022
"It was a great program and experience! I not only love my swimming practices which help me to stay in shape while abroad but it was also fun to get to know all my Spanish teammates and practice my Spanish on a daily basis!"
Bryce Hoppe, University of St. Thomas, Summer 2019
"I enjoyed getting back into hardcore training, and practicing my Spanish with the people I met."
Colin Glass, University of St. Thomas, Summer 2018
"I loved meeting all of the swimmers. The friends I’ve made of Club Naútico are ones I’ll remember for a lifetime."
Jonathan Farah, Boston College, Summer 2017
"I loved every second of training with the team. I started my first day unable to understand any of the sets given all in Spanish and right away people helped me out. What struck me is how positive the entire group is, which made for a really fun and inclusive environment. People pushed me in training and encouraged me to keep improving daily. I love how I felt like I became a part of their team despite my short time with Naútico."
McKenzie Summers, The University of British Columbia, Canada, Summer 2017
"The swimming program was an amazing experience. I loved it! It was so much fun to be able to swim on a Spanish team while I was studying abroad. The Spanish swimmers on my team were so nice, and were speaking to me constantly which allowed me to practice my Spanish."
Michael Brienza, Tufts University, Summer 2016
"I wanted to get a unique cultural experience and I totally feel like I got that. The cultural experience. Being able to train in a different country and speak the native language with the swimmers and get to know them was my favourite part. I wanted to get a unique cultural experience and I totally feel like I got that. I made friends with the swimmers and was sad to say goodbye to them when the session ended. They were all so friendly and made an effort to talk to me."
Zachary Wallace, Tufts University, Summer 2016
"All the team were all extremely nice and hardworking and were glad to help me understand the practices and were always glad to stay after practice and help me with my spanish speaking skills."
Tyler Gymple, University of Mary Washington, Summer 2016
"They are all very friendly and immediately welcomed Kyle, Bailey, and I. The team practices and competes at an elite level. Our teammates were very helpful in teaching us how to understand. The Coach was great! Becoming friends with the locals. They are all very friendly and immediately welcomed Kyle, Bailey, and I. They were tons of fun! Made me want to come back for more. I loved it!"
Jason Hicks, Colorado Mesa University, Summer 2015
"Life changing! That is how I would describe my experience at SAIIE in one phrase. While in Seville, I went to classes and participated in the athlete program as a swimmer. The experiences I had, people I met, and things I saw were incredible. It was the time of my life. I learned so much about culture, other people’s views, and myself. My time at SAIIE is not something I could put a price on. It was worth every penny. I made lifelong friends while swimming there and still stay in touch with many. Swimming in Spain was a very unique experience. It was one of the highlights of my experience to be able to train there and make new friends. Whether you are a swimmer, basketball player, rower, or anything else, I would participate in this if I were you. You will meet new people and learn new things. It is a great way to immerse yourself in another culture while still staying in shape for competition back home."
Kyle Johnston, Colorado Mesa University, Summer 2015
"I loved meeting the team. It took me a few days, but with the help of the swimmers and coaches, I learned their swimming lingo. I had so much fun at practice and the 2 hours flew by. I just really loved being in a new environment and training in a completely different setting."
Bailey Brown, Boston College, Summer 2015
