Short-distance events the next frontier

Chinese swimming expects to make major breakthrough in short-distance swimming events with a helping hand from the West.

Boasting elite results from middle to long-distance events at major competitions, Chinese swimming has now set its sights on delivering a similar amount of success in the sprint events to enhance its status as a world power in the sport.

Drafting Western expertise seems the most effective way to achieve that, given how it has worked out for the long-distance events.

"We hope to be more versatile at big events and that means to stand out in short-distance races," said Lu Yifan, leader of the national team's training research group. "We are looking to hire some foreign trainers with sprint expertise to help improve in that department."

Lu said the governing body will try to lure Swiss coach Stephan Widmar and German trainer Dirk Lange, who currently work with Liaoning and Shanghai respectively, to join the national team after their commitments at the National Games in September.

Widmar spent 15 years coaching in Australia before his contract expired last December. He steered female swimmers Leisel Jones and Libby Trickett to 100m breaststroke and butterfly gold medals respectively at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Lange helped breaststroke sprinter Cameron van der Burgh (100m winner in London) of South Africa improve his fitness and form during his tenure as the head coach of Swimming South Africa from 2005-08.

"They both built reputations by helping athletes improve their sprint skills and fitness levels. We are planning to send our swimmers to train with them either in Australia or in Europe," Lu said.

"Hopefully, we can break the American's dominance in short-distance events."

Although focusing on their respective local assignments, both appear to be open to helping out the national program.

"I am excited about the possibility of working with Chinese swimming in the future," Widmar said.

Lange said: "Chinese swimming is very famous. Outstanding performers have emerged in China. If it comes to that step, I would be proud to help China."

China launched its overseas program in 2007 when it sent freestyle specialist Zhang Lin to practice with Denis Cotterell in Queensland. The 25-year-old won the 800m gold at the Rome Worlds two years later.

Sun Yang worked under Cotterell's guidance in early 2010 and improved his stroke on the way to claiming the 1,500m free title at the Shanghai Worlds in 2011.

Another senior Aussie coach, Ken Wood, helped Ye Shiwen improve her stroke efficiency, starting and turning last year.

(China Daily 05/03/2013 page23)