AROUND AND ABOUT
The Magazine?s usual mix of short stories ? website edition.
Rogan?s former Coach Robert Michlmayr quits swimming
Markus Rogan?s former coach Robert Michlmayr quitted his job in swimming by the end of May to become sport-director of the Austrian Triathlon-Federation. Michlmayr has led Rogan to two backstroke-silvers at the Olympics 2004 in Athens, to many European titles, some medals at world championships and to his first world-record in 200m back at the Europeans in short course in December 2005 in Triest. After Rogan?s move to Rome at the beginning of 2007 Michlmayr went on coaching Austria?s top-swimmers Birgit Koschischek, Sebastian Stoss and Fabienne Nadarajah, whose most precious results were silver at the Worlds in short course 2006 in Shanghai and fourth place at the worlds in long course 2005 in Montreal, both in 50m butterfly. Working for the Triathlon-Federation, the 39-years-old Michlmayr has invested all his knowledge in swimming since June, being first of all responsible for the structures of the federation as well as the top sport coordination-work. Nevertheless, Michlmayr may return as a swimming-coach in some years.
(Thomas Blaschke, Austrian Press Agency (APA), LEN Magazine correspondent)
Mirna in bikinis!
Mirna Jukic (who has recently broken the 2:23-barrier in the 200m breaststroke in addition to her new European record) makes waves not only with her thrilling performances. Even the Swiss tabloid "Blick" took more than short notice of the Bikini Calendar, shot in Mauritius and published by Sport Magazin (Vienna) in which Mirna starred alongside Fabienne Nadarajah (multiple short course medal winner in 50m fly) in different exciting outfits. Overwhelmed by the breathtaking exposure "Blick" has chosen the headline: "Look how beautiful the best swimmers from the Ösi-Country are!" But Mirna looks not only brilliant in the BC but she is also seriously focusing on her preps for the Swimming Worlds in Rome besides being an excellent student (media relations) preparing for her upcoming exams at Vienna University. The Croatian born, fully integrated Viennese who turned 23 on April 9 has set her eyes on winning a medal (gold at best) but also has in her mind to use her growing popularity in playing an influential part in politics in Vienna. A lot of goals for a young Twen who seems mentally and physically ready to come to terms with different challenges. And to meet both ends. Time will tell - first of all at the World Championships in Rome.
(Josef Metzger, Die Presse, LEN Magazine corresppondent)
Ivovic: 4.6 goals per game!
Jug Dubrovnik won the newly founded Adriatic League (Jadranska Liga), which well could be regarded as the strongest water polo club competition on Earth.
Eight Croatian clubs, three from Montenegro and one from Slovenia played 132 matches in a 22 rounds, followed by a total of 55.000 spectators. The fantastic Montenegrin national team member, defender Aleksandar Ivović from Jadran Herceg Novi scored 103 fabulous goals, an average of 4.68 per game. By means of comparison, the second best scorer, Toni Barbaric of POSK Split scored 54. The 103 goals of Ivovic, who was also voted the best player of the Adriatic League by the team coaches, represent the best European and probably world result last season.
American Merrill Moses was voted the best goalkeeper of the Adriatic League. After the end of the Adriatic League matches, all the clubs continued to compete in their national leagues.
The final conclusion of all of the officials from the three countries was that the premier season of the Adriatic League completely justified the decision of its founders last summer (Waterpolo Federations of Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro) improving the quality of the game, and contributing to the popularisation of water-polo in the region.
FINAL STANDING: Jug Dubrovnik 39, Jadran Herceg Novi 38, Primorac Kotor 36, Mladost Zagreb 36, Budvanska rivijera 27, Sibenik NCP 23, Primorje EB Rijeka 21, Mornar BS Split 16, Jadran Split 12, Koper 9, Medvescak Zagreb 7 and POSK Split 0 points.
BEST SCORERS: Aleksandar Ivovic (Jadran Herceg Novi) 103, Toni Barbaric (POSK Split) 54, Aleksandar Radovic (Jadran Herceg Novi) 43.
BEST PLAYERS: Aleksandar Ivovic (Jadran Herceg Novi) 221 points, Merrill Moses (Sibenik NCP) 150 points, Josip Pavic (Mladost Zagreb) 118 points...
BEST GOALKEEPERS: 1. Merrill Moses (Sibenik NCP), 2. Josip Pavic (Mladost Zagreb), 3. Frano Vican (Jug Dubrovnik).
(Dean Bauer, ?Sportske novosti?, Zagreb, Croatia, LEN Magazine correspondent)
Adlington Honour
The pool where double Olympic Champion Rebecca Adlington learnt to swim will be re-named in her honour when it re-opens next January after a ?5 million redevelopment. Mansfield Woodhouse?s Sherwood Baths will be known as the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre. Adlington said: "It?s such a great honour for the pool to be named after me. As somewhere I learnt to swim when I was growing up, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that this would happen. I?m delighted that my home town is celebrating my swimming in this way." Adlington is waiting good news on a second front: the IOC Programmes Commission will decide this summer whether to drop the 800m freestyle from the Olympic programme and opt for a 1,500m freestyle race instead. FINA has asked for the 1,500m to be added to the programme. Dropping one of the events won by Adlington in Beijing in time for a London 2012 Games would be deeply unpopular in Britain. ?I don?t see why they should do that. It?s a brilliant event, it?s a traditional event, it?s the event I?ve trained for and swum for the past seven years. If they really want to have women match men, great, but why not add the 1,500m for women and the 800 for men at the Olympics, like we have at the World Championships. Don?t take something away from us that?s been a great event in our sport," said Adlington.
Fuel for Olympic host
In a ?15 million six-year deal, British Gas is the new headline sponsor to the aquatic shoal working towards a place at a home Olympic Games in London 2012, though the 2012 crew will receive a limited amount of support, the aim of the sponsorship long-term development and the promotion of green energy and improved efficiency. The power company takes on the role as national-team headline sponsor. On July 8, at Manchester University, the English ASA, British Gas, FINA official pool supplier Myrtha Pools and Daktronics will host a ?Pools for the Future? seminar that focusses on sustainability and the energy efficiency of swimming pools.
Pool plan
David Davies, silver medallist in the inaugural Olympic marathon in Beijing, will confine himself to the pool for the world championships this summer in Rome. His coach at Loughborough, Kevin Renshaw, explained that Davies has spent the winter working on sprint speed, designed to help him to get out faster in the 1,500m and to finish off with a sprint over 10km. The long-term focus is, of course, London 2010. "At this stage in his preparation, he?s more tuned to the pool and to the 1,500m. We want to see how he?ll go," said Renshaw. In Beijing, the pool events preceded the open water 10km, while in Rome the open water races fall before pool action begins.
Rome 2009
The Scottish national championships in June offer a last-chance saloon for British swimmers to earn selection for the world championships in July. The meet will see second berths filled behind the winners at Britain trials back in April. It is an important moment for US-based swimmers, such as Jemma Lowe, Olympic butterfly finalist, who did not race at April trials.
Mare Nostrum Mission
All five of Britain?s Olympic medal winners in pool and lake last year will race on the Mare Nostrum Tour of Europe in readiness for the world championships in Rome in July. A large Britain team, including double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington, Jo Jackson, bronze medallist in Beijing and now 400m free world record holder, as well as the three open-water podium placers, David Davies, Kerri-Anne Payne and Cassie Patten, will race at the Canet, France, and Monte Carlo, Monaco, rounds of the tour in early June.
Palace Project
Coach Ron Philpot has been appointed as the first Head of Aquatics for the new Crystal Palace Beacon Programme in London. He will head "a programme that embraces swimming, diving and water polo and links in to other sports such as biathlon and triathlon", British Swimming announced. The project, at the listed pool that saw Shane Gould equal fellow Aussie Dawn Fraser?s 100m freestyle world record back in 1971, is expected to be up and running by September this year, with Crystal Palace part of a network of Beacon Programmes organised by England?s Amateur Swimming Association (ASA). Nick Sellwood, the ASA?s Head of Talent Development, said: ?Ron has coached swimmers to Olympic team level and brings a wealth of knowledge which will support the Crystal Palace Beacon Programme.?
Mobility in motion: Mobile swimming pools have become a centre-piece of the "fitter, leaner London" campaign of Boris Johnson, Mayor of 2012 Olympic host city London. The pools form part of Johnson?s ?A Sporting Future for London? plan, which will see more than ?30 million invested in grass-roots sport in the British capital by the time the Games roll round in 2012. The mobile pools will be targetted at schools. Just as well: despite the fact that swimming is part of the national curriculum in Britain, 13 per cent of London primary schools provide no school swimming. Latest proposals for schools would make it compulsory for all pupils to learn to float and move safely in water, to swim unaided or unsupported on their front and on their back, learn how to survive in water and a minimum distance of 25m by a certain point in the curriculum. A 12-week public consultation on the proposals will end just as the Britain team stand up to race in Rome.
(Craig Lord, The Times)
Sam sees the bigger picture
Paralympic champion Sam Hynd?s Beijing success has been immortalised by a giant picture of himself at the pool where he trains.
Sam, 17, was at the Water Meadows Swimming Complex in Mansfield for the unveiling of the picture, which is three metres high. It shows Sam receiving his gold medal on the Paralympic podium in Beijing and is being positioned on poolside.
Mansfield District Council?s executive mayor Tony Egginton said: ?As well as providing a tribute to Sam?s incredible achievements, we hope the picture will serve as an inspiration to all our other elite young swimmers.
?Sam and Rebecca Adlington will hopefully be flying the flag for Mansfield at the 2012 Games in London and it would be great if even more of our swimmers can emulate them. The picture is a reminder to us all of what can be achieved.?
It was the Mansfield council which originally spotted and nurtured Sam?s talents through its swimming development programme.
The unveiling took place a few days after Sam broke his own 400m freestyle world record at the DSE Nationwide Junior Championships in Sheffield ? see report on p32.
(Keely Downend Subscriptions and Editorial, Swimming Times)
New ventures for Maltese players
Malta is not a normal hunting ground for teams seeking to engage talented water-polo players from abroad. However, the tiny Mediterranean island can boast of two players, Steve Camilleri and Matthew Zammit, who have recently stepped on a much wider stage than that of their country.
In September, Italy?s RN Bogliasco (Serie A1) and RN Imperia (Serie A2) engaged Camilleri and Zammit. The first was contracted by the Genova club, having earlier been on the books of Partizan Belgrade, while the latter joined the Ligurian side from San Giljan ASC.
Camilleri was a hit with Bogliasco, topping his side?s scorers? list, and also establishing himself as a useful all-purpose player with sharp attacking instincts. Netting 41 goals, a rate of almost two per match, and finishing in the top ten Serie A1 scorers? list underline this.
The lad has steely qualities with an uncanny eye for goal and a potent shot. His strong swimming, intelligent movement and great resilience are other assets which make him a prized possession for his team. With Bogliasco, Camilleri?s playmaking abilities also came out, with many goals netted by his teammates resulting from his quick, accurate passes.
Zammit?s qualities differ. The player is a big left-handed centre, able to give the opposing last man a torrid time. If given even minimum space in the hole he can round the opposing shadower with relative ease and thus face goal.
He managed to fulfill his role quite efficiently for section leaders Imperia, winning numerous penalties and expulsions, besides scoring 15 goals so far, all from open play.
The Maltese young duoare keen on extending their playing stints in a prestigious league as that in Italy. In fact, it is understood that Camilleri has been offered a two-year contract with Bogliasco as from the coming season.
Meanwhile, in May both players were due back in Malta to play for their country in the European ?B? Qualifying Championships, and in the Maltese league for their teams of origin, Neptunes WPSC and San Giljan ASC respectively.
The many followers of waterpolo in Malta will certainly wish them all the luck they need.
(Alex Vella, freelance, LEN Magazine correspondent, Malta)
Mauro Maugeri: new national coach in Holland
The Italian Mauro Maugeri was appointed coach of the Dutch women?s water polo team in January, by the KNZB. Maugeri is the successor to Robin van Galen, who, last year in Beijing, won Olympic Gold with his team. Maugeri (50) signed a contract for a period of 3 years, which ends after the Olympic Games in London (2012). Maugeri has a long record as trainer in the water polo world. He was successful as a club coach of Orizzonte and was involved in the women?s national team of Italy for a long time, first as assistant coach and later as coach. He was in Beijing with the Italian team and made it to the quarter finals, when his team lost during penalties against... The Netherlands. (Photo Wim Hollemans)
(Marielle Disselhoff, Royal Dutch Swimming Federation)
Flyers gather in Italy
Peter Mankoc with coach Dimitrij Mancevic went to Ispra in Italy to join the group Andrea di Nino: Randall Ball, Milorad Cavic, Kim Vandenberg, Fernando Silva, Fabiola Molina, Diogo Yabe, Luisa Los Santos.
The group of Cavic, Mankoc, Korotishkin, Silva could become the highest level group of butterfly swimmers in Europe. The World Championships in Rome will prove if these predictions will become true and real.
Slovenian swimmers studying at different universities in the USA, are very successful on NCAA. Sara Isakovic and Damir Dugonjic become first swimmers from Slovenia to win and triumph in NCAA championships.
(Jolanda Bertole, LEN Magazine correspondent, TV Slovenija)
