Van den Hoogenband’s coach pleabargains for independent swimming teams

"The Royal Dutch Swimming Association (KNZB) should not focus on top sports in the future, but has to focus solely on talent scouting. The Association should leave the development and coaching of young talents to professional swimming teams", says Van den Hoogenband's life long coach Jacco Verhaeren.

Jacco Verhaeren thinks a lot of Dutch talents are missed. "A swim nation like the Netherlands should not depend on just two swimmers, Pieter van den Hoogenband and Inge de Bruijn, to win medals. Potentially The Netherlands could have swimmers in the finals of each Olympic event and win twenty medals. After Australia, swimming is the most popular sport in The Netherlands. Talent scouting leaves much to be desired, however." Verhaeren believes this is a task set out for the Swimming Association. "If investments are made now, it means a lot of potential for the Olympics of 2012 and 2016", he concludes.


Source: De Telegraaf


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