More training camps for VDH

The World Championships will be held from July 17th through 31st in Montreal after FINA had withdrawn earlier. Montreal lost the organization of the event due to major financial deficits. Yvon DesRochers, chairman of the organizational committee, committed suicide shortly after. FINA decided to give the organization back to Montreal after all.

Pieter Van den Hoogenband’s coach, Jacco Verhaeren, is again amazed at FINA’s decision. "I didn’t expect this outcome, but now all prior investments are at least not wasted. Although it’s an eternal shame that this cost someone’s life. It’s not good for the sport itself either. It leaves quite an amateuristic impression."

Verhaeren, who just returned with his team from a training camp in Epinal, France, sees only advantages now he can continue with his original planning. After the WC trials in March and April, he will leave with his team on training camp again in May and June; on Cyprus and in Vittel (France). The last four weeks before the World Championships, his swimmers will join the national team in Canada. The Dutch Swimming Association prefers to set up a training camp in these four weeks at the University of Halifax, but this is not definite yet.


Source: Jos van Kuijeren for Zwemkroniek