|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nick J. Thierry, Editor / Publisher
We're back with our first 1997 issue. Welcome to
SWIMNEWS!
After a very successful 1996, this is our first
issue in colour with expanded coverage.
After 22 years, we are changing our name and our cover design to reflect
our greater international readership. We will continue to focus on Canadian
swimming as always but will expand our international coverage.
Featured in this issue is the first of a series
of interviews with Dave Johnson, Swimming/Natation Canada's Coach of High
Performance Services. This month's topic is National Centres.
Cecil Colwin
travelled to Sainte-Foy, Quebec, site of the Canadian Open and interviewed
South Africa's Penny Heyns on her career, influences, and technique. Colwin
feels this to be one of the very best interviews with an athlete he's ever
done.
Cecil also gives details on the appointment of
Jan Bidrman, Heyn's coach at the University of Nebraska, as National Centre
Coach in Calgary.
Our British correspondent, Anita Lonsbrough,
covered the European Sprint Championships and the British Short Course Championships.
We also have reports from the US Open and the Australian
Short Course Championships.
Karin Helmstaedt
comments on the latest IOC follies and shares some pointed suggestions from
a writer in the Paris-based L'Equipe Magazine on the IOC and the Olympics.
We received permission to re-print a pointed column
by Toronto Sun sports writer Steve Buffery suggesting its time for Canadian
IOC Vice-President Richard Pound to go to bat for the Canadian women swimmers
who were cheated out of their gold medals at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
We're adding some statistical coverage to every
issue: world rankings, Canadian University best times, and an expanded records
and calendar section.
With this issue we are adding two new contributors
Paul Quinlan and George Block.
Paul Quinlan
has been absorbed in the sport he loves for over forty years, first as a
teacher, then as an on-deck coach, and later as a coach administrator/educator.
As a physical education teacher he was employed
by the Victorian and Queensland Departments of Education. In 1970 he was
appointed Head Coach of an Australian team that competed successfully in
South Africa. Later he became involved in the certification and accreditation
of coaches, and has conducted FINA/Olympic Solidarity coaching courses in
a number of overseas countries and Australia. He has also been a guest speaker
at the Australian and American Swimming Coaches Conventions on a number
of occasions.
Paul was an originator of the professional associations
for swimming teachers and coaches at provincial and national levels in Australia,
and of the World Swimming Coaches Association, of which he was a founding
Vice-president. After ten years as National Coaching Director for Australian
Swimming and Executive Director of the Australian Coaches organisation,
Paul was invited to join the Australian Institute of Sport as Swim Team
Manager.
Following a successful tenure in that position
he has retired from the AIS to follow his interest in the International
Swimming Statisticians Association.
He has his own Internet site at http://www.netathlete.com, where
you can find Australian Rankings, his innovative computer coaching programs,
and sports science information.
SWIMNEWS appointed Paul as a correspondent and
representative in December 1996; he will write in-depth reports from Australia
and the Oceania region. He will be ideally placed for the World Championships
in Perth, Western Australia in 1998 and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
George E. Block,
head coach of the Alamo Area Aquatic Association, joins SWIMNEWS and will
be covering the competitive side of swimming in the United States.
George has a B.A. (English) from the University
of Notre Dame. He was swimming team captain while at Notre Dame, and competed
at the international level in Modern Pentathlon during 1973-76.
George has been coaching the Alamo Area Aquatic
Association in San Antonio, Texas since 1978. He was a U.S. National Team
Coach from 1989 to 1995.
Some of the better-known swimmers coached by George
are Bruce Hayes, famous for anchoring the 4x200 free relay for the USA at
the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Hayes dove in ahead of Michael Gross, GER,
who caught up and passed Hayes in the first 50. On the last length, Gross
still had a two-foot lead, but Hayes gradually moved up and at the finish
they touched even. Eventually the scoreboard indicated a first for the USA..
Current world-ranked swimmers are Megan Ryther
and Matt Hooper. George Block was Nicaragua's national coach at the 1993
CCANs, 1994 Rome World Championships, and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, as
he is personal coach of that country's top swimmer, Walter Soza.
Block is currently President of the American Swimming
Coaches Association (ASCA) and has been a board member since 1991.
Since the fall is the period when Canadian readers
renew their subscriptions we can report a 10% increase from the over 100
swim clubs that buy in bulk at a substantial discount.
Our August 1996 issue covering the Olympics was considered our best ever.
We still have several extra copies. If you're a new subscriber and would
like to receive a complimentary copy of this souvenir issue, drop us a line
with your name and address, and we'll be pleased to send you your own copy.
Next month we'll report on the FINA World Cup Series, which got underway
in early January.
Karin Helmstaed will be at every competition of the eight-meet series. She
is in charge of media liaison for all the competitions.