Sports

Stephanie Rice to start academy in India

SPORTS REPORTER

MUMBAI: Australian swimming legend Stephanie Rice--the triple Olympic gold medallist and five-time World Record holder--will be setting up her own academy in India with an aim to help the country’s swimmers win medals at the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games.

Rice won three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, all in world record time.

“There are very talented swimmers in India. I believe that all that is standing between them and a medal at the Olympics is world class training. As a swimmer, I appreciate the immense contribution of good coaching to my own performances, and want to make available the fruits of my own experience, knowledge and training, to others,” said Rice after announcing her plans to start her academy in India in association with her coach Michael Bohl.

Competing in the 2012 London Olympics after undergoing three shoulder surgeries, Rice finished fourth in 200m individual medley and a joint sixth in 400m medley. She announced her retirement in 2014.

India has swimming culture but lacks in infrastructure and professionally-managed coaching programmes, Rice said. “The most successful (swimmers from India) have gone to train in the USA, or Thailand, or Australia, because that’s where the great coaching programmes are and that is where I feel India lacks--in high performance coaches,” Rice said.

Swimming offers the best chance to win gold medals at the Olympics alongside athletics, she pointed out.

“There is talent everywhere and it has to be nurtured properly. I think there is definitely talent here (in India) and you have to nurture and train it properly,” Rice said, adding she has been keenly following the sport in India.

“I have always seen what is going on in Indian swimming and I am quite close actually with the top swimmers and understanding what they have been doing. I think there is a great potential right now (among the swimmers). I hope to coach some of the people who are doing well and also groom a lot of upcoming swimmers,” she added.

She was asked if she wished to see Indian swimmers on the Olympic podium. “The 2024-2028 (Olympics) that’s the goal and (to see) ideally more than one person (on the podium). I would love to have Indian swimming relay team in the final and getting close to podium,” said Rice

STEPHANIE RICE’S INDIA CONNECTION
- Stephanie has a special relationship with India as she received a huge amount of support during her swimming career from Indian fans and media. 
- “The plan is to have Stephanie Rice Swimming Academy (SRSA) set out of any city that has a facility that covers the needs of the academy and is also equally excited about the possibility of producing an Olympic Medallist. I will be working personally with the athlete for 3-4 months which will spread out over the whole year. Some years may be more and others slightly less. I want all the athletes in my academy to know me personally and to be able to confide in me. That trust is only built over time so I will be with them as often as I can.”
- The academy will focus primary energy on elite swimmers, who are 13+ years of age and who are already training at a club and who are potentially on the National Team.

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