BRISBANE, Australia, September 2. AFTER coming up just short of her desired outcome at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Jessicah Schipper has elected to cut ties with long-time personal coach Ken Wood according to the Australian Broadcasting Company.
Schipper won a pair of bronze medals in the 100 and 200 fly events at the 2008 Beijing Games, and also earned gold as part of the 400 medley relay along with Emily Seebohm, Leisel Jones and Libby Trickett.
However, controversy has surrounded Schipper and Wood since the Games as word came out that Wood sold her training program to the Chinese. A move that most likely was a big help in Liu Zige's upset triumph over Schipper in the 200 fly.
"I was aware of that fact since the moment he started doing it – we don't have any secrets," Schipper said to the Australian Broadcasting Company. "Being a 10-year relationship we're both pretty open with each other and I was aware that obviously he was selling sessions and that 'Lucy' [Liu Zige] did come to train with me for a couple of weeks a couple of years ago."
Full text of Australian Broadcasting Company article.