Shannon Rollason Resigns As Head Coach Of Danish National Training Center
Photo Credit: Giorgio Scala
PHOENIX, Arizona, September 18. SHANNON Rollason has informed the Danish Swimming Federation that he resigns as head coach of the National Training Center in Bellahoej, to leave his position after the World Cup Short Course Championships in December. The Australian coach has been head coach of the NTC in Bellahoej since 1 March 2013. The contract is not expiring until after the Olympic Games in 2016, but family reasons made Shannon Rollason cancel his contract and leave the Danish Swimming Federation ahead of time, to travel back to Australia.
Director of the Danish Swimming Federation, Pia Holmen, is distressed by the decision but understands that family well-being must take precedence over everything else – even if it means that the Danish Swimming Federation is now facing a huge challenge. Pia Holmen says in this regard:
“We have to admit that Shannon’s dismissal was certainly not part of the plan leading up to Rio 2016 At the same time we must respect the fact, that private interests can affect the professional life, and it has unfortunately been the case here. We have now started finding solutions so that we also now onwards have an optimal set-up around the swimmers at the National Training Center NTC,” says the Danish Swimming Union director.
Danish Swimming Federation, Team Denmark, sees in Shannon Rollason an international elite coach who has led NTC’s swimmers on track for future international primary objectives. But the resignation does not mean that the organization is worried about Danish elite swimming.
“Of course it is very unfortunate that Shannon has decided to terminate his contract, but it does not change the fact that Danish swimming is really strong ahead of the World Cup 2015 in Kazan and not least the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. I am sure that the Danish Swimming Federation will find solutions so that the Danish world-class swimmers will also be medal candidates in future international championships,” says director of Team Denmark, Michael Andersen.
In addition to the head coach, an assistant coach is also associated with the NTC – a position that today are handled by coach Stefan Hansen.
Report contributed by Rokur Jakupsstovu.