Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr
BELCONNEN – Less than 24 hours after world champion swimmer James Magnussen made public his intentions to train with two coaches previously untested at the elite level, Swimming Australia has come out with a statement condemning the decision.
“Swimming Australia has announced today that it does not endorse James Magnussen’s move to his new training program at Ravenswood School in Sydney, but will allocate the necessary funds to assist the swimmer’s requirements for professional services.”
Magnussen left coach Brant Best this summer after a four-year collaboration that included two world championship titles in the 100 free and Olympic silver in that event. Magnussen expressed his interests in working with Ravenswood coach Mitch Flavey and his brother Lach to Swimming Australia, and the federation has appeared to given its star sprinter the flexibility to make his own choices while still publicly stating that he has made a wrong one.
“We do not support the training environment James has chosen going forward and there are a range of factors that have led us to that decision and we are not about to go into them,” Swimming Australia said in its statement.
“But in saying that we have nothing against the young coaches Mitch and Lach Falvey – at the end of the day we respect James’ right to make his own decision – although we haven’t got to agree with it.”
Jacco Verhaeren, the national head coach, said the following in Swimming Australia’s press release:
“I sat with James and we talked through all of the options available to him in Australia, where he could train in the lead up to next year’s World Championships and onwards to the 2016 Rio Olympics,” said Verhaeren.
“After our meeting I left it with James to go away and think about his future and make a final decision, letting him know my door was always open for future discussion.
“It is not for Swimming Australia to push athletes into specific programs. I see our role to advise athletes about opportunities and possibilities throughout Australia.
“But ultimately it is up to the athlete to make the final decision.”