Swimming is a lifetime skill: Shoulberg

March 04, 2015 07:26 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 05:15 pm IST - MUMBAI:

Richard Shoulberg with young swimmers at the GAF project 'Week with the legend' launched at the Rajiv Gandhi District Sports Complex pool, Dharavi. Photo: Special Arrangement

Richard Shoulberg with young swimmers at the GAF project 'Week with the legend' launched at the Rajiv Gandhi District Sports Complex pool, Dharavi. Photo: Special Arrangement

Richard Shoulberg, two-time United States swimming coach at the Olympic Games, terms swimming as a lifetime skill, necessary to save lives.

“I am currently working with the American Red Cross to equip volunteers save people dying from drowning. The sport is also the best activity for all-round fitness. People are advised to walk in the pool after knee surgery, no other physical exercise is permitted medically. I call swimming a sport which can saves lives, the skill learnt can last you a lifetime.”

Swimming as a competitive sport is what the American is passionate about. He is in India as a noted faculty from the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA), to train Indian coaches and swimmers for a programme named ‘Week with the legend’ launched by the Glenmark Aquatic Foundation (GAF) and conducted across the nation in association with the Swimming Federation of India.

The American, based at Germantown Academy Aquatic Club in Pennsylvania, has trained 12 Olympic swimmers, besides numerous national champions.

Shoulberg launched the GAF on Wednesday with a session at the Rajiv Gandhi District sports complex involving 46 young coaches from different states. National swimmers in the U-18 group, shortlisted by the SFI, will benefit next from his programmes. He will be followed by other coaches from ACSA.

GAF’s link with Shoulberg and other American coaches will involve coaches education, high performance swimming academies set up in different states, sponsorship (federation activities) and excellence inventives, according to Anand Desai, president of GAF.

“India can have swimmers on the podium, with exposure and hard work. Excelling in the sport is not restricted to any country nor restricted by physical structure,” said the American.

Shoulberg used a smartphone and a tablet device during the training session with the coaches and swimmers. “Videotaping sessions to give quick feedback is important and coaches should become familiar with using the latest devices and techniques,” he said.

The American will be assisted at GAF by Bushan Kumar, Age Group Head Coach, who has learnt coaching in the US, besides Germantown Academy. The former interacted with kids and their parents at the pool, following a presentation to coaches from across the nation.

SFI secretary Kamlesh Nanavati, present for Shoulberg’s session with coaches, admitted to being startled by the equipment used by the American during a presentation on swimming strokes.

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