Thanyapura and FINA prepare future Olympic swimmers
The Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort and world swimming governing body FINA are continuing their cooperation in awarding scholarships to aspiring Olympians in training for the 17th FINA World Championships Budapest in 2017 and the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.
With 36 young athletes awarded FINA scholarships this year, the Thailand-based program is currently hosting four athletes: Cherantha da Silva, Sri Lanka; Mohammad Mahfizur Rahman, Bangladesh; Sajan Prakash, India and Ayman Klzie, Syria.
Offering financial and technical assistance to elite athletes selected by their national Federation, the FINA Scholarship Program launched in 2014.
In 2015, FINA expanded the program to Thailand with Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort welcoming the first athletes in Phuket during the ‘Targeting Rio 2016’ initiative, which coached eight swimmers for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio.
Of these athletes, Indian Prakash qualified for OST/B (Olympic Standard Time) for the 200-metre butterfly.
The program sees each nation send their athletes to eat, sleep, swim and repeat at the high-level sporting complex, making of its world-class fitness facilities.
The scholarship includes first-class coaching from Miguel Angel Lopez Alvarado, Thanyapura’s Head Swimming Coach, who propelled his students to record breaking success during his two-decade long career.
Philipp Graf von Hardenberg, President and Chief Executive of Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort, explained “we are committed to building the next generation of Olympians.
“Our partnership with FINA continues to solidify our standing as one of the top Aquatics training destinations in the world.”
FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione added “now in its fourth year, FINA granted over 50 scholarships from 2014 to 2017 and helped athletes in reaching the top levels of swimming.
“We are developing the sport throughout the globe while hoping to lead young athletes to build their legacies in more than 100 countries.”
Thanyapura’s aquatic facilities include a 50 metre Olympic competition pool, a 25 metre training pool, Omega Track start blocks, a Daktronics timing system and scoreboard, ozone filtration and sports science services.
The property expects additional swimmers to arrive throughout the year.
Images: Thanyapura’s 50 metre Olympic competition pool (top) and Head Swimming Coach Miguel Angel Lopez Alvarado (below).
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