Cesar Cielo’s coach Alberto Silva advises Brazil to buy appropriate starting blocks – Swimming News
Alberto Silva, Brazilian coach to 50m freestyle Olympic champion, Cesar Cielo, has advised the Brazil Olympic Committee to buy the appropriate starting blocks that could assist the champion Cielo, in defending his title at the 2011 World Championships in
Shanghai, this July.
Currently, the Brazilian Aquatics Centre has no Omega diving blocks of the type, which will be used at the stage of 2011 World Championships in China. Silva pointed towards the absence of starting blocks as an act of foolishness. He said that these blocks
should have been installed by the time it was publicised that Shanghai, is going to use these ramps.
Silva said that in the present world of competitive swimming, swimmers conquer the title from one another by gaining such slight edges. He stressed that a sluggish turn or a weak-stroke can hamper the efforts of a swimmer trying to gain a title. Similarly,
a competitive swimmer familiar with the Shanghai diving blocks can jeopardise Cielo’s world title defending effort.
Cielo was the gold medallist for the 50m freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He also won a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle at the event. Cielo’s enhanced performance was witnessed in the latter event, at the 2009 Rome World Long Course Championships,
where the Brazilian pocketed gold medals for the 50m and 100m freestyle.
In addition, he defended the titles of his events with great audacity at the 14th FINA Short Course World Championships in Dubai, during December 2010. The 24-year-old Brazilian has remained undisputed in the 50m freestyle event, since 2007.
Alberto said that our National Aquatic Centre does not have those kinds of starting blocks, which will be used in Shanghai, this July. He said that Cielo has been practising over the similar kind of starting blocks, but stressed that there is always a difference
between similar and exact.
While talking to the Brazilian media, Silva, said, “Its one thing to have a block that's similar … and the one that will actually be used.”
He said that Cielo should have been practising on the actual starting blocks, as now there is very little time left for the main event. Brazilian swimmers have been using a sample of starting blocks at the Maria Lenk Trophy, but the coach explained that
actual diving blocks have a different pitch.
Alberto, said, “The angle of the ramp (track-start platform at the back of the block) is different. It seems like foolishness, but we are talking about the world record holder … we would like to use the block that will be used at the worlds and the Olympics."
Silva also said that non-familiarity with the starting blocks could have an adverse effect on Cielo’s standings at the World Championships, whereas, the champion swimmer is hopeful about his performance at the Shanghai Championship in July.
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