Great Britain Hunting for Top Coaches

SYDNEY, Australia, June 14. A story today in The Australian by highly acclaimed swimming journalist Nicole Jeffery discussed Great Britain's desire to lure some big-name sprint coaches to prepare the country for the 2012 Olympic Games, which will be held in London. According to the piece by Jeffery, Britain has contacted Australia's Stephan Widmer and Shannon Rollason.

Widmer, of course, molded Libby Lenton to stardom while Rollason guided Jodie Henry, the reigning Olympic champion in the 100 freestyle. The article also indicated that Great Britain has also taken a look at Gennadi Touretski, the man who oversaw Alex Popov, and the United States' Mike Bottom, he of major sprint success with the likes of Gary Hall Jr. and Anthony Ervin.

Widmer and Rollason, according to the report, had brief meetings with British representatives while attending the Mare Nostrum Series in Europe. The three-meet competition has already stopped in Canet, France and Barcelona and will finish up in Monaco. No formal offers were made, but the story also said the British are willing to pay between $375,000 and $500,000 per year for a top-flight coach. With British National Performance Director Bill Sweetenham set to resign after the Beijing Olympics, Great Britain is also in search of a head coach.

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