Olympic open water champion Sharon van Rouwendaal<\/strong> is moving her base to Magdeburg, Germany, where she will train alongside world champion Florian Wellbrock<\/strong> under German national coach Bernd Berkhahn<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It brings to an end a seven-year association with Philippe Lucas<\/strong> at Montpellier, France, during which time she won eight European and five world medals – in both pool and open water – and the 10km title at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.<\/p>\n

Also making a change is 2018 European relay silver medallist Nyls Korstanje<\/strong> who has returned to the Netherlands from North Carolina State University because of the ongoing uncertainties in the wake of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

Van Rouwendaal’s collaboration with Lucas has come to an end and on 17 August she will start training under Berkhahn, who numbers Wellbrock – who won the 10km open water and 1500 free at the 2019 World Championships – among his charges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Photo Courtesy: Eric Seals-USA TODAY Sports<\/p><\/div>\n
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The switch, which comes a little under a year out from the rescheduled Olympics in Tokyo for which she has already qualified, has been something Van Rouwendaal has been considering for some time.<\/p>\n
In a statement released by the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation<\/strong> (KNZB<\/strong>), she said:<\/p>\n
“Over the past year, I began to have too many doubts and doubts about the collaboration with Philippe. I became Olympic champion under his leadership and I am very grateful to him, but I am ready for a change and something new.<\/p>\n
“Last season I participated a number of training courses with the group of Bernd Berkhahn, who is also the German national coach, and that went very well.<\/p>\n
“I have now made the decision and am very happy that I can start working in Bernd’s team. I can now prepare myself without worries and with full conviction for the successful Games in Tokyo next year.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
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Director of Top Sport Andre Cats<\/strong> added:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coaches of the KNZB (Thijs Hagelstein<\/strong> and Marcel Wouda<\/strong>) have had intensive contact with Sharon in the last period and fully support her choice to go to Bernd Berkhahn’s German success program.<\/p>\n
“The KNZB helps Sharon make training courses at altitude which are an important part of the training program.<\/p>\n
“During the tournaments and matches, Sharon is supported by the Dutch coaching team. In that sense, little will change for Sharon and our coaches will build up an excellent collaboration with Sharon’s new coach.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Van Rouwendaal also posted on social media, saying:<\/p>\n
“After 7 years of working together with my coach Philippe Lucas I’ve decided I wanted a change of program. I want to learn new things. It has been a really hard decision because we worked so well together. I’m so thankful for the years I’ve had with Philippe and without him I wouldn’t be the swimmer I am today.
\n\u2022
\n“Philippe, thank you for all the times you made me cry, smile and laugh. You gave me confidence by believing in me. You saw something that other people didn’t.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u2022 Olympic Games ?
\n\u2022\u2022 World Championships ???????
\n\u2022\u2022European Championships ??????????
\n\u2022
\n? Made by Philippe Lucas?<\/p>\n
“That being said, I’m happy to announce that I’m going to start working with Bernd Berkhahn in Magdeburg. I’ve did some of his training sessions last season, they are different but still very hard. I’m excited for this new adventure and challenge! ?”<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old also posted video of the moment she saw Lucas for the first time following her gold medal swim in Rio.<\/p>\n
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A post shared by Sharon van Rouwendaal (@svrouwendaal)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n