Bad vibes from Down Under?

Aussies may not let two coaches work with Chinese swimmers

Have two Australian swimming coaches helped the Chinese national team too much for their own good?

National coach Xu Qi denied rumors that Swimming Australia is working to ban Denis Cotterell and Ken Wood from coaching Chinese swimmers.

"We never heard about that, neither from Swimming Australia nor Denis himself," Xu told China Daily after attending the team's Olympic commendation event held by Acer in Huangshan, Anhui province on Tuesday.

"Actually, there isn't a direct affiliation between Swimming Australia and Denis because he belongs to his club (Miami Swimming Club in Queensland). So it shouldn't be eligible to prohibit the coach from working with foreign athletes - his national duties ended following the Olympics. We worked with the club, signed a contract with it and sent our swimmers out there. It shouldn't be the concern of the Aussies' governing body.

"We've contacted (Cotterell). He's surprised and has absolutely no idea where the news came from."

Chinese swimming, which bagged five gold medals at the London Olympics, seems to be surpassing Australia on the world's swimming stage.

Xu and other officials from the Chinese Swimming Association (CSA) found themselves the subjects of intense media focus at the Huangshan event after the possible ban was reported last weekend.

A QQ.com report on Saturday said Sun Yang, who won gold medals in the 400m and 1,500m freestyle in London, confirmed the potential split with Cotterell during an interview at the National Championships.

"Yes, that is what happened," Sun was quoted as saying by the website.

The report also indicated Swimming Australia's decision was a result of the nation's lackluster one-gold performance in London - its worst since 1992 - and the fact all three Chinese gold medalists - Sun, Ye Shiwen and Jiao Liuyang - trained in Australia.

Sun and his coach, Zhu Zhigen, were unavailable for interviews thanks to a heavy training schedule.

Sun began working under Cotterell's guidance at the club in early 2010, improving his stroke on the way to shattering the 1,500 free world record at the Shanghai Worlds in July 2011.

Hao Yun might also be affected.

"I might not be able to practice with Denis," he said.

However, the 17-year-old bronze medalist in the men's 4x200 free relay went on his micro-blog to say his comment was misinterpreted.

"I told them with a tone of uncertainty that I heard it but that I am not sure. It's not that I told them it was a fact," said Hao, who trained with Sun in Australia.

Xu stressed the CSA has been keeping in close contact with Swimming Australia and said the collaboration between the two sides will be strengthened.

"The cooperation has proven to be a boost for Chinese swimming's rise and we will discuss how to move forward," Xu said.

Xu said a group of elite swimmers and support crew will return to Australia for training at the end of the year, and a three-nation meet featuring China, Australia and Brazil will be held in Melbourne in January.

China has been invited to send a team of 40.

London double individual-medley winner Ye was also a product of the program, having worked with Wood before the Games.

But coach Xu Guoyi said Ye won't join the Aussies' camp this time around as she focuses on improving her aerobic capacity in altitude training camp in Yunnan province.

"Yes, she won't go back to Australia very soon, but it's not because of the reported break-up with the Aussies," Xu told China Daily.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/26/2012 page24)