KUALA LUMPUR: The Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) have confirmed that they have succeeded in bringing in Poland’s flag-bearer at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Bartlomiej Kizierowski to replace former national swimming coach, Paul Birmingham who resigned last year.
According to ASUM honorary secretary, Mae Chen, they are also awaiting for the green light to bring in another coach in the form of American Chris Martin.
"Yes, we are actually holding interview sessions via Skype with two coaches, and one of them is Bartlomiej, while the other is Chris Martin,” she said after ASUM’s working committee meeting with the National Sports Council (NSC).
However, Mae Chen claims that Martin’s presence here in Malaysia must get the green light from NSC first of all as it involves budget allocation.
"Martin will not just be a coach once he comes here, he will also look after grassroots development in all the states. He will make sure that each and every state has a similar programme as that of the national squad.
"This is the new direction for the sport of swimming in the country (after these two coaches have been engaged) and if we do not give it a try, we will never know the prospective results and outcome will be like,” she said.
Mae Chen also believes that the changes that are about to take place are something positive for the national swimming squad after more than 10 years under Australian Birmingham.
Kizierowski, who is an expert in the backstroke discipline, won gold at the 2006 European Championships that were held in Budapest, Hungry.
Prior to this, ASUM are said to have received 26 applications to fill the position of national squad head coach that was left vacant by Birmingham’s departure.