The 18-year-old swimmer has had one-month training at the Bolles sports center in Florida, USA. The goal of Vietnam’s leading swimmer is attaining standard A of Olympics at competitions in the Olympic qualifier round in this country.

 

During the 6-month training course in the USA, Phuoc and his coach, Nguyen Tan Quang, aim to adjust themselves to the new training conditions and increase Phuoc’s record in order to reach standard A of Olympics. Phuoc will participate in several events in the USA in the upcoming months.

  

After the first month, Phuoc and other Vietnamese swimmers have familiarized themselves with the new lessons of Coach Sergio Lopez, who trained Singaporean talent I. Schooling.

 

They took part in internal competitions, held at the Bolles sports centre. Phuoc came first for men’s 100-yard butterfly, with 49.07 seconds, similar to his records at the Southeast Asian Games 2011. At SEA Games 2011, Phuoc finished men’s 100m butterfly for 53.07 seconds, far exceeding B standard of Olympics. However, this result is not enough to ensure an official ticket to the Olympics 2012 for the newly-emerging swimming star of Vietnam.

 

According to the International Aquatic Sports Federation (FINA), only swimmers who attain A standards will get official tickets to the Olympics. After these swimmers are named, swimmers who reach B standards, with the best records, will be considered.

 

To reach A standard, Phuoc will have to shorten the time by 0.71 seconds. The A standard 2012 for men’s 100m butterfly is 52.36 seconds.

 

Coach Nguyen Tan Quang said that thanks to his youth, Phuoc has quickly adapted himself to the new conditions and new exercises, which are different from the exercises that he practiced in the last two years in Nanning, China.

 

Quang said US experts are improving Phuoc’s technique, something that he did not have during previous training courses in China.

 

The coach said he is also trying to mix the training styles of China and the US together, in order for Phuoc to have the perfect development.

 

In the latest news, Phuoc won the gold medal at the first tournament he joined in the USA on February 12.

 

At the club-level BSS TYR February Meet tournament, Phuoc grabbed the gold medal for 100-yard butterfly at 49.7 seconds, and a silver for 200-yard freestyle at 57.06 seconds, after beating nearly 60 rivals in each category.

 

Phuoc won two gold medals at the 26th SEA Games in November 2011, in Indonesia, where he set a new SEA Games record in the men’s 100m butterfly event, with a result of 53:07 seconds. The previous record was held by Malaysian Daniel Bego in the 2009 SEA Games, at 53:82.

 

“I also hope this first success will motivate Phuoc to be confident in his journey to win a ticket to London this summer,” Quang said.

 

(Vietnamnet)