Swimming: Lopez may take over

SINGAPORE — Retired Spanish swimming star Sergio Lopez, a bronze medallist at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, has emerged as a frontrunner to succeed Singapore’s national head coach and technical director, Ian Turner.

The Briton resigned earlier this month because of health issues, and TODAY has learnt the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) is interested in the 45-year-old Spaniard, who coached the Republic’s top swimmer, Joseph Schooling, at the Bolles School, from which Schooling recently graduated.

It is believed the SSA could approach Lopez about the job when Turner steps down after the July 23 to Aug 3 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Lopez, who is currently with the Singapore national swim team at Britain’s Surrey Sports Park to prepare for the Games, declined to comment if the SSA has spoken to him about the job.

“I want to respect Ian (Turner) because he is still in charge now and he is a good friend of mine, and it is not fair to be talking (about me) at this time,” said Lopez.

The SSA has declined to comment on the matter, saying that the search for Turner’s successor is still ongoing and that nothing has been finalised.

However, a source said Lopez, with his strong links to Singapore’s swimming set-up, would be a strong candidate should the SSA opt for a foreign coach.

The Spaniard has been involved with Singapore’s national swim team at several major meets, including the 2011 and 2013 SEA Games, and 2012 London Olympics, mainly travelling with the team in his capacity as Schooling’s coach.

Lopez has trained Schooling, 19, at the Bolles School in Florida for the past four years.

Schooling, who won six gold medals at last year’s SEA Games and is regarded as one of the best butterfly specialists at under-18 level in the United States, will join the University of Texas in Austin next month, where he will train under US Olympic swim team coach Eddie Reese.

“Sergio is well-liked by the swimmers, the local coaches respect his work, and he is the coach of Singapore’s top swimmer (Schooling). So for these reasons, he is a natural choice for consideration to helm the Singapore swimming team,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“He will have no problems adapting to the local culture and local swimming fraternity.”

Lopez also trained the likes of 2011 World Junior Championships 200m backstroke bronze medallist Ryan Murphy and women’s 200m individual medley world record holder Ariana Kukors. He also coached the US junior national team at the 2011 Junior World Championships in Peru, as well as the senior national sides of Curacao, Israel and Mexico.

The SSA has met coaches from club affiliates to seek their feedback on Turner’s successor, and whether a centralised or de-centralised training system should be adopted.

During his tenure, Turner, 63, introduced a centralised training programme after the Centre of Excellence programme ended in 2008. Singapore’s national swimmers typically train at their respective clubs.

Said the source: “We are looking for the best way forward in terms of coaching. It will take some time, but we have a few names up for considerations.”