Swimming: Swimmers strapped for cash

DUNEDIN - The financial demands on New Zealand's leading swimmers is starting to hit home.

For two Otago swimmers who have qualified for the Sydney Olympics, Jonathan Duncan and Liz Van Welie, the situation is serious.

The Dunedin pair and their coach, Duncan Laing, hope the Otago community, especially business people, can chip in and help cover costs.

They need cash to attend high altitude training in the United States later this month.

New Zealand Swimming cannot afford to pay the $11,000 per person bill. The swimmers and Laing are expected to pay their own way.

For Van Welie, there is no way of getting there unless outside support is forthcoming.

Asked how she would attend if funds could not be raised through community support, she replied: "I probably couldn't go.

"I have no money. Getting a loan just isn't an option. I just couldn't go."

Like all Olympians, Duncan and Van Welie received $3000 from the Sports Foundation. Each also received a $1500 Skeggs grant.

"That will help," 18-year-old Duncan said.

"But the rest will have to come out of our pockets."

Laing cannot afford to pay for the trip either. He paid his own way to Europe in February to coach his charges, a trip which cost him more than $6000.

Laing will also have to pay his own fare to and from Sydney for the Olympics, plus find his own accommodation.

New Zealand swimming coach Brett Naylor, who is in Dunedin working with the national squad this week, said the training camp at high altitude was vital.

"We've done it since 1989 and even though everyone responds differently we believe it is very beneficial," he said.

"Apart from the physical benefits it makes people incredibly tough mentally, and you also benefit from getting away as a team in a camp situation.

"It's not just a short-term thing either, the long-term benefits are there.

"The more they do it, the better off they'll be and we have to look at Jonathan and Liz, for instance, as long-term prospects."

Naylor said New Zealand Swimming had applied for additional funding through the Sports Foundation, "but at this stage there's nothing coming.

"We won't know until August whether or not that application will be successful," he said.

The training camp begins on July 27.

- NZPA

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