Coach predicts big year for Bovell

SWIMMING coach Anil Roberts is predicting an outstanding Olympic year for George Bovell III. Roberts made the optimistic forecast shortly after arriving back home in Trinidad and Tobago after midnight Sunday from Rio de Janiero, Brazil. He was obviously overjoyed with the performance of Bovell at the weekend when the lanky swimmer splashed to two gold medals and a silver at the FINA World Cup. On Saturday Bovell, who attends Auburn University in the United States, grabbed gold in the 100 metres Individual Medley event and was runner-up for silver in the 100 metres freestyle.

And on Sunday, the 20-year-old swam to victory in the 200 metres Individual Medley in a new national record of one minute 57.57 seconds. “Bovell is getting better every day. He is on the improve and getting faster. This should be an outstanding year for him,” said Roberts yesterday. He said except for the absence of Australian Michael Phelps, the top 16 swimmers in the world were present in Rio de Janiero and Bovell got the chance to prove himself in the face to world class competition. And he predicted that the Arima ace may still get the chance to go head to head with the world champion later in the year at two meetings in the US — at the Santa Clara Invitational and the Charlotte Ultra Swim. Roberts however cautioned that it would be unrealistic to entertain any thoughts of Bovell defeating Phelps in the near future as the TT swimmer is at a distinctive disadvantage. “The American last year broke the world record by three seconds. Quite apart from his ability he is not attending school, has no major responsibility other than swimming and has the support of a major sponsorship and staff,” said Roberts.

The Piranha Aquatics coach however held out the promise that within the next three years if Bovell continues on the present course he will be able to successfully challenge Phelps who broke his first world record when he was 15 years old. Roberts said that at the upcoming Olympic Games in Athens, Bovell stood a good chance of upsetting the apple cart because Phelps, the biggest name in world swimming will be concentrating on eclipsing the record of Mark Spitz who won seven gold medals in Munich (1972). “This would mean that Phelps would have to swim something like 21 races in eight days which is a very demanding schedule even if he skips some of the relay heats. In this potential scenario Bovell can well return home with a gold medal in the IM,” said Roberts.

Bovell, who is studying business and economics at Auburn University is back in the US and will be concentrating on preparation for the NCCA Championships in May and the Olympics in August. He however will be back home to fine tune his readiness for Athens. Roberts said Bovell was overjoyed with his medal haul in Brazil and had accepted the latest success with his trademark humility and reserve. “He didn’t believe that he could swim so quickly after a tiring journey from the US. I met him at the Rio airport and told him what he needs to do and the times he will have to achieve to do well in the World Cup. And he met those standards,” said Roberts. “He is better all round. His speed has improved as is his technique. He turns better also. His hard work and training is definitely paying off,” said Roberts.