Foreign experts train Phl athletes

MANILA, Philippines - The American speed coach who once worked for the US Olympic track team is now in Baguio City looking after Filipino athletes vying in the Myanmar SEA Games in December.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia yesterday said the arrival of Ryan Flaherty should give the country’s campaign in Myanmar the extra push.

“He is now in Baguio. He will also help the conditioning of the other athletes, including the boxers,” said Garcia of the 30-year-old conditioning coach.

Flaherty, who specializes in kinesiology and biomechanics, was given a tour of the facilities in Baguio and was introduced to the athletes and coaches.

“He looked at the facilities and the supply. On his first day he met the caterer and saw the food. He instructed the caterer to take him to the market,” said Garcia.

Flaherty wants to make sure the athletes are fed the right food based on their sport. Finding the right and freshest vegetables shouldn’t be a problem in Baguio.

“He wants things done the right way,” said Garcia of Flaherty, also here to share his expertise with the Filipino coaches, and not to displace any of them.

Another foreign conditioning expert, Rick Martin of Australia, is in charge with the strength training of Filipino athletes quartered at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Martin arrived in the country ahead of Flaherty.

The arrival of these foreign coaches, according to Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco, may solve the perennial problem for Filipino athletes.

“It’s always the strength and conditioning. When it comes to skills, our athletes have it. But when it comes to conditioning we always fall short in the closing stages of the tournament,” said Cojuangco.

“Palagi kinakapos pagdating sa medal rounds,” he added.

The POC chief said with proper nutrition plus strength and conditioning, the Filipino athletes should realize their full potential.