Wednesday, November 14, 2007 Davao tanker, 3 others named IOC swim scholars By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
FORMER Ateneo de Davao University tanker Jose Joaquin Gonzalez along with three others was identified by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as Olympic Solidarity Scholars for 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.
Gonzalez, Jesse Khing Lacuna, Jasmine Alkhaldi and Christine Grace Tan--all 14 years old--are now based in Los Ba¤os, Laguna studying at the Trace College and training at the Philippine Center for Excellence in Aquatic Sports (PCEAS).
The four swimmers were selected upon the recommendation made by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President, Hon. Jose "Peping" Cojuangco and Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA) President Mark P. Joseph to the IOC.
They will train with other selected swimmers from Southeast Asia on November 18 to December 3 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The two-week swim camp is dubbed by the IOC and FINA as "The Road to London 2012 Olympic Games."
The Australian husband and wife tandem of Jim and Lynne Fowlie will conduct the camp. Both have been instrumental in institutionalizing swimming programs for the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) over the past 15 years.
The likes of Word Record holders and Olympic champions Michael Klim and "The Torpedo" Ian Thorpe have trained under the Fowlies.
PCEAS coach Carlos "Pinky" Brosas, in a statement, said: "This is a defining moment for our vision at the PCEAS. It reaffirms our direction and commitment to pursue efforts geared at producing Olympic-caliber swimmers."
Dabawenya Rosa T. Rodriguez, who serves as assistant coach, added: "Their efforts have been rewarded. We have trained long and hard for the past year and a half year away from our homes to families to be where we are now."
PCEAS mainstays Anna Celina Gonzalez, also from Davao City, and Nikita Dacera of General Santos City made it to the Thailand SEA Games bound-Philippine team.
