LONDON: Former Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice, who famously won three Olympic gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the age of 20, has announced her plans to set up a swimming academy in India, Press Trust of India reports.
Rice retired from swimming in 2012 abruptly but has successfully forayed into other ventures, more recently as a television presenter for the ongoing VIVO Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season on Star Sports.
However, this is not her first instance of being in India due to media commitments as she was also on Star’s expert panel analyzing India’s performances at the Rio Olympics 2016. Spending time in the country has propelled her desire to nurture and produce Olympic gold medalists in swimming from India.
“I am really working on it. I have had a number of opportunities to do that but just has not been the right time or the right infrastructure. I am quite passionate about India and I have spoken to quite a lot of people to start a swimming academy.” Rice was quoted as saying to PTI on the sidelines of the Ekemra Lit Fest in Bhubaneswar.
The Olympian dismissed the notion that India lacks a strong sporting culture, which may act as a hindrance for winning many Olympic medals. She also emphasised on patience and long-term planning being the most crucial factors for the objective to be fulfilled.
“It is not like that. India is fantastic in so many sports, say cricket or hockey. I don’t think that it is about lack of quality. India has lot of talent and good infrastructure also. The issue is someone who is running it needs to understand what is going on at the top level.
“You need people who have done before, great coaches and great support staff and they will have to given time of at least four years. It is not that you will get a medal after working with an athlete for one year. So, if India wants to do well in 2024 Olympics, we need to start now.” Rice signed off.
