Dave Marsh, the head coach of the Israeli swimming team since 2016, says that the swimmer he is most excited about this summer is actually David Grechik, who is not at all with the team today at the world championships held in Budapest.
"He's one who to some extent was not taken seriously. He had a technical problem with the coordination of movements, but I expect to see him at the European Championships (for which he achieved the criterion - RD) and wait to see what he will achieve in it.
"With Anastasia Gurbanko, Aviv Barzali and Ron Polonsky, for example, you see talent. Grechik is an example of who needs the system, and she pushes him to succeed, like Chris Pitchogen, our leading breaststroke swimmer here, who does not train with our main team at Wingate, but At Manu (Emanuel May - RD) in Jerusalem.
Together they have created an excellent program that leads to his progress.
I am happy to see the success happening in many places in Israel, people here are pushing each other. "
Marsh in coaching the team about a month ago.
Demands commitment, Photo: Oren Aharoni
Five years ago, here in Budapest at the World Championships, you could feel a little suspicion towards you on the team - especially with the veterans. Did you feel it?
(Laughs) "… Yeah, sure. Look - I do not want them to be afraid of me, but then I wanted to give people a very clear picture about my requirements from someone who wants to be an Olympic medalist or an Olympic finalist.
"99.9 percent of the time in my career I was not surprised by a great swimmer's achievement. You see it in training, in commitment - and it should have been broadcast."
How do you feel about Anastasia and the pressure on her? The country expects from it a historic Olympic medal.
"I try to get her to think about herself, about how to be the best she can be, and get out of her head that she should be Israel's great hope."
Gorbanko.
Needs to take care of herself, Photo: AFP
It is said that with her talent she must be in college, but a different decision has been made. What is your part in the decision?
"Colleges are something that is very suitable for Americans. They are the reason for America's strength in swimming. But one has to make the right choice, make sure the college you went to pays homage to the ointments in Olympic pools. Aviv Barzali is suitable for college in Texas It's a very competitive atmosphere in Louisville, and he lives for training. We need a balance between what Anastasia wants and what she needs. "She is related to the family. She also uses her success to promote young women in Israel. Anastasia is planning a long career, and should not be pushed in the way that will burn her. Therefore, I do not think she owes a college."
Me, Jesus and Steph Kerry
I watched your speech as you entered the Hall of Fame, and the fact that you are a very Christian believer stood out. Is that why you are in Israel?
"Strange that you ask. I am in Israel to practice swimming, but when I first came here we went to Nazareth, the city of Jesus and I was fascinated. "Swimming is the center, but it's a huge addition."
Steph Curry won the MVP in the NBA Finals and said he now knows he knows how to play. You enter the swimming hall of fame. Such honors are a goal?
"My entry into the Hall of Fame was expected, because I won a lot of college championships and coached the most successful Olympic team of the United States, but now I do not think about the Hall of Fame, but that I have a lot of work with the Israeli team.
"Interesting you mentioned Steph Curry. I lived in Davidson, while he was there he played at the local college, and we went to pray at the same church. He's a very interesting case of someone who was said to be physically small, so he started training more and more. They are the reason. "
Kerry, Photo: IP
Is there any achievement that you mark as an achievement, say an Olympic medal?
"I would not judge the whole system by a medal or individual achievements. I think finals in emissaries are a good indicator of our situation. Yesterday, for example, we failed to reach the finals in 4x100 mixed for men and women, so coach Ehud Segal came to the summary session with great ideas. "For improvement for the future. I remember that once he was not at all excited to come to Wingate, and now he is a wonderful national coach."
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