Jenna Randall and Olivia Federici have been handed a boost as they build towards the FINA World Championships with world renowned coach Masayo Imura joining British Synchro.
Imura, a former synchronised swimmer, first started coaching 1974 for the Japanese national team, who won Olympic duet and team silver at both Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 under her guidance.
She became China’s head coach in 2006 with the nation winning team bronze at their home Olympics in Beijing in 2008 and enjoying a fine outing at the 2011 World Championships.
China claimed six silvers and a bronze from the seven events, again in their own pool in Shanghai, and then achieved their best Olympic result with team silver and duet bronze at London 2012.
Imura joins British Synchro to help coach the duet and solo routines and will work mainly with Randall and Federici, who finished ninth in the duet at last summer’s Olympics.
She will begin her consultancy this week and national performance director Biz Price is adamant Imura will have an impact in the lead up to this summer’s World Championships.
“I really admire her work ethic and her work with the athletes to increase artistic and technical score,” said Price.
“I have known Masayo since the 80s and 90s and we would share ideas and we would help coach each other’s athletes.
“I used to work with the Chinese Synchronised Swimming team just before Masayo started with them.
“She is world renowned and I know will add value to our programme ahead of the World Championships.”
© Sportsbeat 2013