OLYMPIC veteran Rene “Guy” Concepcion hopes to encourage more Filipinos to train in open water swimming after competing in the recent Fina 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Eilat, Israel.
“We just need a long-term program and some current swimmers must learn to love the ocean more than the pool,” said Concepcion, who donned the country’s colors in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Concepcion, who’s also at the helm of La Salle’s successful swimming program, said Filipinos have a better chance of excelling in the growing sport than the highly competitive pool events.
“We have oceans and blue waters around. We can go as far as Mindanao to search for the best open swimmers,” said Concepcion.
The recent Fina competition had Greece’s Spyridon Gianniotis ruling the men’s division and Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha topping the women’s side of the race held in the Red Sea.
Concepcion, backed by Sports Management Solutions’ Edster Miranda Sy, Speedo and Oakley, also competed in 5K.
“It’s time for the Philippines to become the first country the world will think of when it comes to fantastic blue waters and great races,” said Concepcion. Jasmine W. Payo