ITU Development was in the Philippines this past week for an ITU Level 2 Coaching Course in Subic Bay. With the increasing presence of Asian triathletes on the world stage, it is such programmes that will not only ensure they are here to stay, but also pave the way for a new generation of high level coaches. 

The five day course is a development initiative focusing on advancing coaching levels in the Philippines and Asian region. Funded by Olympic Solidarity with the support of the National Olympic Committee of the Philippines, participants attended from Egypt, Iran, Philippines, Singapore and Zimbabwe. Anthony Lozada from the Philippines believes the course not only offered knowledge, but also encouragement.

“The course has not only equipped me with the necessary tools to produce elite level athletes, the ITU facilitators also inspired me to pursue this challenging task,” said Lozada.

The three ITU facilitators imparting their expertise were Luc Morin from Canada, Sergio Santos from Portugal and Libby Burrell, Director of ITU Development.

“The course is a great opportunity for coaches to gather and be exposed to current methods and the experiences of our facilitators,” said Burrell. “We are always lucky to have the invaluable support and enthusiasm of everyone involved. It is really an encouragement for the development in Asia.”

The course also welcomed Triathlon Association of the Philippines President and ITU Executive Board member, Tom Carrasco who travelled to Subic Bay to meet with the group on Wednesday and Thursday.

ASTC Development Coordinator Ki Woo Kyung was also in attendance at the applied course that integrates sports science with the specific preparation, planning and evaluation of the ITU junior and U23 triathlete.