The head coach of Velimir Stjepanovic says the Dubai’s swimmer’s target is making the 200m butterfly final at the London Olympics this summer.
The 18 year old followed up his personal best time in the heat to qualify for the Games by taking butterfly gold in the British Gas Swimming Nationals at the London Aquatics Centre.
The likes of Michael Phelps and Chad Le Clos could provide the opposition in the summer, and Ashley Morris, the head coach of Hamilton Aquatics academy in Dubai, believes the Abu Dhabi-born freestyler could make the medal podium in London.
“He has the mental and physical ability to do it,” Morris said.
“His target is to make the final, but if you look at how far he has come, I wouldn’t write of his chances of taking home a medal.”
Stjepanovic failed to reach the final of the world championships in Shanghai last year but atoned for that disappointment by setting the fastest time in the world this year on Monday to guarantee his place in the Olympics.
Stjepanovic was more than half a second slower in the subsequent final, but he still managed to beat Austria’s Dinko Jukic by just under one tenth of a second to take gold.
However, Morris insists the qualifying time for the Games was all that mattered from the trip to London.
“The placings are insignificant,” Morris. “Of course, it is always nice to win, but the timing is the most important thing. To get that ‘A’ time [to qualify for the Olympics] was what the journey to this meet was all about.
“His swim in the heat has put him at the top of the world [time] rankings this year, which is great for an 18 year old, and he has showed he is way ahead of where he needs to be.”
Chris Tidey, Stjepanovic’s personal coach, Chris Tidey, expressed his satisfaction at the Serb’s improvement this year.
“I’m really pleased this the way he performed his fly at the early stages of preparation for the Olympics,” Tidey said from London.
“Now we do not need to chase that ‘A’ time, Velimir can prepare in full for the summer. This should mean 1:56.1 becomes faster when it matters at the Games.”
Two other Hamilton Aquatics swimmers are also in action in London.
Tiago Venancio, a Portuguese who moved to Dubai in September, clocked his fastest time in the 200m freestyle for five years and also beat his best in the 100m freestyle for two years. But he missed out on the ‘A’ times needed in the event.
“Tiago is working with some of the best coaches in the world and is improving all the time,” Morris said.
Stefan Sorak, the Serb, will be targeting the Games qualification time when he competes in the 1,500m freestyle on Saturday.
“Stefan is improving, too, all three are, and that’s what we want,” Morris said. “He will be targeting that ‘A’ time to hopefully make it to London.”
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The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
Company%20Profile
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
SPIDER-MAN%3A%20ACROSS%20THE%20SPIDER-VERSE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
Company%20Profile
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The%20specs
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Kill%20
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
