Europe Triathlon

A group of 28 athletes and coaches from six different developing and emerging National Federations have completed a seven day ETU athlete development camp in Karatas, near Kladovo, Serbia.

The program for the athletes and coaches included three practical sessions a day and an evening theory lecture about different topics important for their development, for example, nutrition, ethics, anti-doping, competition rules, bunch riding and psychology.

Zeljko Bijuk, ITU Development Co-ordinator for Europe, organised the camp together with the Serbian Triathlon Union in the Djerdap National Park. He said: “The main focus of the camp was to implement and understand the field test results and measurements for long term athlete development.

“The camp creates a great opportunity for networking amongst athletes and coaches which is really important for their future triathlon pathway. The first big step that most of them are dreaming of is the next Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing 2014.”

Athletes from Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Israel, Slovenia and Hungary took part in the camp and the feedback at the end of the week was extremely positive.

Luc Morin, who was the head coach of the camp said: “It is always a privilege for me to work with such a highly motivated and talented group of athletes. I am honoured to influence a small portion of these athletes’ continuous development.

“Our coaching staff is also constantly evaluating and improving their professional skills. ITU provides a wonderful opportunity for athletes and coaches to grow triathlon.”

Uri Zilberman, coach of the Israeli Junior Triathlon team, said: “Once again the ITU development program is helping the Israeli triathlon to succeed in our long term goal and send an athlete to the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

“After Ron Darmon, Fanny Beissaron and Amitai Yonah, this camp in Serbia helps us to develop our next successful triathlon generation.”

Zilberman’s thoughts were echoed by two of his female junior athletes, Gal Levy and Yuval Gome. Levy said: “This camp is a great opportunity for us to improve our skills and knowledge. We meet athletes from other countries and create new friendships.”

Milan Tomin, a Junior athlete from Serbia, said: “This camp give us guidelines on how to become future triathlon champions. From the coaches we get knowledge, new skills and proper technique and from the participants we get new friends and motivation to continue on our way.”

The athletes who attended the 7 day development camp include: Tea Miloš (CRO), Maruša Klemenc (SLO), Eva Troha (SLO), Zsofia Szakaly (HUN), Viktoria Vizi (HUN), Gal Levy (ISR), Yuval Gome (ISR), Lianne Witkin (ISR), Strahinja Trakić (SRB), Vladimir Stojsavljević (SRB), Danilo Jovanović (SRB), Petar Ivačković (SRB), Milan Tomin (SRB), Bogdan Tomin (SRB), Bojan Karanović (SRB), Tin Bulić (CRO), Urban Cehner (SLO), Jaka Kaplan (SLO), Ron Lewinhson (ISR), Luka Garevski (MKD), Royi Zoarets (ISR), Luka Paliska (CRO) and Eugen Jagušt (CRO).