Georgi Dangalakov is senior coach of our national women’s and men’s swimming teams with the Bulgarian Swimming Sports Federation. We know him as one of the foremost Bulgarian swimmers for the period 1970–1973. In 1981 he was nominated swimmer No 5 of the last fifty years. “In my already 21-years-long training practice I have much higher achievements,” says he categorically. “The Olympic title of Tanya Bogomilova in Seoul 1988, before that her silver and bronze medals from the world championship in Madrid 1986, the 3 bronze medals from European championships in 1989 and 1991, and the silver medal in 1989.”

His ambition for this year’s Olympic Games in Athens is our swimmers to get among the first 16.

Mr. Dangalakov, who are the Bulgarian swimmers who have covered the quotas for participation in the Olympic Games in Greece?
The quotas have been covered by Mihail Alexandrov who lives and studies in Chicago, the marathon world cup winner Petar Stoychev, and Georgi Palazov who came among the first 16 at the European championship in December.

We are preparing another 5 swimmers. They are about to cover the quotas at competitions where representatives of the world organisation FINA will be present. Ivanka Moralieva, Ani Dangalakova and Petya Petrova will compete at the European championship in May in Madrid. Ivan Angelov and Raychin Andonov will participate in the tournament in Hania, Greece. If they do not succeed in covering the norms, there are still two more competitions in Croatia. I think they will make it. And I am optimistic about their future careers. Ani Dangalakova, Petya Petrova, Georgi Palazov and Mihail Arnaudov are at an age that would let them compete successfully even in 2008. And the participation in the upcoming Olympics will be very useful for them. Georgi Palazov competed at the Sydney Olympics. He did not rank well but has achieved much in his training in the last 4 years.

Have you received support from the state for the preparation of our Olympians?
The Ministry of Youth and Sports allotted 70 000 BGN for the first three. I think this is quite enough. For the preparation of the rest of the athletes we receive support from Mr. Kyulev who is chairman of our federation. We are also supported by RAPA, OMV, McDonald’s. The outfit of the swimmers bears the brand of TIR, a US company. In short, we are doing okay. The only problem is that in Bulgaria there are no well-equipped pools. The athletes train in Levsky Spartak pool and in the city of Sandansky. Georgi Palazov and Raychin Andonov are studying and training in the USA.

Before the Olympics they will all gather in a camp in Belmeken. Its effect before competitions is very good. The swimmers’ training takes place at an altitude of 2100 m. This increases the number of erythrocytes that enhance the stamina. The athletes feel stronger when they descend from this altitude as they have been training in conditions of oxygen hunger.

What do you expect from the contenders?
Over 2000 people will compete for the Olympic title. We know that world swimming is concentrated in America and Australia. There are the strongest athletes. On the other hand, many swimmers from Europe are studying and training in America. Obviously the American school is the best as they are continuously creating new talents. Nearly all developed European countries have well prepared swimmers with good chances for the finals. The Greek team will be extraordinarily strong as host of the games.

What has changed in the coaching work in recent years?
Everything – both the way and the method of training. Through Internet we can exchange information. I have been in correspondence with a couple of Austrian trainers for 4 years now. But as the late trainer of Tanya Bogomilova used to say: “Even the best jockey can’t do it with a lousy horse. And even the best horse can’t do it with a lousy jockey!” The cooperation between the trainer and the athlete is crucial for the results. Of course, the training conditions are very important. Just a few clubs in Bulgaria have their own pool. Swimming pools are hard to maintain.

It is a pity that there are not many kids who are motivated to achieve something big in sports. Swimming is a hard, complex sport, related to many changes in society. Many children today study English or other things from dawn to dusk. In their little free time they watch television and stay at the computer. 90% of the children I know have not read a single book. To say nothing of swimming – how do you motivate them to become swimmers? Swimming is hard work. And there are no bright examples like for instance in rhythmic gymnastisc. The kids today know nothing about the achievements of Tanya Bogomilova, Bistra Gospodinova, Antoaneta Frenkeva, Antoaneta Stoimenova, Sonya Dangalakova, Georgi Mihalev.

I have been working as coach for 6 years in Greece. The situation there is the same.

How long does it take for an athlete to reach world level?
At least 12-16 years of hard work. The regular practice twice a day is a must. The athlete has to win recognition at national level first, participating in Balkan and European championships. Only few make it to an Olympics in 5-6 years. And they rarely repeat their good results. On the whole, an athlete participates in 3 to 4 Olympic games. It is good the age limit was extended – there is a record-holder who is 33.

You are working as a trainer in Olympia swimming club. There you are preparing young people between 10 and 22 years of age. What do you think we lack to have elite sport in Bulgaria?
To have elite sport, sport has to be popular. Over 1.5 million people are involved in organised sport activities in America. The nation has a sport culture. In Bulgaria not everyone can do it. If you walk between the blocks in the city you will see the kids have nowhere to practice sports. We have 7 or 8 sports schools but their premises are untended.

Sport is a necessity if you want to develop harmonically, but high sport mastership is a matter of personal desire. I am glad that in three years my wife Tanya Bogomilova (owner of Olympia club) and I have created a young and talented generation that, with God’s help, we would like to keep up longer. And I would be very happy if the state helps us and fixes the swimming pools.

Tatyana Petrova