SINGAPORE: The name Norimasa Hirai may not ring a bell.
But within swimming circles, he is better known as the head coach of Asian powerhouses Japan, and the long-time trainer of Kosuke Kitajima, Japan's four-time Olympic and three-time world breaststroke champion.
Hirai may soon be sharing his winning formula with Singapore's swim team.
Later this month, national head coach Ang Peng Siong will meet Hirai at the Tokyo Swimming Centre (TSC) to discuss a possible tie-up that would allow Singapore's national swimmers and coaches to visit the TSC for training camps and workshops.
The four-day trip also includes visits to the Japan Institute of Sport Science and leading sports recovery products manufacturers Phiten to better understand the use of their products to aid the national swim team.
"Singapore had some success with Parker Lam, who set national records in the 50m (28.03sec) and 100m (1min 02.65sec) breaststroke last November, and we want to see how much further we can push our breaststrokers to achieve times closer to world standards," Ang told MediaCorp.
"The Japanese have a pretty good track record in producing world-class breaststrokers. We also hope to work together in the area of coaching.
"It's also a good opportunity for us to look at Japan as a future training venue. The whole objective is to create more opportunities for the swimmers and coaches ... It's always good to learn from the best."
The visit is a follow-up from informal discussions that Ang and Hirai had at a FINA seminar in Singapore last month.
Hirai is known for producing top Japanese swimmers, including 2004 and 2008 Olympic 200m backstroke bronze medallist Reiko Nakamura and Kitajima, his most decorated pupil.
The 47-year-old is widely credited with formulating the training programmes that brought the best out of the 27-year-old, 1.78m tall Kitajima - a five-time world record holder - who outswam his bigger American, Australian and European opponents to clinch the men's 100m and 200m breaststroke double at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
A clearer picture will emerge after the meeting between the two coaches.
Ang is hoping for a positive outcome that will help produce more breaststroke talents like 20-year-old Lam, and push the overall standard of Singapore's swim team.
"We've had a long struggle producing really good breaststrokers," he said.
"We had (current women's 100m and 200m breaststroke national record holder) Nicolette Teo until she retired after the 2007 SEA Games.
"There are some promising male and female breaststrokers, so we want to ensure a level of continuity in our programme.
"That is probably one of our weakest links now."
While in Japan, Ang will also visit Phiten's offices in Kyoto to further understand the use of their sports health products for the national team.
At the Laos SEA Games last December, the Singapore team used a hyperbaric chamber provided by the company to aid recovery and performance.
Singapore won 14 gold medals to emerge as the best swimming nation at the biennial meet.
"We are trying to explore ways to help our swimmers be a 100-per-cent for races. At this level of competition, every edge you can get is a bonus," said Ang.
"It is expensive, so we have to look at the justification behind it and ensure the product is well-utilised." - TODAY
But within swimming circles, he is better known as the head coach of Asian powerhouses Japan, and the long-time trainer of Kosuke Kitajima, Japan's four-time Olympic and three-time world breaststroke champion.
Hirai may soon be sharing his winning formula with Singapore's swim team.
Later this month, national head coach Ang Peng Siong will meet Hirai at the Tokyo Swimming Centre (TSC) to discuss a possible tie-up that would allow Singapore's national swimmers and coaches to visit the TSC for training camps and workshops.
The four-day trip also includes visits to the Japan Institute of Sport Science and leading sports recovery products manufacturers Phiten to better understand the use of their products to aid the national swim team.
"Singapore had some success with Parker Lam, who set national records in the 50m (28.03sec) and 100m (1min 02.65sec) breaststroke last November, and we want to see how much further we can push our breaststrokers to achieve times closer to world standards," Ang told MediaCorp.
"The Japanese have a pretty good track record in producing world-class breaststrokers. We also hope to work together in the area of coaching.
"It's also a good opportunity for us to look at Japan as a future training venue. The whole objective is to create more opportunities for the swimmers and coaches ... It's always good to learn from the best."
The visit is a follow-up from informal discussions that Ang and Hirai had at a FINA seminar in Singapore last month.
Hirai is known for producing top Japanese swimmers, including 2004 and 2008 Olympic 200m backstroke bronze medallist Reiko Nakamura and Kitajima, his most decorated pupil.
The 47-year-old is widely credited with formulating the training programmes that brought the best out of the 27-year-old, 1.78m tall Kitajima - a five-time world record holder - who outswam his bigger American, Australian and European opponents to clinch the men's 100m and 200m breaststroke double at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
A clearer picture will emerge after the meeting between the two coaches.
Ang is hoping for a positive outcome that will help produce more breaststroke talents like 20-year-old Lam, and push the overall standard of Singapore's swim team.
"We've had a long struggle producing really good breaststrokers," he said.
"We had (current women's 100m and 200m breaststroke national record holder) Nicolette Teo until she retired after the 2007 SEA Games.
"There are some promising male and female breaststrokers, so we want to ensure a level of continuity in our programme.
"That is probably one of our weakest links now."
While in Japan, Ang will also visit Phiten's offices in Kyoto to further understand the use of their sports health products for the national team.
At the Laos SEA Games last December, the Singapore team used a hyperbaric chamber provided by the company to aid recovery and performance.
Singapore won 14 gold medals to emerge as the best swimming nation at the biennial meet.
"We are trying to explore ways to help our swimmers be a 100-per-cent for races. At this level of competition, every edge you can get is a bonus," said Ang.
"It is expensive, so we have to look at the justification behind it and ensure the product is well-utilised." - TODAY
