Markus Rogan back in the USA

After two very disappointing championships in Beijing and Rome, Markus finally mad his way back to where his star started to rise, into the USA. Together with Peter Marshall he is giong to train under Dave Salo with the goal to be on top again in London 2012.

For most of you Markus Rogan is "just" a world class backstroke swimmer. Back home in Austria where I am from Markus Rogan is one of the biggest sport stars and celebrities - or at least has been for a very long time. But first of all let's go back a couple of years.

The first time Markus won an international medal was in 2001 in Fukuoka at the World Championships. Three medals followed at the European Championships a year later but what made him really famous were the two silver medals in Athens at the Olympic Games in 2004. Some of you might still remember the troubles around one of Aaron Peirsol's turns in the 200m backstroke finale. The way Rogan behaved in this situation was very respectable. For speaking in favour of his opponent (and also good friend) Peirsol he was awarded the Fair Play Award.

Later this year he became Austria's Sportsmen of the Year and has been in magazines and newspapers very regularly since then. Having trained and studied at Stanford University up to the Games he came back to Austria afterwards to train under his former coach Robert Michlmayr in Vienna. Although he won a couple of titles in Europe over the upcoming years he was never able to win one on the international stage.

Till Manchaster 2008. At the Short Course World Championships he won a thrilling race against Ryan Lochte to become World Champion. Training in Italy at this time Rogan demolished the old World Record and seamed to be ready for Beijing. But the Olympic Games were a nightmare for him not winning a single medal and the World Championships a year later in Rome were even worse.

A very strange story around injuries Rogan had after a night out was in all Austrian newspapers and literally the whole nation was laughing at him. This might sound hard but since Beijing he simply has appeared at too many public events. Although this has made him even more famous his popularity dropped rapidly.

However, I found my lost sympathy for him again when I heard what he was going to do next. Leaving Austria behind, he started training in Los Angeles under Dave Salo right after the World Championships. But Salo is only one point why I think Rogan will be very competitive over the next few years:
  • With Peter Marshall he has an old friend on his side and even more than that a world class backstroke swimmer. The two will push each other in every session and will both come out a lot stronger.
  • Being back in the USA he can concentrate on swimming alone rather than having a celebrity event almost every week.
  • And finally - yes, the suits: Before the latest suits came Rogan had the best under water kicks and the best finish of all backstrokers in the world. Without the full body suits Rogan will have a part of this advantages back although he will concentrate on 100m backstroke and medley rather than the 200m.
At the upcoming World Cup we will see him compete against the best in the world. Take a look at him and follow his later appearances in the water. I am sure he will be right at his best and a very strong contender at the Olympic Games in three years time.

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