Russians dive in

By Shaun Inguanzo
DOVETON is set to make a splash with Russia’s World Championships aquatic team training at the suburb’s swimming pool.
Doveton Pool in the Park will be the training base for the 33 world-class athletes, two doctors and six coaches during the FINA World Championships being held in Melbourne this month.
The Russians requested the 50 metre outdoor heated pool for its open-air style and will swim countless laps in the lead up to and during the two-week event.
The team will stay at Dandenong’s Ramada Encore Hotel – only a short distance from their training base.
Among the names who will be swimming in Doveton are Roman Sludnov, the first person in the world to swim 100m breaststroke in less than a minute, champion backstroker Arkady Vyatchanin, ranked the third fastest 100m backstroker in the world this year, and Nikolai Skvortsov, who holds the fourth fastest 100m butterfly of all time.
Casey mayor Colin Butler said the city was thrilled to have the Russian team training and preparing at the Doveton Pool in the Park complex.
“It is an honour to have such an elite, internationally renowned swim team train in our city,” Cr Butler said.
“The council is committed to providing outstanding sport and recreation facilities for our community to enjoy, as well as for top sports people and teams to train.”
The elite athletes are relying on the Ramada for their all-important sleep and special dietary requirements before taking on the world’s best swimmers at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
Ramada Encore senior sales manager Nicole Ellen said the Russian team’s stay was a coup for the hotel and the local area.
Ms Ellen said the Russian team’s choice to stay in Dandenong would paint a positive picture for the area.
“It will give Dandenong a more deserving reputation considering the bad stigma the city has had,” she said.
Up to 25 rooms will accommodate the athletes, Ms Ellen said, and the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus have been specially designed to cater for their dietary needs.
The FINA World Championships is held every four years and comprises five disciplines including swimming, open water swimming, water polo, diving and synchronised swimming.
More than 158 nations will be represented in Melbourne this month, a record number of entries for the event.