Wilma Boomstra Named Short Track National Training Program
KEARNS, Utah (PRWEB) May 03, 2018 -- US Speedskating (USS) announced the hiring of Wilma Boomstra as the U.S. Short Track National Training Program (NTP) Head Coach for the 2022 Olympic quadrennial. Boomstra rejoins the U.S. speed skating family after a three-year stint as a coach in the Netherlands.
“Wilma is the perfect coach to lead our young short track team to success at the 2022 Games,” said US Speedskating’s Executive Director Ted Morris. “She has developed several American Olympic Medalists, has great experience and has the respect of our athletes making her the perfect fit for our short track program.”
As Head Coach, Boomstra will oversee the NTP athletes based at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah. The Dutch native has been deeply involved in American Olympic short track success over the past 25 years. She previously held the title of U.S. National Team Short Track Coach from 1993-95 when the program was based in Marquette, Mich. From there, she opened her own development training center in Los Angeles, Calif. and prepared skaters for the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 Olympic Games. Boomstra was also a coaching consultant for the U.S. short track program during the 2016-17 season.
“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to return to the United States and have an immediate impact on the National Training Program,” Boomstra said. “There is a great core of talent in the pipeline for US Speedskating and I am excited to see how we can help it flourish at the Beijing Games.”
With her guidance, Boomstra has helped athletes win seven Olympic medals over her 30 years of coaching. She has developed a core of successful U.S. Olympians, including three-time Olympic medalist J.R. Celski, two-time Olympic medalists Rusty Smith and Jordan Malone, Olympic bronze medalist Eddy Alvarez, and 2018 Olympian Thomas Hong.
Most recently, Boomstra was a coach in the Netherlands where she helped with junior development for the Dutch Skating Federation. She ran the Coach of the Coach program, instructing Dutch junior development coaches on technical development and training programs.
Additional US Speedskating short track staff announcements will be made at a later date.
About US Speedskating
From Pond to Podium, we are US Speedskating. We grow and nurture a sport where all ages can experience the thrill of speed and the camaraderie of the skating community. US Speedskating is responsible for the development of speed skating from grassroots to the highest elite racing programs. US Speedskating is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union as the governing body for the sport of speed skating in the United States. The Organization has won 88 Olympic medals to-date, making it one of the most successful sports in U.S. Olympic history. US Speedskating is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, on Facebook and at http://www.usspeedskating.org.
Matt Whewell, US Speedskating, http://www.usspeedskating.org, +1 (801) 417-5374, [email protected]
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