A striking move from Kira Toussaint. The 27-year-old swimmer from Assendelft will train in the United States to regain the pleasure of swimming. “Changing food makes food,” says Toussaint just before she leaves for Knoxville, Tennessee.
Toussaint came out of nowhere last week with the announcement to change course. “It was arranged in almost one phone call,” says the swimmer, who will train again with her old coach Matt Kredich. Kredich was also her supervisor from 2013 to 2017.
In the Sloterparkbad, Toussaint trained with the federation under national coach Mark Faber. It was the structure that got in the way of the reigning European champion in the 50, 100 and 200 meters backstroke. “We train in a group of six and I miss the social contacts very much. In America I come in a much larger group with friends from the time I swam there.”
Until the World Cup in Budapest and the European Championship in Rome, Toussaint will in any case stay in America. At those tournaments she will be assisted by Faber, who was her coach in Amsterdam for four and a half years. “I think it’s a good choice. We have both come to the conclusion that she will recharge herself in America with renewed energy.”