Swimming New Zealand Celebrates Burmester’s Contribution
Swimming New Zealand has recognised the outstanding contribution to the sport from champion swimmer Moss Burmester, who has announced his retirement from the sport.
Burmester, 29, was New Zealand’s best performed international swimmer since Danyon Loader, winning the gold medal in the 200m butterfly at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and the world title in the same discipline at the FINA World Short Course Championships in 2008.
The former Tauranga swimmer informed media of his retirement at the weekend.
Long time coach and current Swimming New Zealand Performance General Manager, Jan Cameron said Burmester had made a huge contribution to the sport.
“Moss came to me in 2004 as a hugely talented swimmer who had received excellent development from his coach Clive Power in Tauranga,” said Cameron, who was then head coach at North Shore Swimming Club.
“He worked very hard and together with coach Thomas Ansorg, we provided him with the opportunity to grow into an outstanding butterfly swimmer who got the best out of himself. The opportunities to train with world and Olympic champion Michael Phelps and others gave Moss further opportunities to develop.
“Moss was still internationally competitive and qualified for the Commonwealth Games this year. He got the very best out of his natural ability and he was an outstanding contributor in and out of the water.”
Cameron reiterated that Swimming New Zealand complies with SPARC guidelines in the allocation of Performance Enhancement Grants and is accountable fully to SPARC as the deliverer of these grants to the swimmers.
“Do the time and get the rewards – that’s always been our very clear message and we make no exceptions in this regard. It is a sport which has clear objective qualifying standards for both selections and PEGS.
“It would be great to have Moss remain in the pool as a veteran through to London if he can achieve the qualifying targets, but we totally understand and respect his decision to retire.”