The Great Danes program was launched by the Danish Swimming Federation in 2013 with the goal of developing the country’s male athletes to achieve success on the international stage. Five of the eight men who represented Denmark in Rio have been part of the Great Danes program at different times. Those athletes include Anton Ipsen, Viktor Bromer, Pal Joensen, Daniel Skanning and Søren Dahl. Bromer, who the men’s 200 butterfly at the 2014 European Championships, finished sixth in the 200 butterfly in Rio.
The federation was satisfied with the success of the program so much so that they have now expanded it to include female swimmers as well. Over this past weekend both the men’s and women’s programs attended an orientation camp in Bellahøj and Brøndby.
The camp did not only include training, but the swimmers attended presentations which included education in anti-doping, nutrition and strength training. It also gave National Coach Dean Boles the time to become more familiar with the young swimmers involved in the program.
Female:
- Josephine Holm (KVIK Kastrup)
- Signe Bro (Lyngby Svømmeklub/NTC)
- Josefine B. Pedersen (VAT CPH/MK 31)
- Merete Toft Jensen (Holstebro SvømmeClub)
- Amalie Mikkelsen (Gladsaxe Svømmeklub/NTC)
- Caroline Erichsen (Sigma Sim Birkerød)
- Maria Grandt (Hovedstadens Svømmeklub)
- Lisa Steen Duus (Sigma Swim Birkerød)
- Maj Howardsen (Sigma Swim Allerød)
Male:
- Tobias Bjerg (AGF Svømning)
- Philip Greve (Farum Svømmeklub)
- Nicholas Blanch (Aalborg Svømmeklub)
- Jonas Nervil Kistorp (Lyngby Svømmeklub)
- Jacob Jørgensen (KVIK Kastrup)
- Christian V. Rasmussen (Odense Svømmeklub)
- Giano Grillo (Hovedstadens Svømmeklub)