SPORTS January 29, 2007 Issue

TRAINING FOR LIFE

MARK SWINNEY

OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I've had the opportunity to watch the development of several hundred athletes. They've been training at a special place—the International Management Group (IMG) academies in Bradenton, Florida, where my own son is a student.

Tennis champion Maria Sharapova (Wimbledon 2004, US Open 2006) and golfers Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, and the up-and-coming Julieta Granda, all trained here. The list of men includes Andre Agassi (eight Grand Slam tennis titles); baseballers Gary Sheffield, Nomar Garciaparra, and Trot Nixon; and Ghanaian soccer sensation, Freddy Adu.

Although most of the 600 athletes studying and training day in and day out at these sports facilities will never become household names, I've learned while observing them and chatting with them at IMG, that gaining fame is not their priority. Take, for example, Di Zhao, a 13-year-old tennis player, who has come all the way from China to play year round under excellent tutelage in balmy weather. You can see on her face how much she's enjoying herself, even when she's battling through her most grueling matches. Young people like Di recognize the value of professional coaching and supervision no matter where their sporting careers may take them later.

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