Waas to coach in Military World Games in Brazil

WASHINGTON – CUA Head Swim Coach Paul Waas will head to Brazil in early July for the 5th International Military Sports Council (CISM) Military World Games.  The event will take place in Rio de Janeiro and runs from July 16-24.  Waas is one of just two swim coaches for the United States team that will be headed to South America.

Waas will be helping to lead a team of eight men and eight women who are all active military members and most of the team has collegiate swimming experience.  The team includes Division I All-Americans as well as Olympic Trial qualifiers.

“I’m really excited to be involved in an opportunity to help represent the United States in international competition,” Waas said.  “I look forward to working hard to help our athletes succeed, and I will try to absorb as much of the local culture of Rio as possible.”

Prior to heading to Brazil, the team will convene in Annapolis at the Naval Academy beginning on July 8 for a training camp that runs through July 11.  The team will get to Brazil on July 12 and have three more days of training before the competition gets started on the 16th.

“I’ve worked closely with the swimming coaches of the US Naval Academy for several years as part of their summer swim camp, and learned of this opportunity through my relationships with them,” Waas explained.  “I’m honored that I have been selected for this staff, and I hope I am able to be a positive addition.”

Action will take place at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Park, which is part of the City of Sports Complex in Barra da Tijuca.  The name of the water park is a tribute to the Brazilian swimmer Maria Lenk, who died less than three months before its inauguration.  The water park is partially covered and composed of an Olympic swimming pool and a tank for diving and has seating for up to 8,000 spectators.

CISM was founded in February of 1948 and is one of the largest multidisciplinary organizations in the world.  It organizes various sporting events for the armed forces of its 133 member countries and brings soldiers, who may have previously met on the battlefield, together in competition where they meet in friendships on the sports playing field.  The organization’s ultimate goal is to contribute to world peace by uniting armed forces through sports.

This year’s Military World Games will have competitions in 20 sports divided into 36 disciplines and five categories: individual, collective, demonstration, military and combat sports.

More information on CISM and the upcoming Military World Games can be found here.