Schipper splits with coach who sold training program

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian swimmer Jessicah Schipper has dumped her longtime coach after he sold a training program to a rival competitor who beat her at the Beijing Olympics.

Schipper went into the Games as favorite to win the women's 200 meters butterfly but finished third behind China's Liu Zige, who had been receiving help from Schipper's coach Ken Wood.

Liu, who also smashed Schipper's world record to win gold in Beijing, was invited to train alongside the Australian this year and bought a training schedule off Wood to prepare for the Olympics.

Wood, 78, told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio on Tuesday that the decision to split with Schipper after more than a decade was amicable.

"You have the feeling that these things are coming," Wood said.

"I asked Jess and she said 'I'll probably look at a new start somewhere' and I said 'well Jess, I'd like to wish you all the best. You're probably right, I think I've taken you as far as I can take you'."

Wood denied giving the Chinese a replica copy of Schipper's program.

"I'm a swimming coach, I coach swimmers, that's what I do'," he said.

"All (the Chinese) were doing was giving me a fee for two programs which weren't specific to Jess because everyone's different and capable of different work.

"Of course, I wanted Jess to win."

Schipper, 21, had mixed fortunes in Beijing, winning two bronze medals and a gold.

She finished third behind fellow Australian Libby Trickett in the 100 butterfly and ended the Games on a high by helping Australia demolish the world record to win the women's medley relay.

(Reporting by Julian Linden; Editing by Ed Osmond)