|
Giaan's role may increase |
|
Wednesday, 2 July 2003 |
|
Former Australian head coach Don Talbot has lauded the return to
form of swimming's glamour girl Giaan Rooney whose world championship
workload may grow to include the 200m freestyle. Rooney has basically won her battle to qualify for the
4x200m relay world championship team with an outstanding swim recently in
Sydney. Needing to swim around 2:01.00 in the 200m freestyle at the
Sydney Grand Prix, she triumphed in 2:00.28. Talbot said Rooney's form was an enormous boast to the female
relay squad which would have a battle on its hands to topple the US at
Barcelona's World Championships this month. But he said with Rooney swimming well again, Australia
are back in the mix. Giaan may also be asked to defend her individual 200m
freestyle title at the meet if, as is appearing increasingly likely,
Elka Graham withdraws because of illness. Giaan has already qualified for the 50m and 100m backstroke at
the meet and will also shoulder the backstroke responsibilities in
the 4x100m medley relay. Giaan was quietly confident of claiming a medal in the 50m
backstroke and performing strongly in the 100m backstroke at the World
Championships, with her coach Ian Pope predicting potential personal best
performances in those two events. `` Things are looking very promising. She has improved her
starts and turns and I feel she should be swimming at her best,`` Pope said. Giaan added: ``I don't have pressure on me in those events. I
want to have a bit of fun. I am a bit of a show in the 50m back. There are
not too many people going fast and under Ian Pope I think my sprint fibres
are better than they have been. I am looking forward to get a good start.``
She feared if she slipped too far behind Coughlin, then her team
would be doomed from the outset. But Pope said: ``You have no control over anyone else. When you
race, you do the best you can and give yourself the best opportunity. I think
she will swim a lot faster. We will improve.`` |
From IQ Sport