SUPER G - GIAAN ROONEY FAN SITE

TRANSCRIPT - CH 9 INTERVIEW WITH ELKA GRAHAM AND GIAAN ROONEY AFTER THE 200M FREESTYLE AT THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sidenote: Placings for the event were - 1)Elka Graham 1:59.77 2)Giaan Rooney 1:59.99 3)Petria Thomas 2:00.74

Interviewer is Nicole Stevenson, swim champion and now Ch 9 commentator, who was poolside after the race.

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Nicole Stevenson: Elka, is that a sigh of relief?
Finally under the 2 minute mark - that must feel pretty good?

Elka Graham: So pumped! so stoked!. Um, really happy, especially under the 2 minutes. I spoke to Susie [O'Neill] today so, ah, was a bit nervous, but glad it's over.

Nicole Stevenson: Now an individual spot as well on the Australian team for the 200m free, must also be pretty good for you?

Elka Graham: Definately. Bit of a disappointment at the Olympics missing out on swimming the final of the 4 by 2, but, ah, like to prove a point here tonight and I did so I'm very happy.

Nicole Stevenson: What did Susie say to you today - any words of advice from her like 'go out hard because Giaan's going to come home very very fast at you'?

Elka Graham: [smiles] I knew tonight my coach said "get out there and let them catch you" so thats what I did, And rung up Suz and told her "I'm nervous!! What'd I do!?!" and she said "I get nervous too!!" - Thanks Suz, that helped [smiles] but it was good talking to her.

Nicole Stevenson: Great words of advice from Susie O'Neill. Giaan, under 2 minutes, only just under 2 minutes, but a fantastic swim for you as well. I know you probably wanted to go a little bit faster because you set yourself for this as one of you main events - How was it for you out there?

Giaan Rooney: Um, I knew it was always going to be a really tough race, I knew Elka was swimming really well and getting better with every event that she did and she proved that tonight, so Congratulations Elks [smiles]. I just really wanted to try and go out and try and race my own race ... um try not to go out too fast, I knew Elka was going to go out fast and I knew I couldn't see her on the way home. So a bit disappointing but thats they way it goes.

Nicole Stevenson: Susie threw the challenge out for the 4 by 2 to both of you to get up there with the challenge, you won a silver medal at the Olympic Games, How now does that inspire you guys to - or girls - to keep going with the 200m freestyle and the 4 by 2?

Giaan Rooney: Um, I think ... ahh ... we are really capable of breaking the world record in the 4 by 2 freestyle relay. Um, we've got y'know, 6 great girls that anyone could stand up and make this relay team and as it showed tonight with the caliber of swimmers out there I think we've really got a good shot at it.

Nicole Stevenson: Well Congratulations, you will both lead the charge in Fukuoka, well done.

Elka Graham: Ta, Thanks.

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