SEXTON OUT TO ENSURE WORLDS TITLE DEFENCE
The shape and composition of Britain's World Championship
squad will be determined this weekend in Swansea where the
nation's elite swimmers will go all out to qualify for next
month's highlight of this year's swimming calendar.
Ten athletes reached the required standard at the first qualification
opportunity in Manchester in March but there are many more
who will be aiming to add their weight to the British team
bound for the World Championships in Canada (July 17th to
31st).
World Champions James Gibson (Loughborough University) looks
likely to defend the 50m Breaststroke title he won two years
ago in Barcelona after he provisionally qualified in Manchester.
However, 200m Backstroke World Champion Katy Sexton still
has it all to do if she is to contest the title she won.
The Portsmouth Northsea athlete became Britain's first ever
female World Champion in 2003 but struggled with both form
and fitness last year. However, she feels she has now turned
a corner and is in a positive frame of mind ahead of Swansea.
"I want to nail down a really good time this weekend.
I have to show people I can still do it and that I'm the one
that still has to be beaten," said Sexton.
"I took a lot of confidence from our Stage Two meet
in Sheffield last month where I showed improvements. Coming
off the back of the Olympics I just felt so flat, I had no
motivation but now things are much better."
The hierarchy of women's British backstroke swimming may
have changed over the past six months but the challengers
to Sexton's mantle will be evident in Swansea.
"It's a shame Sarah (Price) has retired, racing her
was so tough, it was as hard as facing any international field.
There are now a number of swimmers coming through such as
Gemma Spofforth (Portsmouth Northsea), Steph Proud (Durham
Aquatics) and Lizzie Simmonds (Lincoln Vulcans) so I still
expect a tough time.
"My preparation has been going well. I've managed to
pretty much resolve the issues with asthma that dogged me
last year and my training has been completely different. I'm
looking forward to racing this weekend."
National Performance Director Bill Sweetenham is optimistic
about how the squad will come together over the three days
in Wales but is well aware it will be a smaller unit than
the one that excelled in Barcelona two years previously.
"The size of the squad simply won't compare to 2003
as we've lost a lot of swimmers through retirement since then.
This is something that was expected and it will create openings
for youngsters coming through the system.
"We have a group of young girls that are coming through
the ranks at the moment but they're about six to 12 months
off the big league yet so I think Swansea maybe too soon for
them."
Sweetenham may not know for sure which swimmers he will be
taking to Montreal but he has decided upon those who will
lead the coaching side of the squad.
"Head Coach in Montreal will be Ian Turner, Sean Kelly
will take charge of the men and Ben Titley will assume responsibility
for the women."
A notable absentee from this weekend's proceedings will be
Simon Burnett (Wycombe District) who lives and trains at University
of Arizona in the US. Illness forces the swimmer to miss this
year's World Championships and his focus has now switched
to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next spring.
Another Brit missing in Swansea will be Matt Kidd, originally
from Leatherhead but who has spent the past few years living
and training in Auburn, Texas. He announced his retirement
from the sport today.
The 25-year-old British Record holder over the 100m Freestyle
is a two-time Olympian and will be remembered as the first
Briton to go under 50 seconds for the 100m Freestyle.
The Stage3 meet takes place at the Wales National Pool, Swansea
between Friday 17th and Sunday 19th June. It will provide
the final opportunity for Britain's swimmers to qualify for
the World Championships in Montreal next month.
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