EMOTIONAL FAREWELL FROM CHAMPION PRICE
Double Commonwealth champion Sarah Price, one of the most
successful female swimmers of her generation, announced her
retirement at the ASDA British Swimming World Championship
Trials tonight.
The Loughborough University backstroke specialist signed
off at the Trials in Manchester - the scene of her double
Commonwealth title performances in 2002.
The 25-year-old, originally from Enfield, said farewell to
the sport she's devoted her life to since the age of 10 with
a national silver to add to a haul of 11 European and Commonwealth
medals she's won in a decade spent on the international scene.
However, Price now feels the time is right to bow out and
always envisaged doing so at the top of her game.
"You just know when it's time to go and that time for
me is now. I desperately want to achieve at the highest level
but I don't think my body can handle what it takes anymore,"
said Price.
"Recently I've found my body can't cope as well as it
needs to in order to achieve the results I want to achieve.
Training has been difficult to recover from and whereas we've
adapted it to my needs it's getting harder all of the time."
"I started my international career with the 100m Backstroke
so thought it would be special to finish with that event as
well. I wanted to finish on a high.
It's Price's high standards that have helped to force the
issue of retirement as, to be happy with herself, she has
to be vying for the sport's ultimate prizes.
"I don't want to just be a member of the British Swimming
team. I want to win medals, challenge for titles and be as
competitive as I can.
"It means a lot to me to finish in front of my family
and friends, the coaches who have helped me over the years,
sponsors, supporters and the public who contribute through
the lottery."
Despite Price's showing in tonight's final, the 100m and
200m Backstroke Commonwealth Champion is now looking towards
the next stage of her life.
"The temptation is always going to be there to compete
as I'm that sort of person but you can't always carry on -
I think you know when it's time to retire. It's nice to finish
my career with a top 10 world ranking but I won't be going
to the World Championships."
Price's passion for swimming was first ignited as a 10-year-old
when she moved to America with her parents and began to excel
in one of the toughest swimming environments.
"I came back to Britain aged 12, joined Potters Bar
before moving to Barnett Copthall where I met my first real
coach in the brilliant Doug Campbell. Thirteen years on and
I've met so many fantastic people through the sport and have
friends for life.
"I've learned a lot from the coaches I've worked with
such as Ian Turner. He's taught me a lot about myself and
this will be invaluable as I look towards the next stage of
my life."
During her decade at the highest level Price has attended
two Olympics, won 11 major medals and set a host of international
records.
"I have lots of fantastic memories from swimming but
two really stick out and that's my World Record in 2001 and
my two Commonwealth titles in 2002.
"The whole week at the Commonwealths was amazing, I
just got faster as the week wore on and set a host of new
records as well.
"The 200m Backstroke World Record (short course) had
stood for six years before I broke it in Australia in 2001.
It was very special for me as I'd always dreamt of holding
a world record."
As in every sporting career the highs sometimes make way
to the lows and Price's biggest disappointment of her career
will be her two Olympic adventures.
"My Olympics were certainly the lowest points. In Sydney
I suffered from food poisoning leading up to the event and
had not regained my strength when I came to race.
"I was devastated again in Athens four years on when
I gashed my shin deeply on an underwater camera when I was
getting ready to compete. It really knocked me about."
Price believes the next generation of British swimmers, however,
will soon step up to fill the space she leaves behind and
it is a group of athletes she is very excited about.
"They're doing some unbelievable things for their age.
I look at what they're achieving at 14 and you just know they're
going to be very successful in Beijing and beyond.
"My message to those swimmers is to always look at the
positives whenever they are down and to make the most of the
incredible chances that are available to them.
"I never had the chance to what they are doing now and
it will make a big difference. They should jump at any and
every opportunity that is handed to them."
Coach Ian Turner tonight paid tribute to Price while reflecting
on her impressive career.
"Pricey has been a fantastic servant to swimming and
has done extremely well during her time with the sport. As
well as the many medals won she's set over 45 British, European
and Commonwealth records which is an amazing feat in itself.
"An extremely valued member of any training group, Pricey
brought a lot to the sessions from her work ethic to her enthusiasm
and bubbly personality.
"There's a side to her that few people see and that
is her generosity and thoughtfulness. For the last couple
of years she's trained with lads and she gave so much to that
group."
|