COOKE GOES THE DISTANCE IN MEDAL HUNT
As a double Commonwealth Champion, England's Becky Cooke
knows what it takes to win medals and when the action starts
in Melbourne in 10 day's time she says it will require an
extraordinary effort from any athlete to be successful at
the 2006 Games.
The City of Glasgow athlete was dominant in the distance
freestyle events at the Manchester Commonwealth Games four
years ago when she took gold over 400m and 800m but for Cooke
her achievements are now a chapter in history.
Cooke's victories four years ago were far from easy but what
she will face at the Melbourne Games will be a complete contrast
and in events where the world is moving on quickly.
"The success of four years ago really isn't something
that I can think about," said Cooke. "I'm extremely
proud of what I achieved - winning those two gold medals is
certainly a highlight of my career - but I know that here
in Australia it's going to be very different.
"The competition has moved on rapidly since 2002 and
the strength of distance swimming within the Commonwealth
is at a real high.
"I'm not looking at the past, I need to look at the
present if I'm going to be successful. Everything has moved
on, there is a different look to the field but I'm more experienced
as a swimmer to four years ago."
Cooke, who was born in Crawley, refuses to go into the Melbourne
Games with any of the reputation that a defending champion
may have. The events and the field have progressed and there
will be no room for memories when lining up against a world-class
field.
"Melbourne will provide me with a real opportunity to
race once more against some of the world's best swimmers and
in arguably the hardest environment," said Cooke.
"I'm not going to approach my events in the sense that
I want to defend the titles. History counts for nothing when
you're on the blocks, I want to win them outright again.
"I'm not dismissing what I've achieved but I need to
focus on winning again."
Cooke sees one of the tightest events of the entire competition
coming in the Women's 400m Freestyle where any one from a
handful of swimmers has a real chance of becoming Commonwealth
Champion.
"It's going to be a very tight competition as a whole
but particularly in the 400m Freestyle where there are five
swimmers all within two seconds of each other. It should be
a great race.
"In both Freestyle events World Championship medallist
Brittany Reimer of Canada is going to be very strong while
Caitlin McClatchey of Scotland and England team mate Jo Jackson
will be very difficult to beat in the 400m Freestyle."
The 25-year-old's preparations have certainly put her in
the best shape to achieve her aims and she's currently enjoying
warm-weather training at the England squad's camp on the Gold
Coast.
"I'm feeling quite good coming into the Games. I've
been very happy with my recent form and have enjoyed some
great training sessions on the Gold Coast," explained
Cooke.
"My training has been focused on swimming the 400m and
800m Freestyle as well as the 400m Individual Medley so it's
been a busy few months for me.
"To be able to continue training with my coach Stephen
Hill while on the camp is a real help. You can continue that
relationship you're used to at home and to have that in a
different environment is a massive boost."
Melbourne will to be a far cry from Manchester for Cooke.
What England gained from the home support in 2002 will be
more than matched next week by an Aussie crowd with an unrivalled
passion for the sport.
However, this is something that will feed Cooke's determination
to succeed as she plans to draw from the energy of the occasion.
"Going up against the Aussie women in home waters is
going to be a massive feat but if the Aussie girls have any
weakness then maybe it's the distance events and as a team
we shall be out to try to take advantage of this.
"I plan to take a lot from the partisan crowd in Melbourne.
Racing in that kind of environment, even if they will be cheering
on their own swimmers, gives me a real lift.
"It's great swimming in front of the passion and commitment
shown by the Australian's for their number one sport."
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