BRIGHT’S PARALYMPIC DREAM
WITH Tokyo 2020 in the back of his mind, Australian Paralympic swimmer Rohan Bright is looking to gain as much experience as possible in Cairns this month.
The Sydney-based Bright will compete in the 100m breaststroke, 200m medley, 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly as well as the 100m freestyle at the 2018 Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships in Cairns, which start on Thursday.
Bright, who has a form of short stature called hypochondroplasia, is looking to test himself against some of the best in the world to prepare himself for the 2020 Paralympics.
“My aim is to get as much international level racing experience before World Championships next year and ultimately Tokyo in under two years’ time,” Bright said.
“Tokyo is in the back of everyone’s mind but the main focus of course is this week in Cairns. We are keen to get started.”
The Australian squad will have one of their final training sessions today as the full Australian team prepare for what is the pinnacle event on the 2018 Para Swimming calendar.
“It is important to be in a team environment and stay away from everything else that is at each other’s home,” he said. “It is about being focused, getting ready to race and hopefully getting the best out of it.”
Gold medallists Lakeisha Patterson, Brenden Hall, Tim Disken, Jess Aungles, silver and bronze medallists Blake Cochrane, Paige Leonhardt and Ellie Cole, and teammates have been training hard.