Melverton open to a distance swim effort
KIAH Melverton is adamant she won’t push her open-water career beyond 5km but after a seventh at Hungary’s world titles, it could open an avenue to the Olympics for The Southport School swimmer.
Melverton finished just 20 seconds behind US gold medallist Ashley Twichell in equal seventh, with fellow Australian Kareena Lee finishing 10th.
Melverton won bronze in the 800m freestyle at the world shortcourse championships last December and has a bright future in the pool, with next year’s Commonwealth Games in her home town a major goal.
But after Wednesday’s outstanding effort in Lake Balaton, about 80km southwest of Budapest, she could look at the 10km open water event on the Olympic program.
“I’ve said nothing more than 5km,” Melverton said.
“But I’m sure I’m going to have a lot of coaches pressuring me to give it (open water) a shot so we’ll see.
“Considering it’s my first international open water swim, I’ve never really done a swim like that in a pack with those bigger girls, so I’m really happy with that.”
Throughout the race Melverton and Lee stuck either shoulder to shoulder or head to toe in the choppy course.
“It wasn’t too bad, a bit rough to the first buoy on each lap but otherwise pretty good, it was a good experience,” Melverton said.
“I think I have a lot to improve tactic-wise, like slotting in behind people, I’ve never really had to deal with that so that’s something that I need to go back home and practise.”