Wickham’s royal tick of approval
POOL queen Tracey Wickham will have the rare honour of presenting the gold medal for the cherished Commonwealth Games event in which she was feted by royalty.
The added bonus for the Gold Coast-based swimming legend is she will likely get to anoint the Brisbane schoolgirl attacking the distance freestyle races she used to dominate.
Wickham is a big fan of rising star Ariarne Titmus, 17, and not just because she is swimming the 400m and 800m freestyle on the Gold Coast from next week.
“I’m really thrilled for her that she gets to swim in front of family and friends at a home Commonwealth Games, just as I did in 1982 in Brisbane,” Wickham, 55, said.
“I love the way she attacks her races ... she gets out ahead and stays there like I did.
“Her best years are ahead.
“You can sense a killer instinct and I’d really love to be presenting a gold medal to an Aussie.”
The London-based Commonwealth Games Federation approached Wickham to present the gold medal for the 400m freestyle on the final night at the pool on April 10.